Apart from that, Kerikeri have proved all but untouchable this season, producing slick football and showing a strong rapport between players. Particular kudos also for keeper Chris West and his defence, who have only let in one goal all season in 10 games played so far. The side are clear favourites to complete the double by winning the Stafford Choat Cup, and will also hope to shake off their bridesmaid tag despite being underdogs and take the treble by winning in the Fed One Cup (having reached the final of that event three times in the past five years).
Kaitaia Justa Plumber United 3 Tikipunga 0: Kaitaia adding to an already remarkable debut campaign by beating Tikipunga - sitting second in the standings going into this Northland Men's Premier Division match - at Taipa in fine winter conditions on Saturday afternoon.
Surviving a strong first-half offensive from the visitors, Kaitaia went ahead with two goals to ever-reliable Shane 'Pika' McDonald, followed up by a well-buried shot from close range by the lively Tom Nankivell (taking the POTD award) late in the match to put the icing on the cake for the homeside.
A good afternoon for Kaitaia football with the second team winning their knockout cup round earlier in the day, while the first team have now lifted themselves to third spot on the NMP and hold a strong chance of finishing the season placed second on the table.
- NMP standings: Kerikeri (played 10, for/against 58/1) 31 points, Bream Bay (13, 17/27) 19, Kaitaia (12, 16/22) 18, Tikipunga (12, 19/30) 16, Onerahi (10, 20/17) 14, Kamo (11, 21/23) 13, Central Brown (10, 10/21) 8, FC Whangarei/ Madhatters (10, 12/32) 6.
NMP teams enter the Stafford Choat in round 3 on July 25.
Stafford Choat
Kaitaia United Top Roofer 2 Onerahi 1: Kaitaia progressing to round three of the Stafford Choat Cup in this clash between the two recently promoted teams to the newly formed Northland 2nd Division Championship (NM2) at Taipa in crisp, clear midwinter conditions on Saturday.
Spectators, around two dozen all up, were treated to another fine display of football by the homeside in the curtain raiser of a double header, although lack of finishing possibly meant the final scoreline was a tad flattering edge to Onerahi. Goals by Jared Neave and James Van Engelen, while POTD went to defensive mid, Wi Witana.
This was one of the three games of Far North significance to feature among the seven fixtures in round 2 of the Stafford Choat Cup this Saturday. Kaitaia now prepare to commence their NM2 campaign by travelling to face Far North stablemates Kerikeri Masters this coming Saturday with the latter team completing their Northland 2nd/3rd Divisions Grading campaign unbeaten and finishing top of the standings with 10 wins and a draw out of 11 games (31 points all up) and a for/against tally of 39/10.
Madhatters Green 5 Kerikeri Reserves 4: Kerikeri lost a nine-goal thriller against their 1st division stablemates at William Fraser Park on Saturday and will now contest the Stafford Choat Bowl. No report from the visitors on what sounds like quite the intriguing clash.
Bream Bay Reserves 3 vs Bay Cosmos Mixed 1: Bay Cosmos, preparing to commence their new campaign in the Northland 3rd Division championship, were always likely to struggle to contain Bream Bay Reserves (currently sitting 4th in the NM1) at Ruakaka at high noon on Saturday.
The closeness of the final scoreline suggests the visitors at least put up a good display of resistance, however nothing could prepare the visitors for poor treatment they were given by the homeside, visiting team's spokesman Jen Crowther noted.
"No federation ref for cup game. Good first half with Bream Bay coach refereeing ... but the second half ref reffed from halfway on their sideline which got messy. Ref disallowed a handball in the goalbox which he said he could not see as he was standing at halfway. Everyone else saw including opposition who later commented that we were even ..."
Crowther went on to accuse Bream Bay players of making "sexist comments and gestures" towards Cosmos female players and, that a Cosmos player even had a ball thrown at him by a clearly frustrated Bream Bay player.
"The opposition team mentioned at the beginning they were going to play a physical game following the initial discussion with first ref asking for honesty and a clean game. Aftermatch, poor hospitality for Bay Cosmos who were rushed from changing rooms as opposition wished to close up with their players leaving straight away."
Sunday women
Kerikeri High School 9 Hora Hora 0 (ht 3-0): Kerikeri High romping out as comfortable winners in the Northland Women's Premier Division in ideal conditions at Kerikeri on Sunday. Coach Russell McCabe said the result was never really in doubt with Hora Hora only managing 10 players for the trip north, but at least they had the courtesy to turn up and give his side a game.
"Nice and hot, wind had stopped, it was like a summer's day," said McCabe of Sunday's conditions. Standouts for the homeside included Priscilla Hornsby with a hat-trick, and Mikyla Miskelly receiving the POTD award for her second-half performance from midfield, while Jess Fuller with her "magic crosses" was also singled out.
Central Brown 0 Kerikeri Siteworx 3: This disappointing default leaving Kerikeri as having played only one game in the past six weeks; Central unable to muster enough to front even on the hometurf of Otaika Domain. Not the best build-up for a frustrated Kerikeri Siteworx, who now prepare to hosting NWP champions Kamo this Sunday. The two sides are currently equal on points atop the standings but Kamo are ahead via a superior goals for/ against, and with two games in hand.
- NWP standings: Kamo (9, 58/10) 27, Kerikeri Siteworx (11, 45/9) 27, Kerikeri High (10, 47/20) 21, Central Brown (11, 37/35) 15, Northern Wairoa (9, 13/34) 9, Hora Hora (10, 21/45) 7, Onerahi (11, 4/72) 1.
