Moturoa cruise past defending champs

A brace from Hayden Murray led Moturoa Premiers into the final of Taranaki football’s Duff Rosebowl competition, beating defending champions Hawera Premiers 3-0.

In blustery conditions at New Plymouth’s Onuku Taipari Domain, the match got off to a fast start with early chances falling to both sides.

Moturoa looked to be the stronger of the two, but couldn’t find a way to break through Hawera’s defence.

With players slipping over the wet surface all over the ptich, Moturoa looked to attack down the wings, while Hawera tried to work counter attacks.

Hawera’s best chance of the first half came through a free kick, which Shannon Bryant struck well to bring Moturoa’s Zane Coleman into action in goal.

Neither side really tested the opponent’s goal and frustrations became apparent with a number of careless challenges forcing the referee to go to his pocket.

With the match scoreless after the first half, Moturoa went on the attack in the second, with Hawera goalkeeper Nick Walker being forced into action to make two good saves to hold the home side out.

However, the deadlock was broken by Moturoa captain Dyl Coutts, who finished off a well placed cross from Morgan Hall.

Murray grabbed the home side’s second goal soon after and it looked like Moturoa had the game wrapped up.

While Hawera tried to push their attack, the were unable to get through strong Moturoa defence and ultimately failed to make Coleman work all that hard for his clean sheet.

The match was put out of the question in the final minutes when Murray danced around the Hawera defenders in the box and placed his shot past Walker to seal up with win.

Moturoa will go on to face Woodleigh’s division one side, who saw their Cinderella story continue against FC Western Premiers.

Down 3-1 at half time, Woodleigh managed to level the score by the final whistle, before scoring the winning goal in extra time.

FC Western were the second premier league team Woodleigh had beaten in the run to the Duff Rosebowl final, with the side taking a 4-0 win over Peringa premiers in the second round.

The final was scheduled to be held at Onuku Taipari Domain on Saturday September 3.