Battle for the bronze

The battle for third place in the Federation League hots up today as all three sides in contention strive for maximum points as the season’s end nears.

With the top and runner-up league spots now locked up by Havelock North Wanderers and Napier Marist, respectively, two Palmerston North sides and Wanganui Athletic are in a dogfight for third place with four rounds to go. North End hold a two-point lead over Palmerston North Marist and Athletic, and meet ninth-placed Hokowhitu at Skoglund Park today.

With the return of leading goal poacher Nathan Cooksley and the experienced Cameron Dearlove, North End should prove a handful for Hokowhitu, who they swept aside 7-1 earlier this season. But North End coach Garry Hodge said he wasn’t taking anything for granted – especially after they dropped two points last weekend in their draw with Red Sox-manawatu¯ .

Hokowhitu brushed past Palmerston North Boys’ High last weekend, scoring six against the schoolboys in their third win of the season.

Fourth-placed Palmerston North Marist play Boys’ High in the feature clash at Memorial Park, Palmerston North, today, after comfortably beating the schoolboys 7-1 earlier in the season.

Marist manager Rachel Findon said they would be looking at giving some of their younger talent a run.

However, Marist last weekend lost at home to Wanganui Athletic, enabling the River City side to join them on the points ladder, so they will be keen to atone.

Boys’ High coach Steve Dawson said his last-placed team were having a ‘‘mercurial’’ season – up one week, down the next.

This week they knocked over Napier Boys’ 5-3 in an inter-school fixture, improving from 3-3 after leading by three early in the game.

Their league situation this season – four points after 12 outings – is in stark contrast to their fortunes last year in the Horizons Premiership, when they conquered all they encountered.

At Massey University today, the students will be looking for revenge against Red Sox, who they lost 3-1 to in their first meeting this season. That made Massey the underdogs, said coach Donald Piper, but the students should be at full strength and on something of a high after scoring six against New Plymouth Rangers last weekend.

Red Sox should also be pretty happy after their draw with North End last weekend and will be bolstered by the return from suspension of Rhys Janes. This game has the hallmarks of a tight encounter between two evenly matched sides.

Athletic will be up against it this weekend in their bid to stay with North End and Palmerston North Marist as they play away against second-placed Napier Marist, who are having a strong debut year in the league.

Napier edged Athletic 1-0 when they first met this season.