Mainland Premier League

3 teams dropped out although one was 'relegated' and has remained in Masters 2.

This is our first year in Masters and we entered Masters 3, but I offered to MF this week that if they could convince one of the 3 teams to stay in Masters 1, then we would move to Masters 2, meaning no byes in any grade (currently byes in 1 and 3)

They didn't reply but came out with query to the Clubs this week. - our offer is still there...

Hard to believe that anyone playing masters would accept a bye. Is not it all about having a kick around. A bit of exercise for some who should actually be doing the hovering or lawns or something?  A game and a beer to follow what else is it about. If you want to be serious then stay in senior football Ryan Giggs, Andy Pitman, Dave Mawhinney and such like.

Coastal 1, Nelson 0   (Turnbull tap-in)

Uni 1, Bays 2

Halswell 0, Western 3

Nomads 0, Tech 4

Coastal 2 - 0 Nelson

Uni 1 - 1 Bays

Western 2 - 1 Halswell

Tech 3 - 1 Nomads

The other problem is in Masters 1 they only play against 4 teams the whole season...

Masters shouldn't be graded or scores kept or played at same time as MPL. Let's see these passionate footballers passionately supporting their clubs' first teams or coaching or reffing or administering. Masters should only ever be social football. Turn up. Have a kick around, a few laughs and a beer.

Coastal 4 Nelson 3

Halswell 0 Western 3

Uni 0 Bays 0

Nomads 0 Tech 1

Points 

Western, Tech 6

Uni 4

Coastal 3

Bays 2

Nomads 1

Nelson, Halswell 0

Is this turning into a 2 horse race between Western and Tech?

PFL Scoers Round 2

Coastal Spirit 4 (Gareth Turnbull 3, Donald Kilden) Nelson  Suburbs 3 (Wesley Olea, Sean Parkes, Davi Maciel) HT 1 - 3 Suburbs had two players sent off after receiving a second yellow with I think another 5 yellows in a game that was not dirty.

Halswell 0 Western 3 (Dave Mawhinney 2, Geoff MacIntyre) HT 0 - 1
Nomads 0 Cashmere Technical 1 (Cory Mitchell HT 0 - 0
Universities 0 Ferrymead Bays 0

Western and Technical yet to concede a goal with Halswell yet to score.

Golden Bootl

Garth Turnbull (CS) 3

Danny Boys (CT) 2, Dave Mawhinney (West.) 2, Geoff MacIntyre (West.) 2, Hamish Foy (Univ.) 2

Games for the next round.

Cashmere Tech vs Universities

Ferrymead Bays vs. Nelson Suburbs

Halswell vs. Coastal Spirit

Western vs. Nomads

Re Masters: I'm surprised MF just didn't tell everybody that it going to be run in a certain way and go with it.

Last year we requested Pressies B, dropping down from Pressies A. They said no and when I said a few of our guys mightn't play due to this and may struggle to field a team, they said 'no, that's the way it is and tough luck if your guys don't play'

GT is worth 28 points this week if you have him as your captain...lol

Looks like Uni are holding their own just nicely after 2 games so far.  I reckon a mid table finish for them wouldnt be out of the question.

Uni - Tech will be a game that will give a good indication of where the students are at - or not.

Where's your all time top goal scorer list AW82?

Here is the updated tally after Saturday's round: (scroll down unsure why the format is like this).

Other interesting stats so far this season, Gareth Turnbull, Dave Mawhinney and Michael White have all scored this season as well as the opening MPL season in 2002.

Gareth's 2nd goal yesterday was the 3500th MPL goal. His hat-trick was his 6th in the MPL and now puts him level on the top of the MPL hat-trick list with Dan Ede.  Of Gareth's hat-tricks half are against Suburbs - 1 fror Western and two for Coastal Spirit.

Would be good for every team to have Nelson relegated. It is a big effort and expensive to get up their for 90 mins. NELSON OUT!

Ooh, them fighting words. I thought the Nelson region also have a playoff game against top of Div 1 should they want to do so.

Lol. Nelson and top of the south generally is an important part of the mainland regions talent pool - and more coming through too.

Nelson falcons comfortably the best team in the youth league just finished, with a very young squad.

Of the mainland team that WON the national FTC U15 championships in December I think 5-6 of the squad were from top of the south.

Mainland ONLY player at last U17 World Cup is from Nelson and it is quite possible he will be the federations only U20 rep at next years U20 World Cup. Nelson out? LOL!

I think it would be the worst thing that could happen to the league if Nelson Suburbs finished bottom. Suburbs have set the standards on of off the field and a few clubs could learn a thing or two of the ttree time champions. Since the league was formed in 2002 the worst they have finished is 7th 3 times, 1 5th, and eight times in the top 3, 3 x 1st, 3 x 2nd and 3 x 3rd.

Currently they have the most wins, only 64 losses from 236 game and have best goals difference.

Yes if we want to lower the standards of the MPL, which is not that flash throughout the entire league any way then I can see why people want Suburbs to finish bottom.  

One final thing so far since 2002 Sububs have had to traveled to Christchurch 115 times and I have yet to hear them say they cannot afford it.

Well said GG

settle pettles. just an opinion, 1 team has to be relegated and for me nelson would be ideal. I dont beleive the quality would drop because if they finish on the bottom, then they obviously dont have enough quality.

Nelson won't be bad enough to get dropped. Interesting though that their decision not to bring over any Solomon Islanders this year coincides with a poor start..

Agree Luis I know it is early in the season but from what O have seen so far Suburbs will not finish at the bottom, at least they are getting into scoring positions and more importantly are scoring goals, may not finish near the top but should finish well clear of the bottom. Also will get better with games under theie belts and will be the stronger once Skippy is back on the park.

At least Nelson are scoring goals, not sure what Halswell are going to do about that? In their defence they have started the season playing possibly the 2 top sides, fairly important game against Coastal this Saturday., first time back at the nest may help them? Other games unbeaten Tech and Uni go head to head, Nomads have another tough one v Western and Nelson return to town minus a couple of players to tackle an under performing Bays. Interesting weekend.

Don't know how MF get out of this mess. I am surprised given some of their decisions in the past where they don't consult with anyone, and just make rules for everyone that this time they went and asked for the clubs opinions. 

They should have just said 2 leagues of 12 and be done with it, sure it would mean 3-4 tough games a year for the current Masters 2 teams, but that's not an insurmountable issue I wouldn't have thought...

Saw the Nomads v CTFC afterwards. I think Tulett number one has been sized down (part of WOF plan maybe) or just Hutchy and Mike using their nouse.

can only hope Ray Hicks does not hear about this small pitch

The amount of hassle Coastal got last year about the smaller pitch I'm just glad someone else can share the burden.