Football: Wellington join leaders atop Premiership

Tasman keeper Coey Turipa makes a save against Team Wellington. Photo / Photosport

Team Wellington have drawn level with Eastern Suburbs at the top of the Stirling Sports Premiership ladder after the two sides had contrasting results today.

The defending champions, Team Wellington had started the season slowly with two losses but are unbeaten in their last six games to rocket back up the table.

They were tested against Tasman United though, edging a 2-1 victory in what was a physical encounter.

After a scoreless half, Team Wellington took the lead straight after the break when Andrew Bevin scored his first goal of the season.

Tasman, who have managed just one win so far in their debut season, got back on level terms when Ermal Hadjari hit a spectacular shot into the top left corner in the 65th minute.

However, Joel Stevens scored his fifth of the season for Team Wellington when Tasman were unable to clear a goalmouth scramble, and it was enough to hold on for victory.

The three points move Team Wellington to 16 points through eight games, the same record as Eastern Suburbs who lost for the second time this season, falling 2-0 to Canterbury United.

Suburbs, the front-runner after seven rounds in a successful return to New Zealand's top flight, went down at English Park when Canterbury scored a brace of goals shortly after half-time in what proved to be the defining period of the match.

Andre de Jong, a New Zealand U-20 rep, opened the scoring in the 50th minute with a brilliant shot from 25 yards out that rifled into the top left corner.

The hosts doubled their lead two minutes later when All Whites defender Luke Adams brought down de Jong in the box and the reliable Canterbury captain Aaron Clapham stepped up to convert the penalty.

Canterbury, who have been unlucky in recent weeks, still sit in seventh but have 12 points - just one point behind a four-way logjam of teams.

One of those four sides - Auckland City - have a game in hand and can return to the top of the table when they resume domestic play next week.​