On a windswept Saturday, Cashmere Technical wrapped up the Southern League with Christchurch United now in prime position to finish in second place and secure the other spot from the South Island in the upcoming National League. As strong winds plagued the three games played out on Saturday, it looks to have blown away the chances of both South City Royals and Coastal Spirit, who came into the round in second and third place, respectively, from playing in the National League after both suffered losses. The Royals went down to Technical 5 - 0, Selwyn came out on top of Coastal 4 - 2, with United coming from behind to defeat Green Island 4 - 2. On Sunday, Otago University returned to winning form when accounting for Nelson Suburbs 3 - 1. Technical - who have completed all their seven games - have 18 points, United and Selwyn are on 10, Coastal, Royals and University are all on 9, Suburbs 4 with Green Island on 1.

United, who have the better goal difference of five over Selwyn, host the Royals in the final round. Selwyn are away to Suburbs with Coastal travelling south to face Green Island, with a date for the catch-up game between University and Green Island still to be confirmed. 

Technical captain Tom Schwarz was accorded a guard of honour by both sides before the start of the game to celebrate his 250th appearance for the club. Playing with the wind, Technical were quickly on the attack and took the lead from a corner, with Yuya Taguchi scoring from close range. Both sides tried to play attacking football despite the wind, with the Royals looking dangerous down the left flank. On the half-hour from a Taguchi corner, Schwarz got a head to the ball, and the Royals failed to clear the ball before Lyle Matthysen turned the ball home. Right on half time, a good interchange involving Sam Field, Matthysen, Taguchi and Angus Fraser set up Jacob Ricards for a simple tap in. The Royals needed to open the scoring in the second half if they were to have any chance, but it was Taguchi again rewarded for his high work rate with two more goals in the space of minutes to claim just the second hat-trick of the league. The Royals continued to press forward looking to open their account, and created several half-chances in the closing stages without success. Having claimed the title, Technical now face Wellington's Western Suburbs in the semi-final of the Chatham Cup at Garrick Memorial Park this coming Sunday. 

In the Selwyn / Coastal clash, the Stallions made the most of playing with the wind in the opening half and took the lead in the first minutes when Dan Ede finished well after Coastal struggled to clear their line. Ede then set up Joe Arnott in the ninth minute with Ede's cross failed to be cleared by the Coastal defenders, leaving Arnott unmarked by the far post to easily double the lead. Cameron Rean then pulled a goal back five minutes later after controlling a great pass from Jack Mitchell with his right foot before finishing with his left. On the half-hour, Coastal keeper Ellis Hare-Reid failed to make contact from a Selwyn corner, and Mitchell Cockburn headed home to restore the Stallions two-goal lead. Just before the break, Jordan Spain picked out Kenshin Hayashi, and he finished well to make it 3 - 2. Coastal did not make the most of the wind into the second half. With the Selwyn defence working overtime and keeper Pieter-taco Bierema again stopping everything that was hit his way, the clock then became the enemy for Coastal. A quick-release from Bierema found Ede on the halfway line, who knocked in a long ball that Arnott ran on to before cutting around Hare-Reid and slotting the ball home. Selwyn had to then see off seven more minutes of added time before celebrating the win and claiming the Hurley Shield for the first time. 

The first half between Green Island and Christchurch United looked destined to finish scoreless, but Green Island went to the break ahead when Matthew Brazier scored in the 44th minute. United continued the pattern of producing a solid second-half display with their captain, James McClay, drawing them level on the hour mark with Eddie Wilkinson then scoring against his former club to put the Rams ahead minutes later. Oliver Colloty then put United 3 - 1 up with 13 to play with McClay, then completing a brace. Kurt Owen then came into the game off the bench and scored to complete the scoring within a minute.  

After a scoreless opening half between Suburbs and University, the stalemate continued until the 69th minute when Aidan Barbour-Ryan scored to put the students ahead. In the final seven minutes, there was a flurry of goals with University making the most of the space that Suburbs was leaving when pressing for the equaliser, and Ben Stanley found the back of the net to double the lead. Suburbs hit back from the restart when Ross McPhie scored for the home side with four minutes to play. With Suburbs looking for a share of the points, Barbour-Ryan bagged his second for the game, the 100th goal of the league.   

Results / scorers:

Cashmere Technical 5 (Yuya Taguchi 3, Lyle Matthysen, Jacob Richards) South City Royals 0 HT 3 - 0

Coastal Spirit 2 (Cameron Rean, Kenshin Hayashi) Selwyn 4 (Joe Arnott 2, Dan Ede, Mitchell Cockburn) HT 2 - 3

Green Island 2 (Matthew Brazier, Kurt Owen) Christchurch United 4 (James McClay 2, Eddie Wilkinson, Oliver Colloty) HT 1 - 0

Nelson Suburbs 1 (Ross McPhie) Otago University 3 (Aiden Barbour-Ryan 2, Ben Stanley) HT 0 - 0

Written by Gavin Searle.
Article added: Monday 27 September 2021