Chatham time

Two Far North teams are in action in the opening round the ISPS Handa Chatham Cup, amongst a field 137 teams competing for the 91st edition of one of the oldest competitions in New Zealand sport. More than 50 of the Chatham Cup entrants will take to the field early on as the action gets under way with the preliminary round, which is set to take place across Anzac Day on April 25 and the weekend of April 28-29. Kerikeri Bay Builders NMP will host Greenhithe, while Kaeo Inter NM2 travel to play Lynn Avon United. Keri and Kaeo are the defebdubg champions of the Northland premier and 2nd divisions respectively. The final will be played at QBE Stadium in Auckland on September 9. It seems there are no Far North teams featuring among the 35 clubs set to compete in the women’s version of the competition which has rebranded Kate Sheppard Cup — formerly known as the Women’s Knockout Cup — and set to kick off on May 12-13.