Kerikeri High maintains top position in prem division

KERIKERI

Kerikeri High School maintained its position at the top of the Northland Women’s Premier Division standings after holding visiting Central Brown to a gritty 5-5 (HT 2-2) draw at Waipapa on Sunday.

Coach Russell McCabe was super proud of the remarkable effort put in by his team, considering he could only field 10 players thanks to many being away for the school holidays. Despite this, the home side began strongly and went ahead 2-0 as Central came back to equalise before half time. The visitors then took a 5-3 lead only for the Keri team to end up forcing them to share the points.

“I was super proud,” McCabe said, admitting he experienced the full gamut of emotions throughout the 90-minute duration of the 10-goal thriller. Goals by Kate Moyle 2, Holly Inwood 2 and Maya Rodenburg with Inwood at centre mid and left wing Lucia Avery given POTD citations. The result put Keri High three points clear at the top of the NWP ladder over O¯ nerahi although the latter holds two games in hand.

The Keri High vs Central Brown match was the only NWP fixture scheduled to end up being played on Sunday with the remaining games called off due to the weekend’s wet weather and/ or water-logged grounds.

Elsewhere, it proved another bad Saturday for the Kerikeri men’s teams with the defending Northland Prem Div champions handed a 6-0 (HT 0-2) drubbing on hometurf by Kamo, a result no one saw coming as Kamo took the game to Kerikeri and hit them time and time again on the break whenever Kerikeri pushed forward; Keri POTD Jordy Roberts.

The Keri Reserves lost 5-0 away to Tikipunga Pet Essentials in the Northland 1st Division, while the men’s third team, Kerikeri Siteworx side, were forced to forfeit their Div 2 clash away to Ngunguru due to player shortage.

KAITAIA

A very stretched Kaitaia starting to fall back in the hunt for the NM1 title following a 3-1 loss (HT 0-1) in the Far North derby from the Northland 1st Division (group A) at Taipa. Kaikohe goals by winger Sam Cameron, striker Jason Mera and centre mid Noah Hislop with a screamer which gave him the visitors POTD award. Kaikohe thanked their big contingent of supporters for making the trip.

Kaitaia men’s 2nd team lost 3-2 (HT 2-1) away to FC Whangarei in the Northland 3rd Division. Kaitaia goals by Mika Benitz and Jayde Florian while POTD was midfielder Uto Ihoue. Caretaker coach Glen Florian noted this was a particularly tough assignment thanks to the visitors beginning with the bare 11 and having to play on with various walking wounded until a reserve arrived for the second half.

"Coach Russell McCabe admitted he experienced the full gamut of emotions throughout the 90-minute duration of the 10-goal thriller."

KAIKOHE

Kaikohe Scorpions went down to the Tikipunga Kerala Tuskers 4-3 (HT 1-0) in the Northland 3rd Division at Kaikohe.

Homeside goals by left winger Tupari Tuarnani 2 (and POTD) and Jim Bowers.

KAEO

Tikipunga Bake Cafe 0 Kaeo Inter 3 by DEFAULT: Kaeo’s player coach Stefano Virgili was surprised that Tiki’ was unable to manage to field a team for their own home game so laughingly claimed he scored all three goals!

Several matches of Far North relevance were postponed on the weekend due to the heavy weather and waterlogged fields including the Central Brown vs Bay Cosmos NM2, and Bream Bay vs Kerikeri Fairview NWP. No result from Paihia vs Tikipunga Ryco.