Royals versus Roslyn looks to be pick of cup derbies

IT is Cup weekend on the national football scene.

The Chatham and Kate Sheppard Cups both begin their first rounds tomorrow, as teams across New Zealand play their derby games in the national knockout tournaments.

Several of those games will be scattered around the South as teams seek to win their way out of the intrafederation matchups.

The pick of the southern derbies seems to be the Chatham Cup encounter between the South City Royals and Roslyn Wakari at Ellis Park tomorrow.

Both are in the top four of the Southern Premier League and are clubs possessing plenty of quality.

It will be the Royals’ first cup match, having been formed this season as a combination of several clubs — notably Dunedin Technical and Caversham at the top level.

Mosgiel will host the other game in the Dunedin area against Timaru side West End.

Timaru’s Thistle will host Green Island, while Queenstown travels to Geraldine.

Wanaka will play host to Queens Park and Grants Braes will travel to Gore.

Northern and Otago University both have byes through to the second round.

In the Kate Sheppard Cup, 2018 champion Dunedin Technical will begin its campaign against Roslyn Wakari at the Logan Park Turf tomorrow.

Tech will enter as one of the favourites for the Cup again.

It has won all seven of its Premier League games this year and has conceded just four goals.

Tomorrow, Queenstown hosts Green Island and Otago University faces Southland United at Logan Park.

Mosgiel has a bye in round one.