Kaitaia win in prem debut

STITCH IN TIME: Dylan Rogers tackles an Onerahi midfielder at Taipa on Saturday in the Northland Men's 2nd/3rd Division Grading season opener which the visitors won 3-0.

Kaitaia Justa Plumber 2 Kamo 1 (ht 0-0): Kaitaia's first foray into Northland Men's Premier Division (NMP) began in promising fashion with a victory at home over the formidable Kamo in warm, breezy conditions at Taipa on Saturday afternoon.

In the main game of a double-header, Kaitaia went out to a 2-nil lead through goals from Jared Neave and Bayley Milne before a deliberate handball in the box resulted in a yellow card for Brendon Wynford and allowed Kamo to get one back from the spot.

Kaitaia POTD was defender Jared Olsen but rapt player coach Andy Booth said picking a standout had been difficult considering "the whole team played so well, put it on for the whole 90 minutes". After mixed pre-season form and some less than spectacular turnouts at trainings, this strong start will be a massive confidence booster.

Tikipunga 0 Kerikeri Bay Builders 12: the perennial prem div title contenders began their NMP campaign underway in daunting fashion. Witnessed as quite the slick outfit after dealing to the aforementioned Kaitaia in a pre-season friendly, even the Keri prems were surprised at Tikipunga's utter capitulation. The result capped off a hat-trick of wins - all away to boot - for the three Keri FC sides in beginning their respective campaigns in Northland men's football competition on Saturday.

Tikipunga Orange 2 Kerikeri Reserves 6 (ht 0-4): As the only team to represent the Far North in the 2015 Northland Men's 1st Division (NM1) title this season, Keri Reserves returned from Tikipunga Sports Park with a resounding victory.

Kerikeri coach Mark Roberts noted this year's team featured new players including several from last year's under 17 squad.

"We dominated from the first whistle against a very physical and much larger side, playing very good one- and two-touch football. Second half was pretty much the same with a mistake at the back letting Tiki have their first shot on goal 10 minutes into the second half."

Goals from Ben Claire 2, Jake McGowan 2, Finn Miller and Ringa Dalton while the standout was young Adam Streamer.

Kaitaia Top Roofer 0 Onerahi 3 (ht 1-0): Heading into their sophomore season, the Kaitaia Bs broke in a brand new kit as the Northland men's 2nd/3rd Division Grading competition - featuring 13 teams - kicked off. The homeside actually played better than the visitors for the most part and constructed some fine attacking football. The only difference, admittedly a rather large one, was the finishing with Onerahi making the most of their opportunities. The match was a curtain-raiser to the Kaitaia A's prem div affair.

Madhatters Black 1 Kerikeri Masters 2 (ht 1-0): The 2014 Northland Men's 2nd Div (NM2) champions coming from behind to beat Madhatters Black to open their 2nd/ 3rd div grading round account.

Onerahi Reserves 4 Bay Cosmos Mixed 1: This NM2/3 grading match was eventually classed as friendly after the Northern Football Federation announced yesterday that Onerahi Reserves were being moved up into the NM1. Bay Cosmos have apparently merged its men's and women's sides from last season leaving the Kawakawa-based club with only one team, and likely the side with the most females in Northland men's football this season.

Sunday womenKerikeri Siteworx 5 Kerikeri High School 0: The only two Far North teams in the Northland Women's Premier Division (NWP) this season did not have to travel far for their season opener, this derby at Waipapa on Sunday from which the hosts emerged convincing winners. Siteworx player Kate Liddington noted both sides put on a great exhibition in fine mid autumn conditions.

"Clean game and played in really good spirits." Goals by Emma Richards 2, Aimee Walden 2 (and POTD award), and Lilly Wolt Molloy. Also notable was right-back Trudy Derbyshire who was "everywhere".

Liddington said the homeside was heading in to this year's campaign in good heart, with 17 "fully committed" players on the books. The side has a point to prove when it plays Kamo in Kamo this Sunday, having been caned in the season opening Community Bowl tournament on the 28th.