Football
Wairarapa United have appealed the decision of New Zealand Football to disqualify them from the Chatham Cup competition for allegedly fielding an ineligible player during their 2-1 third-round win over Napier City Rovers in Napier on June 16.
Coach Phil Keinzley confirmed the appeal, formulated after legal advice, was forwarded to the national body yesterday and said Wairarapa United was now awaiting advice of when it would be heard.
"Obviously we think we have a strong case but we're not pre-empting anything," Keinzley said.
"All we can do is rely on the facts to produce the best result."
Wairarapa United will undoubtedly be basing their appeal around the fact it was New Zealand Football which gave Wairarapa United permission to include Vanuatu international Brian Kalteck in their squad for the Napier City Rovers match.
He came off the reserves bench with less than 10 minutes to play and Wairarapa United having the one-goal lead which they held to the game's end.
While desperately keen to have Wairarapa United remain in contention for the Chatham Cup, the country's premier knockout competition, Keinzley admits to having some sympathy for Palmerston North Marist which eliminated Napier City Rovers at Palmerston North on Saturday but will have to go through it all again if Wairarapa United win their appeal, and that result is annulled.
Keinzley was an interested spectator at the game and was impressed by the physical presence of a Palmerston North Marist side which won 4-2 in a penalty shootout after the scores were locked 1-1 at the end of both ordinary time and extra time.
"They (Marist) were in the faces of Napier all game, you could tell they were really hungry for the win," Keinzley said.
"There wasn't a lot in it but, personally, I thought Marist got what they deserved, they were the better team."
Meanwhile, the Wairarapa United seconds team dropped to second place on the Capital Football third division points table when they were beaten 5-1 by Victoria University on Saturday.
However, Wairarapa United have a game in hand, having played 12 matches to University's 13.
In other third division games, Gardner Electrical Masterton beat Wainuiomata 3-0 and White Swan Greytown were surprisingly defeated 4-2 by bottom- placed NW Inglorious White Socks.
Competition points: Victoria University 29, Wairarapa United seconds 26, Petone Armanis 25, Waterside-Karori Cougars 23, Petone 13, Gardner Electrical Masterton 12, White Swan Greytown 12, Marist 11, Wainuiomata 8 and NW Inglorious White Socks 8
The second division points table has Douglas Villa, humbled 11-1 by Upper Hutt City on Saturday, third equal. Pacesetters are Island Bay United on 27, followed by Wests 25, Upper Hutt City 21, Douglas Villa 21, Naenae 20, Stop Out 15, Lower Hutt City 10, Wellington Olympic 9, Tawa Bulldogs 7 and Wellington United 6.
Results of Wairarapa
championship matches played over the weekend:
First division: Douglas Villa Laser Electrical 2, Carterton Redbacks 1; Greytown A1 Homes 6, Masterton Pacific United 1; Douglas Villa Telecom Hub 4, Masterton McAuleys 0.
Second division:
Greytown Turkey Red 5, Wairarapa Evergreens 0; Masterton Lions 3, Douglas Villa Hasbeens 2; Masterton Presidents 7, Douglas Villa Wairarapa Funeral Services 5.