Western Suburbs player Callum McCowatt leads the charge with Mohamed Awad in support against the Wanderers last Saturday but rain may test their fluency today. Photo/file
Western Suburbs player Callum McCowatt leads the charge with Mohamed Awad in support against the Wanderers last Saturday but rain may test their fluency today. Photo/file
A shock result was in the offing but not too many fans would have picked what transpired at the weekend.
It would have been sunshine in the gloomy weather in Hawke's Bay had both teams won their round 10 Ultra Football Central League matches but, alas, they came away withnothing.
League leaders Thirsty Whale Napier City Rovers collapsed to an unlikely 3-1 loss to promoted Integrated Works Waterside Karori in Wellington while Building King Havelock North Wanderers succumbed 2-1 to second-placed Stop Out Sports Club but were in a position to at least salvage a point after going into halftime 1-0 up.
"We knew they [Karori] were a top team and should be around about where they are on the table but as the Central League tends to show, on any given day any team can beat any other team in a very competitive league," said Rovers player/coach Bill Robertson as they retained their top-rung perch, albeit by a slimmer two points.
Conversely the villagers will sweat on the outcomes now as Waterside Karori have established a three-point buffer at the bottom of the table, as the race to stave off relegation after their debut season intensifies just past the halfway stage of the premier winter league in the Capital and Central Football regions.
Wanderers captain Ethan Dent started with a lot of promise but Stop Out lifted their game in the physicality stakes and the hosts played into their hands.
"They [Stop Out] are second in the league for a reason but we showed a lot of character and desire to come back from last week's - I won't sugarcoat it because it was embarrassing - hiding to lose 2-1 to a very good side," said Dent, although he disagreed they had lost the plot.
He felt it was more a case of inexperience and two lapses of concentration that cost them goals and three crucial points.
Nevertheless, the two teams will turn their attention to round two of the Chatham Cup. Rovers face Parapine ITM Upper Hutt City at Maidstone Park, Wellington, in a Queen's Birthday Monday 2pm kick-off today.
The Wanderers host defending champs Advanced Electrical Western Suburbs in a 1pm kick-off at Guthrie Park but a win would be an upset of gargantuan proportions.
With all the rain since Saturday night and more forecast today, it is likely to play in the hands of the villagers because the Declan Edge-coached side's possession-based style of play.
