Hey Cap Football- are you going to make a song and dance about the fact that the past three Chatham Cup winners have come from your geo-socialogical purview? Coincidence much?
Three different teams too, which is pretty cool.
And four of the past six finalists.
Don't think that it is a coincidence although the clubs would possibly suggest that Capital Football wasn't the reason why. There are a number of reasons in relation to the Central League competition, some obviously debatable:-
Quality of players. A number of the teams have ASB Premiership players in their squads. This should raise the playing standard.
Professionalism of the teams. Again probably varies, but generally the clubs are committed to providing a high standard on and off the field.
The variety the Central teams provide, the travel, different styles.
The strength of the teams in the Premier League. Upper Hutt beat Tawa in the Chatham Cup, Stop Out lost 1 - 0 to Napier and Wgtn United beat Olympic and lost to Wairarapa 1 - 0 in extra time.
The intense rivalry between the clubs and the desire to win the league. Matt Calcott quoted in the DomPost "I've been to three cup finals but the league is always a priority". "It's over 18 games and this Central League is fantastic - look at all the teams who have made the cup finals in the last few years"
The closeness of the League. Look at these results:-
Tawa beat Olympic twice, beat Wairarapa, Wests and drew with Miiramar
Petone beat Miramar, Olympic and drew with Napier
Maycenvale beat Lower Hutt twice and drew with Olympic and Wairarapa
PN Marist beat Wests and Lower Hutt, drew with Wairarapa
Keeping the league interesting. Trying to cut down on having meanginless games. That's why the title winning games are kept to as close as possible to the end of the season. In the last month every game Napier and Wairarapa played they had to win to keep in touch with Miramar. This may have aided their cup runs.
Hope this helps