Mainland Premier League (Part 1)

Very interesting summary.

18s and 17s are neglected by so many clubs (17s kinda understandable given its time clash with PDL).

Mid Canty - 8th div 1, no PDL, 18D3 and no 17s....

Random forum question: why do schools take a different approach to entering girls teams into Mainland Saturday leagues than they do for boys? Is it only a question of lower numbers? Gender politics? Am i missing something, or is it just double standards, plain and simple.

I put it down to history and tradition. A few of the boys schools have been in saturday comp longer than most of the clubs in town. Saturday sport is a big part of the all boys schools and the wednesday comps are seen as social and subpar.

We've had 6 schools entered in Superyouth-U/19s-U/18s over the last decade. 4 are all boys, 1 was all boys (STAC) and 1 is co-ed (burnside). Burnside has only had 1 team (1st XI) in saturday comp for years, while the others try field teams in 14s, 15s and 17s too.

Also I'd say more of the girls make it in the womens competitive grades. It seems easier for a younger girl to make it in thr WMPL than it is for the boys

One is Gagame Feni's younger brother. To be honest I haven't seen them play but heard they have been on the bench for the first division team. Gagame Feni going back to the Solomons is huge. He is hands down the best player in Nelson at the moment. Both of the new Sollys will be playing for Nayland College at secondary school nationals. 

Suburbs took a big gamble by not bringing back Jerry Donga, who was actually pretty handy last year.

Other interesting news is that FC Nelson's two Solomon imports have also gone home. Heard a rumour that Henry Fa'arado told FC Nelson he wasn't keen to play Nelson first div (makes sense when hes an international captain starting in ASB Premiership finals) but have also heard that he told the club he could be back. The other one, Moffat Killifa, seemed pretty poor to be honest. But unsure why he left.

It would be hugely controversial, but imagine if Nelson Suburbs picked Henry up instead. Handy replacement for Gagame.

Other rumours include former Suburb Sam Ayers (who is lightning quick and was a previous golden boot winner) could be back before the season is up. 

The ASB Premiership bid from Nelson officially gets processed this week. It is intended that the new franchise would be up and running for next season, so explains why we are seeing so many players return to the region - Mike White, Mike Bothwell, Jordan Swaney, Paul Dirou, Coey Turipa etc.

Jamie Doris has been released by Hibernian in Scotland - don't be surprised to see him back if Nelson's ASB Premiership bid goes ahead. Tommy Lancaster potentially is another one.

I reckon the Nelson bid is extremely exciting for all players and supporters. Lots of ramifications for Mainland of course. Interesting times.

Yes it will be interesting to see if there is an increase in the current 8 teams, 2 round format or do they stay at 8 and go to 3 rounds. Will the existing eight teams all throw a entry for the next ASB Premiership. I hear there is strong bids from both a North Shore team and on from South Auckland as well but cannot see both Aucklands bid getting the nod if all the current teams are back, however four teams from Auckland would make sence for travel costs extra. Would also break down the power base of both Auckland City and Waitakere but maybe the dealt nail for Waikato FC.

Long team finance will be a bid factor for any new entry, there are stories about an off-shore backer for the Nelson bid but it will be money in the bank that is likely to seal the deal. 

Tonight's English Cup result Hornby 1 Ferrymead Bays 5, Bays will play FC Twenty11 in the quarter finals. 

Big wknd of football starting 2mo.  I'm picking Coastal to just sneak past Western, FC2011 to get smoked by Nelson, Utd to lose by 4 to Halswell and hoping for Tech win against Bays. 

The Uni lot are doing a bit of a facebook promo for the Chatham Cup to get heapsa people down for the game on Monday against Coastal. BBQ, beers and banter apparantly. Time for some more student riots I reckon!

Results via ZB

FC Twenty11 1 Suburbs 3

ChCh United 1 Halswell 1

Cash Tech 1 Bays 1

Coastal Spirit 3 Western 1

So Bays lead cut three points. Bays 22, Suburbs 19, Coastal 19, Halswell 18, Tech 17, United 10, Western and FC both on 8

and women's

FC Twenty 1 Halswell 1

Coastal 3 Western 1

Cashmere Technical 3 University 0

Coastal 24, Tech 16, FC Twenty 16, Western 13, Halswell 5, University 1.  

Games for the next round

Friday

FC 2011 vs. Cashmere Tech

Saturday

Halswell vs. Coastal

Western vs. Bays

Sunday

Suburbs vs. ChCh United

The Chathan up game on Monday between Western and FC will have plenty of interest.

Other games Cashmere Tech vs Halswell, University vs. Coastal and in Nelson FC Nelson vs Suburbs

Women's KO Cup: Cashmere Tech vs. Coastal 

In Divison 1 heard leaders Nomads defeated second placed Cashmere Tech 1 - 0 so I think that will mean Nomads will be four points clear with half the season gone, as Selwyn also lost to Universities.

Coastal vs Western, was an entertaining game with lotsa end to end action and drama. 2 goals to Gareth which must bump him up the golden boot stakes. Western still had a few chances (one was a 2 yard tap in that missed) and pulled one back to make it 3-1 with 20 to go but that's how it ended. 

Certainly an interesting points table.

Gareth now on ten goals the same as Ash Wellbourn. Vim, what is the word on Ash, how long is he out with his injury???

Deffo 6 weeks, perhaps the season.  Boo!

Whats the word on any replacements, hear Coastal are chasing several players from out West. 

No idea, I get my gossip from here.  Who have you heard of?

Players from Western. If they do happen we could call Coastal, Western 'B'

Considering the positions on the table it would more likely be Western A.

True

Merger!

Chatham Cup

Cashmere Tech. 6 Halswell 1

FC Nelson 1 Suburbs 9

Univ 1 Coastal Spirit 2 - University were 1 up at the break

Western 3 FC 2011 0

FC Nelson went up in the first five minutes thanks to a Sean Parkes penalty. I don't think they even had a shot in target for the rest of the game. Mike White scored four. Gagame Feni captained the side in his final appearance.

Anyone got a match report of the Coastal near-banana skin (?) v students?

Southern Region (Mainland Football and Football South)
Cashmere Technical v Nelson Suburbs
Western v University
Coastal Spirit v Dunedin Technical
Caversham v Roslyn Wakari

I’ll bite.  Was very close affair with some young and skilful players in the Universities side.  They played a relatively tight defensive game, however the possession stakes in the game would have probably been around 75% Coastal.  Uni scored after half an hour with a keeper calamity, (he gets a backpass and kicks it straight to the attacker who slots it home).  Certainly made for a nerve-racking last hour seeing as the second half started with a few half chances for Uni.  Once golden-boot Turnbull arrived from the Women’s game he tapped one in and Nicol scored without 10 to go.

Thoroughly enjoying game, typical of cup football. 

Interesting draw for the Mainland sides, with only Suburbs having to travel, with Unversity (Otago) and Dunedin Technical, who are leading in the FootballSouth league coming north, maybe a double header at ASB Football Park. Dunedin Technical unbeaten - 6 wins and 2 draws from eight games and Otago University W 3, D 3, L 2.

Were is the power in the South? There could be no Christchurch sides left after the next round, if this was the case does the MacFarlane Cup get shared three ways. 

Thanks Vim.

That whats makes the Chatham Cup, smaller teams getting up and causing the upset (not in Coastal's case). It has been a very long time since the Cup came south let alone ChCh. 1999 Dunedin Technical and ChCh United 1991. The last ChCh side to make the Cup Final was Rangers in 1993 losing 6 - zip to Napier City Rovers. 

Women's KO 1/4 Final draw out, rematch from last season with Coastal having the home advantage over Roslyn Wakari. 

Full draw (played June 16/17):

Eastern Suburbs v Claudelands Rovers
Glenfield Rovers v Three Kings United
Massey v Seatoun
Coastal Spirit v Roslyn-Wakari

From The Press today:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/sport/7048358/Champ-in-two-countries

Was interesting to see Uni score against Coastal. They have definitely been the best team we have struck in the 1st round (never mind the fact it was the biggest loss we have suffered in 2 odd years). One of our guys transferred up from Dun. Tech this year and Tech and Caversham are a long way in front of the others in Dunedin, as is usual. They are evenly matched and drew earlier this year apparently. Uni (Otago) varies so much with students etc and Roslyn from what I hear are probably delighted to be there. Long gone are their glory days.

  If Western can't beat Otago Uni I will be suprised as a big club in Chch should be able to roll a smaller club from Dunedin. Don't know who I will support. Used to play for Western as a kid, and Uni when I was down there. Otherwise go Chch teams!

Yay Satdy games!

Yep, shows the esteem which you are held in within the club Vim.

Is Western really a big club these days? Granted Uni only has 4? senior teams down there, but Western isn't exactly the chch powerhouse it once was

Good point, but was thinking according to status/number of University teams also.

Extrapolating things out, have to wonder how Team Otago does relatively poorly in ASB Premiership with 2 top club sides (going by past Chatham cup results) Canterbury does well with lesser performing sides (again by past Chatham cup results). 

If I can offer some insight, I'll say the senior base of players in the FPL, the stars for the 2 big clubs etc, don't tend to value the National League as much and off course many players are out of town. If Otago United was picked by solely the best 11 players in the FPL, it would be a much stronger team. Of the team that finished last season for Otago U, I would say only 4, maybe 5 at a stretch could lay claim to being the best player in thier position in Dunedin.

Don't get me wrong, Western has a proud history (including me playing for them once upon a time) but sadly the junior ranks have pretty much vanished, the Womens is nowhere near as strong as it once was, but the mens top teams are still strong...for now.

I can see Western beating University, Nelson scraping past Ca$hTech, Caversham winning against R/W and I thing the Coastal vs D-Tech game will be an absolute cracker (with Mr G Turnbull belting in the winner about 3 minutes from time)

Three wins to Dunedin Teams. 

Do not underestimate Varsity, they are probably the No 3 Dunedin Team. Trouble is sometimes they just dont turn up, people and mentally. They play very attacking football.

Looking at the Mainland site all footy off this weekend in apart from the Western verses Bays game which has now been switched to Barnett Park.