Paroa walks over Grey United
The men’s main championship saw Grey United host Paroa at Arthur Fong. United were hungry for their first points of the competition but were going to have to work hard to get them against an undefeated Paroa. Paroa proved just too hard a team to beat and gave a commanding performance with a 7-1 win. Kieran Russell and Harvey Rubbo both got a hat trick for Paroa and Caleb Anderson got one.
In the other men’s game, Westport hosted Marist at Coronation Park. It proved an incredibly close game. The score was 0-0 at half time but things really opened up in the second half. Good counter attacks allowed Marist to take the lead at 3-1 but Westport were able to claw back two late goals to salvage the 3-3 draw.
Westport’s goals came from Laurie Ward, Josh Roche and Atila “Fox” Oliveira while Marist goal scorers were Juan Lawrence with two and Kevin Burgess with one. Marist’s player of the day, Ethan Kelleher, had an amazing game in goal making a number of great saves. Laurie Ward was named Westport’s player of the day. A draw means that Westport retains the Sarah Clearwater Challenge Trophy.
Westland United had the bye. Next week, the two undefeated teams for the main competition, Paroa and Marist, will meet at Arthur Fong for the early game at 12:30, followed by Grey United vs Westland United at 2:30. Westport have the bye.
In the women’s 9-a-side league, the Dragons hosted the Goblins for the early kick off at Arthur Fong. The Goblins were up against it from the start with only 7 players. Even the Goblins manager, Lorainne Foster donned a pair of boots to help her team out and boost numbers. But the Dragons made the most of their advantage with the final score an impressive 11-1 in their favour.
The Dragons’ Amelia Howe added five more to her top goal scorer tally and Amanda Curry got in the race too with five for herself. Riona Ashworth o’Callaghan scored her first goal of the season and Resse Dixon had a great game for the Dragons, earning her player of the day. The Goblins’ consolation goal came from Allie Vaughan and Grace Cohen was named their player of the day.
The second game was between the two ‘top of the table’ teams, the Comets and Westland United Women. There is a healthy rivalry between these teams and it promised to be a hard fought game. But the Comets were all class and played excellent soccer giving them a deserved 4-0 win.
The Comet’s played a nice quick passing game and put United constantly under pressure. United failed to get effective clearances and movement up the field, leaving the game 3-0 at half time in the Comets’ favour. United had a few chances in the second half, especially from striker Haley Pugh but goal keeper Connie Duell was just too good and none ended up in the net. A final goal in the second half saw the game finish at 4-0.
The Comets’ Jacinta Borer adds three to her goal scoring tally and Nikita Jean Stevenson added one. Duell was the Comet’s player of the day and Ngawai Tahi’s energetic play and good attitude earned her player of the day for United Women.
Next week, the Comets face the Dragons at Arthur Fong in the first game at 12:00, followed by Goblins vs Westland United Women at 1:15.