Wairarapa eyes locked on prize

Wairarapa United kept their hopes of a central league football title alive when they scored a 3-0 win over Tawa at Howard Booth Park, Carterton, on Sunday.
It was an important victory because the only two teams above them on the points table, Miramar Rangers and Western Suburbs, lost to Petone and Palmerston North respectively on Saturday.
Wairarapa United are now six points adrift of leaders Miramar Rangers but have four matches left to Miramar's two. Wairarapa United and Miramar will meet in one of those games.
Each win is worth three competition points, so if Wairarapa United can claim the spoils in all their remaining matches the league title will be theirs.
Tawa had beaten Wairarapa United in their first-round fixture but the locals were a class above them on Sunday in what was a scrappy affair.
The home team played with the elements in their favour in the first half and goals to Campbell Banks and Nathan Cooksley had them 2-0 up at the break.
It was a well-deserved lead on the basis that Wairarapa United had dominated territory and possession, but their finishing work was nowhere near as clinical as they would have liked. Several times prime scoring opportunities came to nothing through the ball carrier failing to find his supports or through players tending more towards individualism than teamwork.
At times in the first half, too, Tawa threatened to expose a Wairarapa United defence which allowed their front runners too much space and time on the ball. Goalkeeper Matt Borren was called on to make at least two excellent saves.
The second half, however, produced a more disciplined Wairarapa United effort. They controlled possession for long periods with accurate passing and solid support play, with a more structured look to their defence.
Again, though, the home side didn't always finish their attacking forays with precision, several shots at goal from relatively close range going wide.
In fact, the only one on target came from striker Seule Soromon late in the spell but that was enough to ensure any possibility of a Tawa comeback had been well and truly buried.
Soromon was perhaps the busiest of the Wairarapa United players throughout the 90 minutes. He often exposed the Tawa defence with his rapid acceleration and impressive ball control and he was also prepared to help out his defenders whenever Tawa launched attacks. That he was down to a virtual walk at the game's end was no surprise.
Another standout player for Wairarapa United was Nathan Cooksley, whose aggressive defending created several turnovers, and Waisake Sabatu also featured in that area of the game, especially in the second half when his coolness under pressure was often evident.
Apart from Soromon, Carl Shailer and Dale Higham who provided most of the sting in the Wairarapa United attack. They featured in several strong surges down the flanks.
The central league points table is: Miramar Rangers 30 (16 games), Western Suburbs 26 (16), Wairarapa United 24 (14), Olympic 22 (15), Napier City Rovers 22 (14), Petone 21 (14), Lower Hutt City 18 (16), Tawa 15 (14), Maycenvale United 15 (15), Palmerston North Marist 11 (14).
Meantime, Douglas Villa share second place in the Capital third division competition after their 6-0 win over Kapiti Coast United on Saturday. The points table there: Paekakariki 29, Douglas Villa 26, Petone Armanis 26, Lower Hutt City 17, Karori Barcodes 16, Island Bay United 16, Marist 14, North Wellington 14, Petone 8, Kapiti Coast United 4.
The Wairarapa United seconds lost the lead in the Capital fourth division competition, being replaced by Karori Cougars who beat them 1-0 on Saturday.
Points: Karori Cougars 26, Wairarapa United 25, University Scarfies 25, Wainuiomata 25, LH Ancient Ones 21, Tawa Devilz 17, Island Bay HHH 16, Island Bay Massey 15, Island Bay United 11, Brooklyn Northern 1.
Masterton Trevs Sports Athletic have moved out to a four-point lead in the Wairarapa championship. They beat Masterton Farmlands Presidents 6-1 on Saturday.
Other results: Masterton-Gladstone Lions 4, Carterton Redbacks 1; Douglas Villa Good Beginnings 13, Douglas Villa Hasbeens 1; Carterton A1 Homes 3, Greytown Turkey Red 0; Greytown White Swan 4, Carterton Skulls 0; Douglas Villa Laser Electrical 0, Douglas Villa Wairarapa Funeral Services 0; Masterton McAuleys 6, Masterton Farmlands Presidents 1; Masterton Pacific United 2, Evergreens 1.
Points: Masterton Trevs Sports Athletic 34, Greytown White Swan 30, Douglas Villa Good Beginnings 27, Greytown A1 Homes 24, Carterton Skulls 24, Masterton McAuleys 22, Masterton-Gladstone Lions 21, Douglas Villa Hasbeens 16, Douglas Villa Laser Electrical 15, Carterton Redbacks 15, Masterton Pacific United 14, Greytown Turkey Red 13, Douglas Villa Wairarapa Funeral Services 7, Carterton Shoe Clinic Social 5, Masterton Farmlands Presidents 3, Evergreens 1.