Local soccer development team in doubt

Wairarapa United's plans to field their development team in the Wairarapa championship soccer league this coming season are in jeopardy, and the future of the side is in the balance as well.
Hopes were the development squad would be able to play their games in Wairarapa's premier club competition on Friday nights but the unwillingness of clubs to front up then has made that a no-go.
Wairarapa United spokesman Phil Keinzley said most of the clubs approached had indicated they would struggle for numbers because players were more committed to social activities at that time of the working week.
"Obviously it's disappointing from our point of view but there's not a lot we can do about it," Keinzley said. "It's something that is out of our hands."
Whether the situation will mean the disbandonment of the Wairarapa United development team is not yet clear with Keinzley still trying to see if enough players were available for them to play in the Wairarapa championship on Saturday afternoons but he is "very doubtful" whether that will happen.
"The whole intention was to give players who were going to be on the sub bench for our premier side on Saturdays the chance to have a game on Friday nights and without them it's hard to see us having enough other players to field a second side," he said. "We haven't given up yet but the signs aren't good."
Speaking of the premier division side, Keinzley was not impressed by their effort in the 5-0 loss to Marist Wellington in their final Hilton Petone tournament game at Petone last weekend.
The defeat followed narrow losses to higher graded teams Stop Out and Miramar Rangers, games highlighted by Wairarapa United's competitivess against formidable opposition.
In the Marist Wellington game, however, that competitivess dropped several notches with Keinzley unwilling to accept the excuse that Wairarapa were below full strength.
"We just didn't function as a team?there was the odd touch of individual brilliance but collectively we were pretty dreadful,' he said.
Two of the better Wairarapa United players were youngsters Anton Ross and Thomas Hemi, who both came off the reserve bench and made an immediate impact with their enthusiasm.
This Sunday will see Wairarapa United continue their pre-season preparations with a "friendly" against North Wellington at Carterton.
North Wellington, like Marist Wellington, were relegated from premier division play at the end of last season but performed well enough at the Hilton Petone tourney to suggest Wairarapa United will need to be on their mettle to come up with a positive result.
"It's an ideal game for us after last weekend, it's a chance to put that one behind us and start playing good soccer again, "Keinzley said.