Western and Pacific Premierships

bigfudge wrote:
Games in the East this weekend:

Western Rangers vs Gisborne United
Rangers have been trending well in recent weeks, a big result away against Thistle will be a huge boost for the side. United sitting top and with their quality and numbers, they have been travelling well this year. United to win this one surely.

Gisborne Thistle vs Port Hill United
Both teams coming off losses last round. Thistle will be hoping for some players to come back from injury as they try to keep up with the top 2. Port Hill sitting bottom as of now but only 4 points separate the bottom 6 teams. Thistle to get the win.

Havelock North Wanderers vs Maycenvale United
Wanderers will be looking to carry over their momentum from the Chatham Cup game and keep the pressure on Gisborne United. Vale started the season well but the two Gizzy trips were a bit of a hiccup for the side. Dakota Lucas coming back from suspension as well. Wanderers to win this one.

Napier City Rovers Res. vs Taradale AFC Res.
Battle of the reserve sides. Dale coming off the back of taking a point of Gisborne United, and a win over Takaro in the Fed Cup. Rovers Prems have shown flashes of quality football this year but yet to put together a good 90 minutes. May depend on what players drop from from Rovers CL squad. Going for a draw in this one.

mraotxt2 wrote:

 bigfudge wrote:
Games in the East this weekend:

Western Rangers vs Gisborne United
Rangers have been trending well in recent weeks, a big result away against Thistle will be a huge boost for the side. United sitting top and with their quality and numbers, they have been travelling well this year. United to win this one surely.

Gisborne Thistle vs Port Hill United
Both teams coming off losses last round. Thistle will be hoping for some players to come back from injury as they try to keep up with the top 2. Port Hill sitting bottom as of now but only 4 points separate the bottom 6 teams. Thistle to get the win.

Havelock North Wanderers vs Maycenvale United
Wanderers will be looking to carry over their momentum from the Chatham Cup game and keep the pressure on Gisborne United. Vale started the season well but the two Gizzy trips were a bit of a hiccup for the side. Dakota Lucas coming back from suspension as well. Wanderers to win this one.

Napier City Rovers Res. vs Taradale AFC Res.
Battle of the reserve sides. Dale coming off the back of taking a point of Gisborne United, and a win over Takaro in the Fed Cup. Rovers Prems have shown flashes of quality football this year but yet to put together a good 90 minutes. May depend on what players drop from from Rovers CL squad. Going for a draw in this one.

I agree with all your picks, though St Leonards can be a tough ground to travel too. Rangers are high on confidence and every game they have played has been tight. I’m picking GU as well, but a close win with some cards I would think. 

bigfudge wrote:
I remember HotChips doing some club profiles and I recently came across one of the more interesting ones.

Maycenvale United

Formed in 1975, beginning as a junior focused organization, representing the suburbs and schools of Mayfair, Central and Parkvale. Senior football followed a few years later as the club expanded, while playing out of their home base of Akina Park. The club has focused on being family-orientated that prioritised community involvement.

Through the 1980s and 1990s, Vale established themselves within HB football. They built a strong base of local Hastings players, the club slowly built up it's competitive senior teams and maintained one of the stronger footballing cultures in Hastings.

The club's golden era arrived during the late 2000s and early 2010s. Between 2007 and 2010, Maycenvale became one of the strongest sides in the Central region, winning multiple regional titles and developing a strong senior squad built around local talent like Tom Biss and Leon Birnie, with a mix of fresh imports in Bill Robertson, Chris Greatholder, Kyle Baxter, and plenty more. After several failed promotion attempts in earlier years, Vale finally earned their Central League status by defeating Upper Hutt City of Cap Prem, and then Team Taranaki in the relegation playoff, both over 2 legs. 

They competed in the Central League during 2011 and 2012, representing the peak of the club's footballing history. Although the side eventually struggled with the financial and depth demands required to stay in Central League long-term, it was still a remarkable achievement for a community-based Hastings club. Their 9th placed finishing in 2011 was followed up with a last place finish in 2012 and the club dropped down to Prems football.

The club have consistently remained in the Hawkes Bay Prems leagues ever since, remaining competitive with a consistent core of players. Previous seasons have resulted in 5th, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 2nd, and 4th place finishes, with the club currently sat 4th in the East Prem table. They play out of the Hastings Sports Park and feature 4 senior teams and plenty of youth teams.

mraotxt2 wrote:

 bigfudge wrote:
I remember HotChips doing some club profiles and I recently came across one of the more interesting ones.

Maycenvale United

Formed in 1975, beginning as a junior focused organization, representing the suburbs and schools of Mayfair, Central and Parkvale. Senior football followed a few years later as the club expanded, while playing out of their home base of Akina Park. The club has focused on being family-orientated that prioritised community involvement.

Through the 1980s and 1990s, Vale established themselves within HB football. They built a strong base of local Hastings players, the club slowly built up it's competitive senior teams and maintained one of the stronger footballing cultures in Hastings.

The club's golden era arrived during the late 2000s and early 2010s. Between 2007 and 2010, Maycenvale became one of the strongest sides in the Central region, winning multiple regional titles and developing a strong senior squad built around local talent like Tom Biss and Leon Birnie, with a mix of fresh imports in Bill Robertson, Chris Greatholder, Kyle Baxter, and plenty more. After several failed promotion attempts in earlier years, Vale finally earned their Central League status by defeating Upper Hutt City of Cap Prem, and then Team Taranaki in the relegation playoff, both over 2 legs. 

They competed in the Central League during 2011 and 2012, representing the peak of the club's footballing history. Although the side eventually struggled with the financial and depth demands required to stay in Central League long-term, it was still a remarkable achievement for a community-based Hastings club. Their 9th placed finishing in 2011 was followed up with a last place finish in 2012 and the club dropped down to Prems football.

The club have consistently remained in the Hawkes Bay Prems leagues ever since, remaining competitive with a consistent core of players. Previous seasons have resulted in 5th, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 2nd, and 4th place finishes, with the club currently sat 4th in the East Prem table. They play out of the Hastings Sports Park and feature 4 senior teams and plenty of youth teams.

The biggest missed opportunity for Maycenvale, (in my opinion) was that they never managed to establish a clubrooms. 
I could be wrong, but I think they were given an opportunity to build a clubrooms at the sport park when they moved from Akina Park. But funding or disagreements meant it never happened. 

They did create a pseudo clubrooms/bar in a shed at the sports park. However I don’t think they went through the correct process to get a license and they had to shut it down. I’m unsure if it’s open now or not?

bigfudge wrote:

 mraotxt2 wrote:

 bigfudge wrote:
I remember HotChips doing some club profiles and I recently came across one of the more interesting ones.

Maycenvale United

Formed in 1975, beginning as a junior focused organization, representing the suburbs and schools of Mayfair, Central and Parkvale. Senior football followed a few years later as the club expanded, while playing out of their home base of Akina Park. The club has focused on being family-orientated that prioritised community involvement.

Through the 1980s and 1990s, Vale established themselves within HB football. They built a strong base of local Hastings players, the club slowly built up it's competitive senior teams and maintained one of the stronger footballing cultures in Hastings.

The club's golden era arrived during the late 2000s and early 2010s. Between 2007 and 2010, Maycenvale became one of the strongest sides in the Central region, winning multiple regional titles and developing a strong senior squad built around local talent like Tom Biss and Leon Birnie, with a mix of fresh imports in Bill Robertson, Chris Greatholder, Kyle Baxter, and plenty more. After several failed promotion attempts in earlier years, Vale finally earned their Central League status by defeating Upper Hutt City of Cap Prem, and then Team Taranaki in the relegation playoff, both over 2 legs. 

They competed in the Central League during 2011 and 2012, representing the peak of the club's footballing history. Although the side eventually struggled with the financial and depth demands required to stay in Central League long-term, it was still a remarkable achievement for a community-based Hastings club. Their 9th placed finishing in 2011 was followed up with a last place finish in 2012 and the club dropped down to Prems football.

The club have consistently remained in the Hawkes Bay Prems leagues ever since, remaining competitive with a consistent core of players. Previous seasons have resulted in 5th, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 2nd, and 4th place finishes, with the club currently sat 4th in the East Prem table. They play out of the Hastings Sports Park and feature 4 senior teams and plenty of youth teams.

The biggest missed opportunity for Maycenvale, (in my opinion) was that they never managed to establish a clubrooms. 
I could be wrong, but I think they were given an opportunity to build a clubrooms at the sport park when they moved from Akina Park. But funding or disagreements meant it never happened. 

They did create a pseudo clubrooms/bar in a shed at the sports park. However I don’t think they went through the correct process to get a license and they had to shut it down. I’m unsure if it’s open now or not?

Definitely would have been a contirbuting factor with their decline. It's hard to grow a player and fan base if you don't have a place for everyone to meet after games or just for club events.

I heard rumors that it got shut down after they were selling alcohol unlicensed and that it's more of a shed than anything else. Big missed opportunity if that bit about disagreements is true.

Has anyone actually been in them? 

mraotxt2 wrote:
Games in the east this week

The massive Thistle v Gis United Derby 
Harry Barker 

Gisborne United hosting on their super thin pitch, I think Thistle will put up a better fight than the season opener, they have played well the last few weeks. Big chance of cards and controversy with these sides and the ref. But I’m picking United to win a tight one. 
2-1

Taradale v Havelock North
Taradale Park #2
Kicking off at the same time as the CL2 game on the pitch next door. I think this will be a simple win for Havelock North. Taradale played well last week, but were eventually opened up by a young NCR team. Havelocks ball movement and depth on the bench should make this simple. 
5-0

Maycenvale v Port Hill
Hastings Sports Park 

I get the feel long Port Hill are due a big result. Played well away to Thistle last week, conceded a goal in the 75th minute and then two more to lose 3-0. Maycenvale struggling for numbers the last few weeks, only two on the bench the previous game. I’m picking Port to Win a high scorer 
6-3 

Western Rangers v NCR Res 
St Leonards

Rangers have been brilliant some weeks and then absolutely awful the following week. With Rovers first team at home on Sunday, I’m picking a strong side will show up in Hastings. NCR to win
4-1


 

bigfudge wrote:
Predictions out East:

Maycenvale United vs Gisborne Thistle
Maycenvale arresting their slump in form and drop down the table with a win over their cross town rivals at Western Rangers, and without anybody getting suspended as well! Thistle coming off their result of the season with a strong win over Havelock at Childers. As long as Thistle travel with decent numbers this is theres for the taking. Thistle win.

Gisborne United vs Havelock North Wanderers
Game of the season? Basically a cup final for both sides, a win for United would put them 6 points ahead of the Wanderers with only a few games left and then the top 4, bottom 4 split. A win for Wanderers would put them back on level points with United (albeit still 2nd due to United's insane goal difference). Could easily go either way but I think United's home advantage could be the tipping point. Gisborne United win.

Port Hill United vs Napier City Rovers Prems
Identical records except for the fact Rovers have conceded 25 goals this season where Port have conceded 34. In the first round this game ended 2-1 to Port Hill on Bluewater. Rovers playing away in the cup to Palmy Marist this week so could maybe see a few players switching teams, who knows. Rovers to win this one.

Western Rangers vs Taradale FC Prems
Western Rangers in 8th, Dale in 7th. Both teams have shown flashes this season but failed to string together consistent results. Leaning towards Dale winning this one.

hotchips wrote:
West Results

NPBHS 3 - 3 Takaro
Marist Reserves 1 - 3 NP Rangers
FC Western Reserves 3 - 2 Levin
Feilding 3 - 0 Moturoa
Whanganui Athletic 3 - 0 PNU Reserves

bigfudge wrote:
Just watched the live stream of the Gisborne United game and don't think I've ever seen such an ill disciplined team in my life. Terrible challenges, telling people to get up after obvious fouls, benches comments towards ref and other team were terrible, kicking the ball away and at players well after whistle was blew, and yelling at the ref at every possible chance they could get. It would be nice to see some Gisborne representation if possible in CL2 next year but christ the team needs a wake up call about their behavior.

Don't think I've ever seen a team that puts in challenges like that complain about the most softest touches on their players.