Central League

I'd think it more an insurance on the Federation League team being good enough to go up, and the second-bottom Central League team really deserving to go down. Because relegating two in a 10-team (10-team?) league could be seen as a little harsh...

Secondary thought - if a team has a for:against ratio of 5:1 or greater (or even 4...) - maybe that's AUTOMATIC promotion??
As in, clearly too good for the league. Then you give the second-place team in the division the bullies came from the right to play-off against the bottom team from the one above.

Just revolutionising world football here...

Maybe also vice-versa for really bad teams. But not as important. I just hate it when teams/players are working below their standard.

I don't think Tawa are clear cut to go down yet either...

could anyone argue that both Tawa and Lower Hutt DON'T deserve to?

Well the team that comes 9th don't deserve to get relegated as they have done enough to stay up. Pretty silly question I think.

Yeah Tawa have come 9th the last two years and if they stay up again this year that will be three years in a row coming 9th, but I guess they do enough to not get relegated. 2013 - in front of Wellington United, 2014 - in front of Upper Hutt, 2015 - potentially Lower Hutt.

I'd hate to go through season after season just trying not to lose. 

Things seem to have changed somewhat dramatically at Wellington United and Upper Hutt, in opposite directions for each. 

Aside of that it's not a professional league, is there a team world-wide anyone can think of in a similar situation (perenially second-to-last/just-above-relegation, but not relegated)?

Surely you've got to get better (Southampton) luckier (Man City) worse (Nottingham Forest), or yo-yo. Otherwise what's the point?

Lower Hutt should come out winners tomorrow considering tawa hasn't scored on the turf this season in 3 attempts an haven't scored in there last 3 games altogether I actually cannot remember tawa winning on a turf in central league maybe against the Greeks at Te whea few years back but good luck to them tomorrow. They are looking like the hardest team to get relegated considering they have been in central league for 6 years now , finishing either 8th or 9th. They have won the league the same amount of times as the rapa (0) but spent no $$ 

Well you still get to play in the top league and say you compete with all the teams that spend $1000 of dollars when Tawa still compete with spending nothing and using mostly local bunch of lads. Having a team in central league also still allows Tawa to put new players from Tawa College to play at the highest level and then Cap 1 if they are not good enough. Better to struggle every week than playing a grade down. And the second round so far they have been doing much better

fair points. 

But would the league be better with Tawa and Lower Hutt out...and Wellington United and Waterside Karori in?

I think the Tawa College boys would still benefit from playing Capital Premier League...

Yeah I guess capital premier is fine as well but it is always nice to say you have played against the best players in your area and make do with what you have. Over the years Karori have never shown themselves to be that much better than Tawa and Tawa did win there Chatham cup game last year between the two. It would also mean another Wellington city team but then Karori would be able to attract players more easily. It is good I think having two northern suburbs being Wests and Tawa though.

i feel for Team Taranaki - who are gonna have to get through Wellington Phoenix United to have a shot at Tawa for Central League.

Hence the 'two go down' call...

Yeah I see where you are coming from. The one good thing that Tawa has done is even though they have been weaker they have still had a few wins each year when some of these teams that come in from the central regions have a really poor year and get hammered way more than Tawa do.

Double relegation won't be a thing until they move to a 12 team league, which seems unlikely to happen any time soon.  I agree that United and Wharfies both deserve to be in CL, but Wharfies will be towards the bottom and probably be the new Tawa.  United would probably be mid-table to start with and move forward from there, espeically if their performance against Wests in the Cup is any measure of ability (I think they had a few out at the U17's WC at the time?)

Tawa fail to score on the turf again, lose 2-0 to Lower Hutt, Tawa are surely favourites to go down now, cant see them winning 2 of there last 5 games when they have only won 1 out of  13.

Overall fair win for Lower Hutt.

Apart from the goals LH hit the crossbar twice...LH keeper made a good save when still at 1-0 & Tawa keeper made good double save.

For me, Tawa's best (apart from haircut ;-) ) player was the No. 10 - seemed to have some ability and good vision for a pass. Also showed desire needed as ran twice to get ball when a LH free kick to speed things up though looks like a "booking waiting to happen" at times & could have gone in the book for some shoving/retaliation imho.

For LH , No.16,  Jamie ? who scored 2nd goal looked dangerous though decision making at times was suspect.

Macca Watch: Has an un-canny ability to go from calm > head exploding rant > calm again in about 0.75 secs

In dugout..Tick

Shouting..Tick

All is normal  

...well, Team Taranaki was 'designed' to play in the Central League - because one (single) club from Taranaki couldn't keep up with the increased travel costs of being out of town every fortnight.

I'm not sure how they managed to get themselves relegated. Maybe hit a bit of apathy from being good enough to be in the league, but not good enough to challenge for the title...

Has the return of Macca saved Lower Hutt? 2-0 over Tawa.

Phew.  Thats a big win LHC.  

Half time at Napier - NCR 7 Olympic 0

fixed

15 mins into 2nd half - now 10 nil.   Olympic have 4 players on yellow cards

Back to the game

So does that even happen?

Final score NCR 10  Olympic 0

Off to the bar for no particular reason at all

Feel the burn

68' Let me know if you guys want me to untag you in these posts @WgtnOlympic #mcl15 10-0

— Napier City Rovers (@NCR_fc) July 19, 2015

Shots fired from NCR

did Olympic have a couple sent off or is it a just a classic meltdown. Would not want to be on the bus for the way home 

None sent off although I thought the ref - Anthony Riley - was feeling sorry for them and after dishing out 4 yellows, could have added a couple more.

Napier good, not great - Olympic abysmal and quite disappointing.

did they start drinking on the way up?

Greek meltdown #alignment.

must only play on artificials...

...grass allergies?

... no pay no play...

Things have gone well since they sacked Mock.

Did they send up the reserves? Maybe the first team will end up playing Cap Prem to save them from relegation

Full first team apart from Micky who was suspended and Luis Corrales who sat on the bench all game. Napier without Tom Biss and Fin Milne.

That is the first 10-0 scoreline I can remember in the modern history of Central League. Spectacular.

Wairarapa going back-to-back on the meltdown front (also a good wrap of the other results): http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/7035039...

I think Miramar beat Lower Hutt once 13-0 back in the early 2000's