Premier League runners-up Onerahi were one of few big name victims in this year's Stafford Choat knockout competition after they were beaten 3-0 by premier league champions and competition favourites Kamo on Saturday. The annual end-of-season cup competition is not seeded but drawn by ballot and always throws up some interestingmatch-ups in the early rounds. Kamo opened the scoring at the Airport Ground with a first-half penalty by Steve Schimmel before two Sammy Oso strikes put the game beyond Onerahi. However, the victory came at a cost to Kamo - Schimmel, their top scorer for the season, limped off after suffering a potentially season ending groin strain. The Kamo win was not totally unexpected, but their second team's 4-2 win over Kaikohe's premier league team was another major upset. The over-30 team's success was especially noteworthy after Kaikohe fought their way back from a 0-2 deficit to be level 2-2 at the break. FC Force firmed up as possible rivals to Kamo in the knockout competition after winning their first game together 14-0. The team is made up of the FC Whangarei players who played for North Force this season and they belted their club's first division side FC Blue. Meanwhile, FC Whangarei's second division side caused the biggest upset of the round by beating Central Brown premier team 3-2 in extra time. FC Whangarei's Premier team beat Northern Wairoa 8-0 in Dargaville to progress through to next week's second round. Madhatters premier side beat Awanui 2-1 in Kaitaia thanks to two Heath Mabbott goals, while their second team beat Hora Hora 2-1 at William Fraser Park. Madhatters' Green defaulted to put Bay Cosmos through to the next round, while Kerikeri's premier team beat Madhatters Black. Bream Bay United beat Okaihau-Kaeo 2-0 at the Ruakaka Rec Centre to go through to next week. Tikipunga's premier team beat Central Brown's first division team by default, while Tikipunga first division side beat their second division side 7-4.
