Watson back as United go for title bid

IN THE TEAM: Hamish Watson is back in the Wairarapa United fold.PHOTO/FILE

GUN striker Hamish Watson has rejoined the Wairarapa United camp for the remainder of their Central League and Chatham Cup football campaigns.

Watson had an overseas stint after having his debut season for Wairarapa United in 2014 when he was not only their leading scorer but also the winner of the Golden Boot award for the most goals scored by any individual in the Central League series.

His return to the Wairarapa United fold comes at a time when they are challenging strongly for their first Central league title and are still in contention for the Chatham Cup as well, having reached the last 16 with their 3-0 victory over Island Bay United at Memorial Park on Saturday night.

There is no question a player of Watson's calibre will add further sting to an already potent Wairarapa United attack which has been led for most of the season by Magno Viera, Seule Soromon, Sam Mason-Smith and coach Paul Ifill, all of whom have been in good form. Ifill will now have the pleasant headache of deciding which of them assumes the striker's roles and which are perhaps utilised more as attacking midfielders.

Wairarapa United's next Central League match is this Saturday away against Petone.

Wairarapa United sit third on the points table with 24 points but have played one less match than the two teams above them, Napier City Rovers (30) and Western Suburbs (25). Palmerston North Marist have 18, followed by Petone 17, Stop Out and Wellington Olympic 15, Miramar Rangers 7, Lower Hutt City 6 and Tawa 3.

Who Wairarapa United will play next in the Chatham Cup, and where, had not been confirmed but it will be one of three Central League sides, Napier City Rovers, Western Suburbs and Wellington Olympic.

In their fourth round games over the weekend Napier City Rovers beat Palmerston North Marist 4-2.