Soccer: Waitakere well up in the final reckoning

By Terry Maddaford

Waitakere City 12, Dunedin Technical 1.

Hopefully, that's not the final score in tonight's Chatham Cup final but it is the lop-sided count in toting up the winner's medals won by the respective teams before soccer's 1999 finale at North Harbour Stadium.

Between them, City veterans Terry Torrens (3), Darren McClennan (4) and Neil Woodhams (3) have accumulated an impressive record. McClennan and Woodhams won three in a row (1994-95-96) with Waitakere while Torrens won his first in 1990 with Mt Wellington and two (1997-98) with Central.

Ryan Dawkins ('95) and Liam Mulrooney ('96) have also shared in cup glory.

McClennan won his first with North Shore in 1986 and trails Steve Sumner (6) and Ron Armstrong (5) on the all-time list.

For Dunedin, only Darren Melville, who will be on the substitute's bench, has won a cup medal - with Waikato United in the 1988 two-leg final against Christchurch United.

But finals are not won on paper and Technical coach Roger Brooks is confident of a bold showing despite their two-loss record in visits to the stadium in recent times.

They lost last year's cup final to Central and this year's North v South play-off (also to Central) but not without a decent fight.

"We felt we played better than the score might have indicated last year and then did exceptionally well against Central last week," said Brooks.

"Waitakere are a different team to Central and, given the way in which the team has come back in the second half of the season, I feel we are in with a chance."

Only Graham Marshall, Jeremy Seales and David Johnston from last year's losing Xl are in the starting line-up this time, although Melville and Dean Wilson are on the bench.

"I thought this would be a rebuilding year but we have pulled out some good results," said Brooks. "The turnaround probably came when Graham Marshall switched back to the defence after playing up front.

"It is not really surprising we have so few backs as it is a student-based team."

City coach Steve Cain welcomes Cam Miller back after a long layoff and is confident his team can continue their solid end-of-season run.

"I watched Dunedin play Central in the grand final," said Cain. "They appeared a solid, well-organised side but I think we can do well against them."

In the WSANZ knockout final curtainraiser, Three Kings will chase their hat-trick against a strong Wairarapa women's side.

After 7-5 and 4-2 wins over Petone in 1997 and 1998, the Lee Green-coached Three Kings side will start warm favourites.

Beaten only once this season - 1-0 by Lynn-Avon in the local knockout final - Three Kings have an impressive record. In internationals Michelle Hodge, Jane Simpson, Sacha Haskell, Maia Jackman and captain Michele Cox, Three Kings have a wealth of experience.

Ten of their starting line-up were in the Auckland side who beat Wairarapa in last weekend's national tournament final in Christchurch.

Wairarapa, spearheaded by player-coach and international Wendi Henderson, have been a revelation, beating Petone 3-2 in the semifinal.

"It has been great playing in this team," said Henderson. "We have had tremendous support and I'm sure we can do well again."

Only Henderson and striker Nicky Smith - sister of British-based All White Scott Smith - have played for New Zealand.