Mainland Premier League

Selwyn gets bigger, Halswell gets smaller?

Someone at preseason tourney at Waimak said numbers at Selwyn going through the roof.  Like Waimak, quakes have shifted players out, they have good facilities (also getting new well lit grounds next year), Academy/quality coaches etc. Girls grades in every age bracket except WPL. 

Totally looking forward to tomorrow, I heart football on a Satdy. I pick wins for Tech, Western (sigh), Nelson and Bays.

MPL update thus far, Bays and Nomads drew 1-1, Bays led 1 nil at half time should have put game to bed but allowed a controversial equaliser 15 or so minutes into the second half (looked a clear foul on Highfield to me). Little goalmouth action thereafter in truth with neither keeper making a save of note. Bays will no doubt improve when Kamo and co come back into the side, not sure about Nomads, despite the promising result a think they're in for a long season with a lot of "battling" performances

Western 2 nil up after half an hour v Coastal when i left, thought they looked really good, wouldn't be surprised if final score is a lot more

In the two games Nomads have had the starting X1 on the field they've drawn with Bays and Tech, admittedly pre season in the later but Tech only missing Terris and Kelly.

I'll say again Nomads will not be in the bottom 3 spots. 

Yer Western were good. Better second half from Coastal but well beaten 2-0. Tech scored direct from corner after 5 min to go 1 0 up over Halswell.

CashTech did it easy today 4-0 over Halswell. In The Press today said they would love to push into top three. Can't see that on today's performance. CashTech were too good and could of won by more.

Mainland Premier League

Cashmere Technical 4 (Danny Boys 2, Andy Barton, Shawn O'Brian) Halswell 0
HT 3 - 0

Ferrymead Bays 1 (Michael White) Nomads 1 (Daniel Burns) HT 1 - 0

Western 2 (Jacob Allen, Geoff MacIntyre) Coastal Spirit 0 HT 2 - 0

Delated Double posting

Good luck to Universities today. Genuinely interested to see how they equip themselves this season. 

Going verry well at the moment, scored after 8 mins to lead 1 - nil midway through first half.

2 up

HT In Nelson and Univ. still leading 2 - 0.

Sorry not up there but a great result so far foe Universities. Early days yet but those (most) that were picking the students to finish with the wooden spoon will be put on notice.

60 mins gone and Univ. still leading 2 - 0.

VARSITY 3 up now.

 Nelson in for a scrap to avoid going down looking like a team from a lower division today.

 Nelson in for a scrap to avoid going down looking like a team from a lower division today.

4 nil another defensive blunder by Nelson.

Now 4 nil.

Penalty Nelson but saved.

Sam Ayers scores for Nelson to make it 1 - 4 into added time.

FT Suburbs 1 Universities 4

Love it lol

Scorers from today:

Nelson Suburbs 1 (Sam Ayers) Universities 4 (Hamish Foy 2, Tom Burgess, Caleb Baker) HT 0 - 2

So Tech 1st, Univ 2rd, Western 3rd, Bays  & Nomads 4th=, Coastal 6th, Suburbs 7th, Halswell 8th.

Games next round:

Coastal  vs. Suburbs

Halswell vs. Western

Nomads vs. Cashmere Tech

Universities vs. Bays

How did Nomads not get a penalty in the first half of the game v Bays?

Player gets kicked in the face goes off required stitches. No pen but ref gives apologies at half time for getting it wrong. 

Just do it correct in the first instance. 

Always had it drummed in get the big calls correct and don't be the talking point after the game.  Don't they teach that to the refs anymore? 

Good game by the officials in Nelson today.

We'll done guys.

Great statement of intent fron Uni today, congratulations to them.

4-1 to universities,  that would have to be up there in the 'only in our wildest dreams' category at the start of the game surely?! Well done to them. Good for mpl football to have more competitive teams

Worst I've seen Suburbs play. Probably ever. Ben Wright had a very off day, but remember was MPL striker of the year last year, so I'm sure he'll come right. I think the 42 year old in midfield certainly showed his age and was run through all day. Suburbs tactic of hoof it long to the strikers was not only the most boring thing to watch but very ineffective.

The concept of 'Nelson going down' would be a strange one. I think it'd actually be a huge boost for Nelson's first division, as currently Suburbs basically have the top 20 players in the city. If they went back to the local competition it'd spread that talent to other clubs.

The loss of Mark Johnston to rugby, and Coey Turipa to wherever he's gone, has already hurt them.

That's an unbelievable result for Uni first up.. From all reports played Nelson off the park and could have had a few more, clear penalty waved away after 5mins with Nelson awarded a dubious one late on. Whoever said Uni would be favourites for the drop must be wishing they never did :). Another tough test against Bays next week, but confidence aplenty im sure