Soccer: Import dazzles in six-goal North Shore debut

By BOB PEARCE

Davis Haule made a sensational debut for North Shore in the national league yesterday, scoring six goals in a 7-2 win over Napier.

The 26-year-old arrived from England only a week ago, but seemed instantly at home in the blazing 35-degree heat of Devonport.

"I came from snow," he said after the game. "It's a bit hot here, isn't it?" The rangy striker has been playing in the Ryman League for Harrow Borough after occasional appearances in his younger days for Wimbledon and Birmingham in the Football League.

His finishing was the kind the Kingz must dream of. Lethal with his head, he also displayed a remarkable ability to be in the right place at the right time.

Haule's debut performance rather took the limelight away from Auckland's two other clubs in the Southern Trust-sponsored league.

Central now head the table on goal difference from East Auckland after downing previous leaders Manawatu 2-1 and East Auckland travelled to Tauranga for a similar result.

Dunedin Technical scored the fourth round's surprise result downing defending champions Miramar 3-2 at home. Canterbury beat Caversham 4-1 in the other game.

Shore move to seventh on the table, while Napier languish at the bottom with only one point.

Along with Haule, Shore introduced Papua New Guinea striker Reg Davani for the Napier game and he also looked a promising prospect. Yet for much of the first half Napier made the running.

Ten minutes from the break and against the run of play, Haule scored twice, each time fastening on to crosses from fast-breaking Stu Bola.

Right on halftime Napier reduced the deficit through Brad Scott.

What had looked like a close contest became a rout early in the second spell.

Haule scored after 47 minutes, Davani two minutes later and Haule in the 59th, 75th and 83rd minutes. Napier's only reply came from Jarrod Smith.

Haule's performance lifted his team-mates and Paul Hobson, Paul Seaman and particularly goalkeeper Mark Fulcher showed their class.

Central made an impressive start against Manawatu, with Darren Fellowes scoring in the second minute with a blistering shot. The visitors replied in the 19th with a copybook header by Raji Ananda from a cross by Matt McCallum.

Central dominated play for long periods from then on, but were frustrated by some over-elaboration and the head of Matt Ayloff.

Ironically, the winner came in the 89th minute from a Daniel Aliaga curling free kick when Central had been reduced to 10 men by the sending-off of Dean Tallentire.

Coach Billy Harris has Central playing attractive soccer with Neil Sykes and Miro Major creating chances for their front runners.

At the back, Greg Uhlmann has returned from overseas, much improved in both skills and attitude.

East Auckland were 1-0 down at halftime to Tauranga after a Garry Board goal in the 33rd minute.

They came back well and hard-working Stu Hogg had them level soon after the break. The winner was scored by Andrew Griffiths in injury time.

In a game that featured plenty of niggle, referee Kevin Cale was kept busy dishing out yellow cards to Tauranga's Jeremy Field and Shane Cunliffe before evening the score by booking East Auckland's Paul Stephens and skipper Paul Bunbury for innocuous incidents.

Dunedin Technical's comeback win against Miramar upset all the form books. The southerners were a goal down at halftime to a Simon George strike.

Then they fought back to take the lead with a goal by Clinton Boyle and an own goal from David Capstick. The prolific Graham Little put the Wellingtonians level, only for James Webb to clinch Dunedin's first win of the season with five minutes to go.

On Saturday, in the match of the round, North Shore play Central at Kiwitea St.