Mainland Premier League

You always said this page has all the hot news.

Not sure about this one but I have heard Ben Deeley to Coastal. All these southern players leaving the Southern league is going the make  South Island league pretty unappealing. 

Absolutely agree - if any more 'Football South' officers decide to play in Christchurch then I think their positions should be called into question.

Another point though, I get that Coughlan is a decent player - but are there not significant drawbacks from not training all season? Can't understand why Cashmere would see this as a better alternative than a Chch based striker.

They have Turkey, I mean Tuckey leading their lines lol.... they definitely need another striker and Coughlan will be that person.

Where will Kowal go then? And what about Hoyle - would they not push for him?

I just think a club with real ambitions don't just get a player in who can play on weekends - my understanding is that is what he essentially did at Dunedin Tech and that didn't end up too well in the end

Unsure what Maksum Kowal will be up to but Stephen Hoyle is off to Canada to play in the new Canada Premier League which kicks off in May.

Kowal will be heading back overseas for the second season of Love Island UK.

Tech are so desperate to win that they always accommodate "Superstars" even if to the detriment of their culture. A player flying in and flying out game day is basically what Clapham has done the past few years. I fail to see why players like Thoms, Inwood,Tuckey,Lapslie ever accept that. Smash out a full pre season then 4 weeks in not play another minute to players that dont train...

In other news. Few Chch United boys doing a uturn back to Bays. CCL just aint fun and Bays aint so bad after all. 

See you in the MPL

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Thoms has gone back to Western.....

Believe that Garbhan Coughlan has signed for Cashmere Technical and will be training with them as well, understand at least one other Christchurch club were chasing the striker as well.

Not really the same with Aaron Clapham as he is based in Christchurch and pretty sure once he starts turning out for Cashmere Technical he does train with them.

I think Johnny Inwood is playing in the CCL this season for Christchurch United.

Deeley is heading to the USA in July. Family is based closer to Chch than Dunedin...

Thank you AW82 for representing Tech. Its been many years since I trained with them but I do know Claps very rarely trains even when playing. I also got told Coughlan is employed by Southern and therefore cant be based in Chch to train. You can defend Cashmere all you like but i believe your facts are wrong for once.

As for all these Southern players coming up, I would be disappointed if Coastal have joined the desperate bandwagon and getting players in for weekends only. I expect better from them. That aint good for Southern or Mainland. 

Oh and for an accurate prediction and not silly bias ones where ppl think Nomads will be in the top 5 LOL

1 Cash Tech or Coastal

2 Cash tech or Coastal

3 Nelson

4 Western

5 Bays

6 Selwyn

7 Nomads

8 FC

Western are a lock in top 5 and on their way up. Not sure out of Bays and Selwyn. Two even teams. Bays experience may just get them over the line.

Nomads are lucky FC are terrible otherwise they be going down.

Unless Western have recruited 70% new players then they will struggle. They weren't that good last year in CCL. 

Many players seem to have gone back to Bays so they may surprise.

Not defending Tech just correcting statements which I know are incorrect.

I also think Western will be strong this year. They have signed maybe the best coach in the league 

Anyone that has access to Comet able to post the MPL squads for this weekends round. Cheers in advance.

Mainland Premier League - Round 3

FC Twenty11 2 Ferrymead Bays 3

Nelson Suburbs 4 Nomads 2

Selwyn 0 Cashmere Technical 2

Today's scorers:

FC Twenty11 2 (Alex Williams, Alex Johnston) Ferrymead Bays 3 (Jamie Draper, Ryan Nicolson, Scott Rowlands) HT 0 - 0

Nelson Suburbs 4 (Jordan Yong 2, Cameron Gordon, Eddie Sillars) Nomads 2 (Jacob Anderson, Liam Paterson) HT 1 - 1

Selwyn 0 Cashmere Technical 2 (Andy Tuckey - pen, Finbar Gallaway) HT 0 - 2

Western vs.Coastal Sunday at 1pm at Walter Park

Team                                P     W     D     L     F     A     GD     Pts

Ferrymead Bays              2      2      0      0     5      2      3        6

Nelson Suburbs               2      1      1      0     4      2      2        4

Coastal Spirit                   1      1      0      0     4      0      4        3

Cashmere Technical        2      1      0      1     3      2      1        3

Selwyn                             2      1      0      1     6      6      0        3

Western                           1      0      1      0     0      0      0        1

Nomads                           2      0      0      2     6      10    -4       0

FC Twenty                       2      0      0      2      2      7     -5       0

Western 2 (Ryan Stanley, Fraser Angus) Coastal Spirit 1 (Tristan Nicol)

Interesting match-ups for the next round .

Saturday

Ferrymead Bays vs Nelson Suburbs Midday - English Park

Coastal Spirit vs Cashmere Technical - 2pm English Park - first time Hurley Shield is on the line this season

Selwyn vs FC Twenty11 - 2:45pm Foster Park

Sunday

Nomads vs. Western - Midday Tulett Park

Isn't it Nomads v Western at Tulett park Sunday??

Yes you are correct, my bad. I will alter my posting above.

Yes you are correct, my bad. I will alter my posting above.

Have ammended again as the Coastal Spirit vs Cashmere Technical now kicking-off at 2pm 

Any news on dragons availability?

For those staying in Christchurch assume they will be able to play once gear etc has been return, if the are not having a break. 

You would think most of the youth players will want to get back playing asap as most must be sick of just training in recent months..

Players heading away off shore that we know of are, Gary Oglivie, Stephen Hoyle, Brock Messenger and James Pendrigh. 

Speaking of Gary Oglivie any drums beats on his replacement as Youth Development Office at Mainland?

Some of the other non based Christchurch 'imports' may have to head off shore due to visa or work status etc.

Sounds like Seam Liddicoat will be on the sideline for awhile with injury, unsure of injury updates on the likes of Cory Mitchell anf George King.

Off to see the Phoenix this weekend, so missing all the action in the MPL. Lots of twitter updates please and reviews of the games.

Thanks in advance.

Cory Mitchell has done an ACL so will miss the entire winter (and then some, you'd expect).

Where are Ogilvie, Messenger, and Pendrigh headed?

Ogilvie a coaching gig in the US and Meesnger and Pendrigh playing across the ditch.

...in Newcastle. In the NSW Northern region league. Nowhere near NSW NPL level. 

Possibly true. However I fail to see how it will affect the MPL when he is coaching in the junior grades...

Results

Coastal 0 Cashmere Tech 2

Ferrymead Bays 0 Nelson Suburbs 3

Selwyn 3 FCTwenty11 3

I noticed Coa$tal have a certain player back that has been around the Nomads camp unless I'm mistaken.

$8k That said “certain player” will really help them turn things around lol

Even though my team got the big W today (after a poor opening couple of games) I’m really wanting refs to start being consistent from week to week. Too many inconsistent decisions ruining plays/attacks is just pish poor. Can anyone tell me if the sin bin rule is being in place? That ones a joke as most teams could end up with 7/8 players a side 

Yes Sin Bin is still in place

Today's scorers and updated table:

Men's

Coastal Spirit 0 Cashmere Technical 2 (Andy Tuckey, Finbar Gallaway) HT 0 - 1 - Cashmere Technical win Hurley Shield

Ferrymead Bays 0 Nelson Suburbs 3 (James McClay 2, Eddie Sillars) HT 0 - 2

Selwyn 3 (Hami Davey-Brown, Declan Hickford, Liam Pledger) FC Twenty11 3 (Alex Williams, C Botterill, Cullam Smith) HT 1 - 1

Nomads play Western on Sunday at Midday.

Final result:

Nomads 2 (Farhad Ahmadi , Mika Rabuka)  Western 1 (Ryan Stanley HT 2 -1