NORTHLAND FC KICK OFF WITH STRONG WIN

Northland FC has got its 2018 campaign off to a great start by beating Metro 1-5 away in the opening round of the Lotto NRFL Division Two league on Saturday.

Caleb Russ scored a hattrick, the goals coming at the 70-, 75- and 82-minute marks, adding to two goals in the space of a minute to Mark Ruddell and Brett Plant, both coming in the 12th minute. Craig Squires replied for Metro in the 25th.

The reserves won their clash 2-5. The Northland prems and reserves play their first home game of the season against Takapuna tomorrow in Waipapa. The reserves kick off at 12.30pm, the prems at 3pm. Other results from last Saturday were, Ngongotaha 2 Cambridge 5 (reserves 0-8), Takapuna 4 Te Atatu 2 (3-1), and Franklin Utd 4 Claudelands Rovers 1 (5-1). Some results were not available at edition time yesterday.