Boys’ High’s take on Napier Marist
Many Federation League teams are putting their feet up this weekend, although Hokowhitu and Massey have cup ties.
There is one league match too: Palmerston North Boys’ High School take on Napier Marist at Memorial Park, Palmerston North, today.
The match was held over from last weekend and will be a big test for the schoolboys, who are sitting last on the 11-team ladder, with just one win.
In contrast, Napier Marist are second, with nine wins from 11 games. They sit behind only the unbeaten Havelock North Wanderers.
To further illustrate the gulf in performance, Napier Marist have scored 38 league goals and conceded 20 this season. Boys’ High have netted 14 and let in 50.
Napier Marist won the last game between the two sides, in Hawke’s Bay, 5-0 and Boys’ High coach Steve Dawson knows his team will have to play out of their skins to compete.
‘‘We’re hopeful of giving them a better showing than what we did last time.’’
As was the way with school teams, Boys’ High were improving as the season went on, he said.
Wins are crucial for the schoolboys, who are firmly in the relegation zone, but are just three points behind Hokowhitu and New Plymouth Rangers.
Boys’ High have a busy few weeks ahead, with interschool games away to Wellington College on Wednesday and home to Napier Boys’ High School the following Wednesday.
In the Federation Cup, two Manawatu¯ sides have quarterfinal ties, both away from home.
Massey take on Napier Marist’s reserves in Hawke’s Bay and Hokowhitu are away to Taranaki side Kaitake.
What sort of opposition Kaitake will provide is unknown, but they are unbeaten after 11 matches in Taranaki’s men’s division 1.
‘‘We understand they are a strong team. They’ve got some exteam Taranaki players in there. It will be a tough game for the boys,’’ Hokowhitu manager Shane Higgison said.
He wasn’t sure what sort of condition the pitch would be in, after the recent rain. Hokowhitu travels with a squad of 14, as a couple of regulars are unavailable.
Also travelling are Massey, although they’re again without striker Blair Lankshear, who is expecting a child.
It’s the second trip to Hawke’s Bay in two weeks for the students, but they’ll take heart from last week’s performance against Wanderers.
Although a 4-0 loss doesn’t look good on paper, Massey were competitive for long periods of play.
‘‘We showed that we can hustle and grind for 45 minutes against a top team and we did cause some problems at times,’’ Massey coach Donald Piper said.
And the week before they beat the top Manawatu¯ league side, North End.
Piper said if Napier Marist’s first team was anything to go by, their reserves should be a decent outfit.