Football: Second hat trick in row for Parkinson

You could say coach Jamie Hall is reaping the benefits of having done the hard yards in the Western Premiership last winter.

His Taradale AFC side yesterday thumped Palmerston North End 4-1 in their first foray into the Chatham Cup this season.

They had the measure of North End after making a first-round exit last winter to Red Sox, also of Palmerston North, after an agonising 2-1 defeat in extra time.

"We knew what they were about and what we were up against and we knew it'll be bloody hard," a delighted Hall said after the hosts surged to a 3-0 lead in the first half.

Veteran midfielder Tony Parkinson carried on his scoring way with a second successive hat-trick for the Pacific (Eastern) Premiership side who now compete in the predominantly Hawke's Bay league. Central Football has ruled that clubs should play in their own regions.

Taradale competed in the Western Premiership last winter to acquire a sharper edge against teams outside of the Bay.

Yesterday North End arrived with a spring in their step having not lost any games in their premiership.

Parkison claimed his hat-trick, after three against Promotem Napier City Rovers in the Pacific Premiership last Saturday.

The visitors replied with a goal in the 61st minute but Dale skipper Hamish Sim put North End out of their misery with an 83rd-minute goal.

"They do very well and they've had some great battles against us last year," Hall said, lauding Keegan Bright and Rhys Corbin for their outstanding spells.

"Tony's also doing well. When you're playing as a midfielder and scoring a second hat-trick in a row then you can't say enough about him."

His goalkeeper, Graeme Healey, hadn't done much so far in the season but Hall felt every so often the gloveman pulled off a match-defining save to keep them in the hunt.

Almost instantaneously Hall turned his attention to this Saturday's Pacific Premiership derby against Geon Taradale, who with Team Gisborne, look like the teams to beat this winter.

"It's a biggie so we'll see how it goes."

Results:

Northern region: Zamantix Rovers 1 Auckland Grammar School 4, Hukanui Rototuna Clube Alegria 0 Westlake BHS 2, Drury Utd 6 West Hamilton Utd 2, Takapuna Grammar School v Bohemian Celtic (on Friday 28).

Central region: Stop Out 16 Paekakariki 2, University 7 Stokes Valley 0, Eastbourne 0 Wainuiomata 2, Waikanae 1 Brooklyn Northern Utd 7, North Wellington 2 Marist 1, Island Bay Utd 3 Kapiti Coast United 2, Naenae 0 Seatoun 1, Waterside Karori 4 Wellington College 0.

Southern region: Westport Cos v Rangers FC (Saturday, April 28), Old Boys 3 Thistle 2.