At the midpoint of the New World Premiership, Cashmere Technical lead has increased to three points after Round 7 games saw Technical's closest rivals, Coastal Spirit and Christchurch United, playing out a 1 - 1 result. Technical had earlier extended their record undefeated run in the league to 41 after defeating Nelson Suburbs in Nelson, 5 - 1. The final two games saw one-goal margins to Ferrymead Bays and Nomads, Bays edging Halswell 2 - 1 and Nomads defeating Selwyn 1 - 0. Technical move to 19 points, Coastal are on 16 with United in third place on 14. Suburbs have 10 with Nomads and Bays now on 9. Selwyn is on 4, with Halswell still scoreless.

United dominated the opening half against Coastal, and after several half chances, the Coastal defence allowed Max Chretien too much room, and he was untroubled to find the back of the net after 15 minutes. United continued to dominate, and the Coastal keeper, Ellis Hare-Reid, was called on to make several good saves, but United was unable to add to their scoreline before the break. Coastal had to lift after the break if they were to stay in the game and went close early on when Dominic McGarr headed on to the post. United looked dangerous going forward with Coastal drawing level after Jack Mitchell hit the post with the ball pin-balling around before Mika Rabuka forced it home. The result was the first time the two sides have drawn in the league.

In a game that was not as entirely one way as the final scoreline might suggest, Technical took the lead in the 18th minute when Garbhan Coughlan scored. Luke Tongue then increased the margin from a free-kick before Yuya Taguchi extended the lead to three, in the 100th goal of the season, right on half time. Fraser Angus made it four just after the break, with Carl Conner-McClean coming into the game off the bench to pull a goal back for Suburbs. Coughlan then bagged a brace when flicking up a rebound and turning to volley home in added time. 

In what was a scrappy opening half at times between Nomads and Selwyn, which the Stallions created the better of the chances, the sides turned at the break scoreless. The stalemate continued until 15 minutes to play when a Nomads player was brought down in the area. Daniel Thoms slotted home the resulting penalty, leaving his side in the all-important fifth place on the table. 

Halswell is still winless since returning to the league this season when going down by the odd goal to Bays. Will Pierce gave Bays an early lead which Ryan Stanley increased on the stroke of half time. Chris Whiteside scored his third goal of the season to bring the Hawks back into the game with thirty to play, but that completed the scoring. 

Round 8 match-ups see Halswell hosting Suburbs in the early game on Saturday. Nomads take on United with Technical facing Selwyn. On Sunday, Coastal face Bays.  

New World Men's Premiership

Coastal Spirit 1 (Mika Rabuka) Christchurch United 1 (Max Christian) HT 0 - 3

Halswell 1 (Chris Whiteside) Ferrymead Bays 2 (Will Pierce, Ryan Stanley) HT 0 - 2

Nelson Suburbs 1 (Carl Connor-McClean) Cashmere Technical 5 (Garbhan Coughlan 2, Fraser Angus, Yuya Taguchi, Luke Tongue) HT 0 - 3

Nomads 1 (Daniel Thoms - pen) Selwyn 0 HT 0 - 0

Defending Champs Take Out Top Of The Table Clash

Defending New World Women's Premiership champions, Coastal Spirit SAS took a major step in retaining the title when they took out the top of the table clash against Cashmere Technical, 5 - 1. Universities had a big win when defeating Nomads 9 - 1, with Waimak coming out on top of Ferrymead Bays 3 - 1 to claim their first win of the season. After 4 of the 15 rounds, Coastal sit on 12 points, Technical have 9, Universities 7, Waimak is now in 4th place on 4, Bays stay on 3 with Nomads yet to secure a point.

Coastal SAS made the ideal start when Britney-Lee Nicholson scored in the opening minutes. Nicholson doubled the lead when she added a second after eleven minutes. Technical finally awoke and narrowed the margin when Nicola Dominikovich finished well five minutes later. Both teams created chances to add to their scoreline with luck not on Technical's side after twice hitting the crossbar before the break. Nicholson completed her hat-trick early in the second half and added a fourth on the hour mark. Mel Cameron completed the scoring with 13 minutes to play.

Universities racked up their biggest win since the 2015 season, making it two wins on the bounce when overcoming Nomads. Fives goals in the opening half saw the students well in control at the break, with six different players scoring, Brook Tear the scorer for Nomads.

On Friday evening, three goals were scored in a lively opening 20 minutes. Emily Copper put Waimak ahead in the 15th with Lucretia Taylor then doubling the lead a minute later. Jess Dyer then replied for Bays shortly after. Charlotte Roche added Waimak's third goal on the hour mark. 

The coming round sees Coastal host Bays, Universities face Technical and Waimak take on Nomads.    

New World Women's Premiership

Cashmere Technical 1 (Nicola Dominikovich) Coastal Spirit SAS 5 (Britney-Lee Nicholson 4, Mel Cameron) HT 1 - 2

Ferrymead Bays 1 (Jess Dyer) Waimak 3 (Emily Cooper, Lucretia Taylor, Charlotte Roche) HT 1 - 2

Universities 9 (Frankie Morrow 3, Nova Daly-Davies 2, Kelsey Barrett, Jasmine Donald, Wikke Nijhof, Erin Roxburgh) Nomads 1 (Brooke Tear) HT 5 - 0

Waimak Take Out Top Of Table Clash In Championship

Waimak sits alone at the top of the New World Men's Championship after defeating Western 3 - 1 in the top of the table clash. Both sides were 5 from 5 coming into the match. Waimak took the lead when Kamil Elmohib scored in the 25th minute with Western then conceding an own goal just before half time. Waimak continued their dominance when Bradley Stewart added a third once play resumed, and then Rogier Kerbus came off the bench to pull a goal back for Western.

Burwood jumped two places on the table when defeating FC Twenty11 3 - 1 to move into third place. Universities and St Albans Shirley also moved up a place, with Universities accounting for Mid Canterbury 8 - 1 and SAS claiming back to back wins when overcoming Parklands 4 - 0. Waimak now has 18 points, three ahead over Western, with Burwood and Parklands both on 9. Universities, FC and SAS are all on 6 with Mid Canterbury on 3.  

Round 8 see's Burwood squaring off against neighbours Parklands, Mid Canterbury host FC, SAS takes on Waimak with Western at home to Universities.   

New World Championship Results

Burwood 3 FC Twenty11 1 HT 2 - 0

Mid Canterbury 1 Universities 8 HT 1 - 4

St Albans Shirley 4 Parklands 0 HT 1 - 0

Waimak 3 Western 1 HT 2 - 0

Written by Gavin Searle.
Article added: Monday 03 May 2021