Football
Marquis Wairarapa United have moved into a challenging position in the Central League football competition going into the final series of first round matches next weekend.
Their stunning 2-0 win over previously unbeaten Wellington Olympic at Howard Booth Park, Carterton, on Saturday took the team to 14 points with only Olympic (21) and Miramar Rangers (20), ahead of them.
This Saturday will see Wairarapa United up against Petone who sits seventh-equal on the points table while Olympic and Miramar Rangers will do battle on Olympic's home turf at Wakefield Park.
The best outcome for Wairarapa United would be for them to pick up the maximum three points for a win over Petone and for Olympic and Miramar Rangers to share the honours and consequently come away with one point apiece.
Wairarapa United will need to be wary of Petone, however, as they have already recorded three wins and a draw in their eight games this season and have been something of a bogey team in the past, particularly when having the home advantage.
Olympic, for their part, will need to be far more disciplined against Miramar Rangers than they were in the loss to Wairarapa United when they had a player sent off and their coach, former All White boss Mick Waitt, removed from the coach's box, both for alleged dissent in separate instances.
Competition points in the Central League are: Wellington Olympic 21, Miramar Rangers 20, Wairarapa United 14, Lower Hutt City 11, Wests 11, Upper Hutt City 11, Petone 10, Napier City Rovers 10, Wellington United 4, Tawa 1.
Meanwhile, Capital Football interclub fixtures continued on Saturday with Masterton-based Douglas Villa slipping from second to fourth on the second division points table after their 2-0 loss to competition leaders Island Bay United.
Douglas Villa have now had five wins and three losses. Competition points: Island Bay United 21, Western Suburbs 19, Naenae 17, Douglas Villa 15, Upper Hutt City 12, Stop Out 12, Lower Hutt City 9, Wellington Olympic 6, Wellington United 4 and Tawa Bulldogs 3.
Douglas Villa's next match is at home against Stop Out.
Wairarapa United seconds maintained their lead in the Capital third division series when they ground out a hard-fought 1-0 win over Gardner Electrical Masterton on Saturday.
White Swan Greytown went down 4-0 to second-placed Victoria University.
Their victory meant Wairarapa United seconds - coached by first team regular Miroslav Tvaroh - have still to taste defeat this season, having recorded seven wins and one draw.
White Swan Greytown have had two wins, three draws and three losses and Gardner Electrical Masterton one win, three draws and four losses.
Third division competition points: Wairarapa United seconds 22, Victoria University 19, Waterside-Karori Cougars 16, Petone Armanis 12, White Swan Greytown 9, Petone 8, Marist 8, Gardner Electrical Masterton 6, Wainuiomata 6 and NW Inglorious White Socks 5.
This Saturday White Swan Greytown are at home to Marist and Gardner Electrical Masterton away to Waterside-Karori Cougars while, on Sunday, Wairarapa United seconds will host Petone at Howard Booth Park.
Interclub football in Wairarapa on Saturday focused on the Knockout Cup and results were: Carterton Social 3, Douglas Villa Funeral Services 0; Masterton McAuleys 7, Douglas Villa Hasbeens 1; Greytown A1 Homes 1, Masterton Lions 0; Featherston United beat Masterton Athletic by default, Douglas Villa Laser Electrical 3, Wairarapa Evergreens 0; Douglas Villa Telecom Hub 8, Greytown Turkey Red 1; Douglas Villa Skulls 9, Masterton Presidents 1.