Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley is likening his team's Capital Soccer premier division match with Waterside-Karori tomorrow to a heavyweight boxing bout.
Not because of any belief it will turn into a slugfest but because of the ground conditions at Adventure Park in Whitby, the venue to which it has been
transferred because of the state of Waterside-Karori's own pitch.
Keinzley still anticipates the game being played on a very muddy surface, however, and that being the case he sees it becoming very much a survival of the fittest.
"You very seldom get a lot of goals in games like this and those that are scored are usually poached rather than created through any impressive build up work," Keinzley said. "The better soccer side doesn't always win, mud can be a great equaliser in that
respect. It will be like a couple of heavyweight boxers going toe to toe and seeing which one lasts the distance.".
Keinzley is mindful too of the comprehensive beating given Wairarapa United by Waterside-Karori earlier in the season and of the fact his team has not defeated them at league level in the last two years.
So while Wairarapa United is sitting second on the points table with a game in hand and Waterside-Karori are sixth he knows nothing could be taken for granted, even if ground conditions were ideal.
"Honestly, their effort against us last time was the best soccer played against us all season, it was like men playing boys," he recalled. "Defensively we couldn't contain them, they opened us up no problems at all. It was a decent wake-up call for us and hopefully we've learnt from it."
Having a full squad to pick is bonus for Keinzley although a bout of 'flu has laid the versatile Sakeo Valevou low this week and whether he will be part of the starting line-up won't be decided until match morning.
The Wairarapa United seconds continue their Capital division three programme tomorrow with a match against North Wellington. It was originally scheduled for the Pugh Sports Bowl but because of the ground conditions there it has been transferred to Carterton's Howard Booth Park, starting at 2.30pm.
