Women’s Federation Cup – Semi Finals

The first Semi Final in the Women’s Federation Cup was played over in Taranaki and the local side Withers Coachlines Moturoa AFC booked their spot in the Grand Final with a 2-1 victory over Federation League team PN Marist FC. Taranaki Women’s Premiership Golden Boot winner Fernanda Toscani got both goals for Moturoa with Bridie McFadzean scoring the Marist goal. The second Semi Final was hosted in Manawatu by Isles Construction Massey University FC against Federation League Champions Taradale AFC and again it was the home side that prevailed. Massey secured their spot in the Grand Final 5-1 thanks to Ruby-Aroha Gurnick netting a brace plus singles to Kate Mori, Lily Galloway and  Anneka Voss with Olivia Harding getting the consolation goal for Taradale. The Grand Final is locked in for this coming Sunday the 28^th of August at 12:30pm and will be hosted by Moturoa AFC over in Taranaki.

HB REVIEW

YORB Pacific Premiership Top 4        

The premiership season concluded over the weekend with two interesting match ups in the Top 4 even though Taradale had already secured the title. One of those was Palm City Motor Inn Port Hill vs HNW Premiers. The two sides have been notoriously close to each other on the score line in all matches this and hard to separate. The latest instalment was no different, although when Samuel Wait scored on 80 minutes to give Havelock a two goal advantage they may have thought they’d done enough. It wasn’t to be as Port Hill scored in the 83^rd minute to get within one before Jamie Provines was clinical from the spot to bury a penalty in added time to get a share of the points in a 3-3 draw. Champions Shani’s Taradale headed over to Mitre 10 Park to play Uptown Barbers Maycenvale and have the final crack at the Challenge Cup which Maycenvale had impressively held onto for the whole season to date. It’s been a good couple of weeks for Taradale and that was made even better after their performance in the final league game of the season. Goals to Dan Ball & Brandon Josling were enough to seal the win for Taradale and nab their second trophy of the season.

YORB Pacific Premiership Bottom 4

Fane Morgan sealed a final game hattrick for Jark’s Cityside Western Rangers in their 3-1 win vs Duke of Gloucester NCR to cap off a solid season for Rangers. If they can keep this squad together for 2023 they will be looking to challenge at the top end I’m sure. New coach Damion Kinsey will be eager to see what the group can achieve moving forward. Rogue Hop Napier Marist had a road trip to Gisborne to complete the campaign vs ALH Thistle Reserves. Marist themselves would have been aiming for a higher finish this season but would have enjoyed a clean sheet and a 0-3 win on this their final outing for 2022 before heading back to Napier.

HB Reserve League Top 4

Falcon Electrical Taradale completed their season with a 1-2 vs Eskview Utd away as they looked to keep the pressure on Thirsty Whale NCR for as long as possible. Taradale in the end have had to settle for second place after Rovers were effectively handed the title when LionPro Construction Maycenvale had no choice but to default the match due to injury and availability. Thirsty Whale NCR are the deserved winners of the Reserve League again in 2022 but have had to work harder than in previous seasons to achieve it due to the form of Taradale. Eskview have enjoyed a solid season after joining the competition again this year and will get a shot at the Challenge Cup currently held by Rovers in the final league game of the season next week.

HB Reserve League Bottom 3

Final game of the campaign saw ECR Western Rangers fall at home in a 1-4 loss to Maverick Residential Builders Havelock side.

HB Division 2 Top 4

The Champions showed their class in the final league outing of the campaign as Paddy’s Bar NCR headed to Marewa Park to play Burger Fuel Port Hill looking to complete the perfect season. Burger Fuel Port Hill put up a fight but had no answer in the end going down 0-5 at the final whistle. The result securing the 17 wins from 17 games Rovers had been looking for.

HB Division 2 Bottom 4

It was the battle of the Vikings to complete the campaign as Completebuild Taradale Vikings played host to Hastings Hibernian Central Vikings. A tight match finishing in favour of Taradale with the scoreline 2-1.

HB Division 3 Top 6 

Bay Tours & Charters Napier Marist can finally call themselves HB Division 3 Champions for 2022. It’s been a long wait for the side that finished their matches two weeks ago while sitting at the top of the table. The wait was down to the form of Eskview Reds who were close enough to make Marist wait while they tried to win the competition themselves. Eskview took on HNW Razos Engineering knowing that a win and certain number of goals could get them the title on goal difference or goals scored. Eskview were so agonisingly close in their 4-1 win as they finished with a 11 win, 4 draw and 1 loss record, the same as Napier Marist. The difference, Eskview finish with a goal difference of +46……Champions Napier Marist goal difference +47. What a race and what a way to finish the Division 3 competition for the season. 

HB Masters        

Taradale move to fifth on the ladder with a 4-0 win over HNW Mercenaries. The victory gives Taradale their sixth win of the campaign so far. Napier Marist put in a tough display but it was always going to be hard against an in form HNW Alessandro’s side who took the match 1-3 in the end. Marewa were up for it at Frimley as they defeated Hastings Hibernian 2-5 to solidify their third place position for now. The Flax Western Rangers stumbled at home as they were upset by bottom side Paddy’s Bar NCR. Leaders Eskview Utd had the bye.

Key Match Next Round

Marewa Masters vs HNW Alessandro’s

• Havelock have only lost once this season but a trip to Marewa won’t be an easy outing for them.

HB Women’s Division 1

A comfortable 5-1 win for Taradale Reserves vs Quality Pumping Port Hill was timely in their quest to secure second place in the league. They now move ahead of HNW Village Insurance on goal difference with one match left to play for Taradale. Havelock still have two matches to go.

Key Match Next Round

HNW Village Insurance vs Taradale Reserves

• Couldn’t have timed it better if we’d tried. 

HB Women's Division 2 Top 4

In the final catch up game of the season Eskview Whites have got up 4-2 vs Hastings Hibernian Paper Mulberry to jump not just Hibernian but Havelock North into second place. A great finish to the campaign for the Eskview side. 

Article added: Tuesday 23 August 2022