If bugger all teams want to play in a Central Fed league, why would they then want play in a Div 2 with Cap Pre teams? Travel would be just as much and potentially more.
I don't think reserve teams should feature in CL2. I was going to say that you don't see Northern League reserve teams in the NRFL divisions, but then I remembered: ACFC/Central, lol
Some bonkers results across the national lge this weekend... I chucked a few dollars on Nth Wellington for a laugh as they were paying $76 to beat the Nix. $$$
No, they normally play at Karori Park but was transferred to Wakefield Park (Olympic and Island Bay ground) that morning. So assumed where camera was set up, was best they could do last minute
Back in my day, Stop Out reserves were in CL3 but weren’t allowed to be promoted. From memory they topped the division with North Wellington and Hastings Leopard United being promoted. I can’t remember the reason for allowing them to compete, I don’t think Western Suburbs, Diamonds or Miramar did. Doloras
I don't think reserve teams should feature in CL2. I was going to say that you don't see Northern League reserve teams in the NRFL divisions, but then I remembered: ACFC/Central, lol
The central fed league is a bit of a shambles with only 5 teams and 1 of those is ncr reserves. If anything central football need to go back to a east and west set up with a play off for central league play off spot. Never mind another central league division. Clubs can't afford to travel I believe that's one of the reasons havelock aren't even in the fwd league this year.
The central fed league is a bit of a shambles with only 5 teams and 1 of those is ncr reserves. If anything central football need to go back to a east and west set up with a play off for central league play off spot. Never mind another central league division. Clubs can't afford to travel I believe that's one of the reasons havelock aren't even in the fwd league this year.
If it wasn't for the attractiveness of the new motorways linking Auckland-Hamilton, and Palmerston North-Wellington I'd wonder about the feasibility of combined Wai-Bop+Central league (similar to Super 8 schools) that has 2 spots into the end of season National League.
Hamilton, Melville, Ngaruawahia, Tauranga, Cambridge, Napier CIty Rovers, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Havelock North, New Plymouth. All teams would have similar travel requirements. Would need a deal with bus company for 4/5 buses every Saturday!
Three divisions beneath feeding in ... Waikato+Bop, Manawatu+Taranaki , and Hawkes Bay+Poverty Bay ... and local leagues beneath that for each of ... Waikato, BOP, Manawatu, Taranaki, Hawkes Bay, Poverty Bay completing the pyramid and also forming the basis for junior rep sides.
That was from 1974-78. Stop Out were established in National League. and it was the first season of Central League 3. The other Wellington teams in the league at that time were Wellington City (74-75), WDU (74,76-78) & Waterside (78) Wellington City was formed by Hungaria & Miramar and Miramar effectively became their reserve team (until 1976 when City got relegated) WDU were still getting themselves established in the National League Waterside only survived one season in National League
The Central League went back to 1st teams only in 1979, this lasted until 1983 when initially National League clubs could enter their reserve teams in the Central League.
The big difference between then and now is back then the leagues had sponsorship and reasonable prize money for the top 3 places. EG in 1976 when WDU won the National League they got a cheque for $7000 which in todays money is about $50k. Napier Phoenix
Back in my day, Stop Out reserves were in CL3 but weren’t allowed to be promoted. From memory they topped the division with North Wellington and Hastings Leopard United being promoted. I can’t remember the reason for allowing them to compete, I don’t think Western Suburbs, Diamonds or Miramar did. Doloras
I don't think reserve teams should feature in CL2. I was going to say that you don't see Northern League reserve teams in the NRFL divisions, but then I remembered: ACFC/Central, lol
Ignore the cost - players simply don't want to travel 6-12 hours return every Saturday. When you're young and ambitious it's tolerable. But as the reality sets in that you're not gonna make the All Whites, losing most of your weekend sitting in a bus ain't it.
Ignore the cost - players simply don't want to travel 6-12 hours return every Saturday. When you're young and ambitious it's tolerable. But as the reality sets in that you're not gonna make the All Whites, losing most of your weekend sitting in a bus ain't it.
I doubt National League teams want to sit on a bus for that long.
So for local league stuff the cost of it is bonkers. Hiring a bus for a day can be from $500 - $2500 depending*, so cheaper end would be about a grand. More or less the same if you want to rent a couple of people movers. Do that every second week and it is minimum $9k, but more likely $15k for the season just on travel.
I'd say most clubs struggle to keep the lights on at the best of times. I can't see Wainui driving to Whanganui, Taranaki or Napier every second week.
Any time I see an NZF decision my first question is, who is actually asking for this?
* and yes I absolutely did take time out of my day to google the cost of hiring a bus hahaha
Don't usually watch Central League, but got along to Miramar vs Petone yesterday as I was visiting Wellington for the WC game.
Very entertaining game and a good advert in terms of excitement and energy, the sides were evenly matched but Petone probably had a bit more desire to win. Big win for Petone in the National League race - and not sure if mathematically over, but effectively all done and dusted for Miramar. With NCR and Wests out of form, they'll fancy themselves at this point.
Was right behind Petone bench so heard the usual chat and complaints as you normally do, but nobody went over the top/crossed the line which was good.
Exciting run in ahead with 3 of West, Petone and NCR going for 2 spots. Petone have the easier draw. NCR and Wests both having to play the top 2. Hope whanganui can sneak a result to stay up.
They played their u18 team that day as the reserves played an internal match and were then rested for the central league game.
Rule 27.6
Each Participant shall play its full-strength team in all matches, unless some satisfactory reason is given to the Competition Manager. Failure to do so will constitute a breach of the Regulations.
They played their u18 team that day as the reserves played an internal match and were then rested for the central league game.
Rule 27.6
Each Participant shall play its full-strength team in all matches, unless some satisfactory reason is given to the Competition Manager. Failure to do so will constitute a breach of the Regulations.
Is that a satisfactory reason?
playing your reserves against your first team, in an internal match, before they fly to Oz for a professional competitive fixture sounds reasonable to me.
It's not a great look though is it. Understandable that whanganui are pissed, they are playing for their survival in the leg. Knock on effect of getting relegated could be damaging. I'm not saying that's the reason they are in the position on the table.
"Tanking" would imply that Nix Reserves deliberately lost to get some benefit for themselves - like Melbourne Demons in the AFL deliberately coming last to get better draft picks. What would the benefits have been to the Nix of losing on purpose? Or is the accusation that they've got beef with Whanganui and want to see them relegated? Seems far-fetched.
"Tanking" would imply that Nix Reserves deliberately lost to get some benefit for themselves - like Melbourne Demons in the AFL deliberately coming last to get better draft picks. What would the benefits have been to the Nix of losing on purpose? Or is the accusation that they've got beef with Whanganui and want to see them relegated? Seems far-fetched.
I guess the logic is, you get rid of a team 2.5 hours away to save all the travel and keep another Wellington team in North Wellington. That's what I thought of jokingly when I saw the lineups the day of. I mean WP can do what they want, and I'm hardly a fan of them either. The rules could possibly change though, seeing as they get automatic NL whether they finish 1st or last, realistically all they do is take points away from other teams, none of their own points matter.
Comes to a bigger head in the NL; one team might play against 16-year-olds, another might play against a full team of pros. In a 9-game competition dropping 3 points is massive, it can almost take away from the integrity of the competition. Do they make the Phoenix games friendlies/no points up for grabs? It's harsh to penalise a side's NL title hopes because they got unlucky with which week they drew the Phoenix Reserves fixture. Could get even worse if the Auckland team gets the same treatment and 2 of 10 NL sides aren't really proper sides.
WP can do what they want, and I'm hardly a fan of them either
I'm always struck by the number of posters on a WPFC fan forum who don't actually like the Nix
But seriously, these are issues which simply come with the territory of having a Reserves side in the NL. The possibility that this week you'll play the 16 years old is surely balanced out by the possibility that next week you'll have goddamn Kraev and Zawada dropped down
WP can do what they want, and I'm hardly a fan of them either
I'm always struck by the number of posters on a WPFC fan forum who don't actually like the Nix
But seriously, these are issues which simply come with the territory of having a Reserves side in the NL. The possibility that this week you'll play the 16 years old is surely balanced out by the possibility that next week you'll have goddamn Kraev and Zawada dropped down
I can understand how the inconsistency may be frustrating though - any other club shouldn't be able to play their metaphorical 2nds team, which is what the Nix have done
Isn't there a heavy British influence on the Phoenix academy? I can't imagine they would have any part in lying down for an opponent.
You'd think Whanganui are just frustrated because they played a full strength Weenix, whilst North Wellington got lucky and played Weenix B. It's natural for Whanganui to then lash out with some angst, when your season is all shark and you face the drop. Natural sort of human behaviour.
This can happen in other bigger leagues around the world. Like I understand with the Eerste Divisie(2nd tier Holland) the strength of the Jong sides like Ajax II can often vary from week to week, depending on injuries, the needs of the first team etc.
Tanking, or playing to deliberately lose is a different level of accusation. I seriously doubt the Nix are being that sinister. Little road trips up to the Whanganui useful experiences for any kids who progress to the first team, and every 2nd week a flight over the ditch.
