Marist tighten grip on Federation title
Palmerston North Marist tightened their grip on the Federation League title with their 3-0 win over second-placed North End at the weekend. The result widened unbeaten Marist’s lead at the top of the competition to eight points ahead of North End, who now have third-placed Wanganui Athletic breathing down their neck after their 3-2 home win over Hokowhitu. Marist coach Shane Rufer said they would likely meet North Wellington in a playoff for a spot in next season’s Central League. North Wellington, like Marist, haven’t lost a game this season and are bolting away with the Capital Premier League title. The side that goes up to the Central League will be decided by a two-leg home and away series. In Saturday’s clash, Jordan Joblin-hall, Lee Rufer and Taylor Monk scored for Marist in a game that even North End coach Garry Hodge admitted Marist deserved to win. ‘‘We had some early chances which we didn’t take and after that gave away the ball too cheaply and didn’t create the chances we might have,’’ he added. Marist’s win was their second over North End in this season’s league. In other games, Massey University was among the goals against Red Sox again, winning 8-2, bringing to 13 the number they have scored against bottomplaced Red Sox this season. Blair Lankshear scored a hattrick for Massey and others to net were Fraser Eddowes, who grabbed a brace, Tom Kelly, Ben Ravenwood and Ryan Noble. Coach Donald Piper said the students did well considering they played with 10 men for the last 22 minutes after they ran out of substitutes. At Whanganui, Athletic moved into third place on the ladder as a result of their win over Hokowhitu, whose coach, Craig Smither said goalkeeping errors cost his side dearly. ‘‘It was a pretty even game and the result for us could have been better than it was,’’ he said. Golden Boot contender, striker Nick Carrick, scored both Hokowhitu’s goals. The result reversed Hokowhitu’s first-round win over Athletic. In the other game of the weekend, Wanganui City did the double over New Plymouth Rangers with their 3-2 away win over the home side. ❚ In the Horizons Premiership League, unbeaten Palmerston North Boys’ High School dropped their first points of the season when they drew 3-3 away against Wanganui Athletic reserves. Boys’ High leads the competition by four from Massey University.