Open round of senior football on Saturday

Brent Youngson

Photo: Kaitake women's team after their first match in the premier competition. Photo by Kaitake FC.

Taranaki's afternoon grade football kicked off on the weekend. 

Yorb Taranaki Men’s Premiership

The season kicked off with only three matches being played due to Covid impacting the Atlas NP Rangers AFC squad so their game against Premier Heating NPBHS 1st XI was postponed. The 2021 Champions Rampage Fitness FC Western just did enough for the 3-2 win away over Peringa United with Ethan O’Halloran bagging a brace for Western. KP Joinery Waitara took all three points 6-2 when hosting Novotel Woodleigh FC in an exciting match at Manukorihi Park, Brodie Howe netting twice for Waitara. A first half goal from Carey Rielly gave the home side Smith & Sons Eltham a hard fought 1-0 win over Rough Habits Hawera and TMT Building Ltd Moturoa AFC had the first up Bye.

Taranaki Men’s Championship

With their respective Premiership game postpone, two strong sides battled it out on Webster Field as Cross Country Rental NPBHS 2nd XI hosted NP Rangers AFC in an eight goal thriller, doubles from Jack Flood and Samuel Gregory helped the school side get the win 5-3. A hat-trick from Adrian Wright got Cunningham Construction Kaitake FC’s season off to the perfect start with a 4-1 win at home over Mark Frost Electrical Hawera. Landmark Homes FDMC Senior Team returned to the Championship after a few years absent and getting all three points with a 1-0 home win over Spectrum Decorating Services Woodleigh FC. In the last match played Inglewood AFC got the 3-2 win hosting Western Autos Moturoa AFC thanks to a brace from Bevin Lehrke. The final game was postponed between Smart Rehab & Physio Peringa United and Millwards Roofing FC Western as Covid had impacted Western’s squad.

Taranaki Men’s Division 1

In the only Challenge Trophy match played on the weekend 2021 Winners Shining Peak NP Rangers Oddbodz held onto the trophy after winning 2-0 against Taranaki Thru Tubing NP Rangers in a club derby. Wonder Minerals Kaponga SC came out on top 4-3 against McDonald Real Estate Stratford in the battle for the Toilet Seat Trophy played between the two Central Taranaki clubs, all the goals being shared around. William Poole scored twice to help Withers Coachlines FDMC Development Team win 3-2 away to Proglaze Waitara SC, Inglewood AFC took a 2-0 win away to Paul Hamlin Builders Eltham and the final match saw new side FC Western Flaming Wolverines win 5-1 at home to Withers Coachlines Moturoa thanks to a brace from Wolverines player Adam Groen.

Taranaki Men’s Division 2

Four games went ahead in the Men’s Division 2 with the match between Cunningham Construction Kaitake FC HB’s and 4U Computer Solutions Hawera being postponed due to Covid in the Hawera camp. Inglewood AFC battled out a 2-1 win at home over Peringa United Socials and Egmont Texturers NP Rangers won 4-1 away to Stratford Reserves with all goals being shared around. A double from Adam Lashin helped Marty Suchy Harcourts FC Western win 5-1 away at Pipeline Peringa United and the final game saw three hat-tricks to Simon Green, Luke Rose and Phillip Rose as Rob Mason Electrical Group Woodleigh ran out 12-0 winners away at Town & Country Foods Waitara.

Tungsten Legal Taranaki Women’s Premiership

Last year’s Champions Excel Refrigeration Moturoa AFC were made to work hard for their 2-0 away win at Inglewood AFC. Kaitake FC Women made their debut in the league during Round 1 and had a tough task going down 8-0 at home to TSH Moturoa AFC with Kate Phipps netting five goals to take the early lead in the Golden Boot race. Hat-tricks to Sophie Riddick and Kailey Hastie plus a brace to Sasha Rasmussen secured a 12-0 home win for NPGHS 1st XI over Worley Woodleigh. In the last game played Liquid Beanz Peringa United won 9-0 when hosting Bullitt Fabrications Eltham with two goals each to Paris Liu, Hannah Andrews, Taylor Chadfield and Ashleigh Day. With Covid impacting the Stratford/Waitara squads the NP Rangers AFC vs Tungsten Legal Stratford AFC and Hipp Accounting Hawera FC vs Naki Electrical Waitara matches were postponed.