Cashmere Technical won their fifth Mainland Premier League (MPL) title in seven seasons on Saturday with a 4-2 win over Nelson Suburbs.

Andy Tuckey put Technical ahead midway through the first half and could have had a second just minutes later, but his effort was ruled out for offside. Technical didn’t have to wait too long for a second, as Lyle Matthysen finally doubled Technical’s lead on the hour mark after a well worked corner. Technical substitute Futa Nakamura put his side 3-0 up minutes later and Matthysen doubled his tally to make the score line 4-0 with fifteen minutes to play.

Despite the heavy deficit, Suburbs finished the half the stronger of the two teams. Jordan Young grabbed a late consolation and Eddie Sillars made it 4-2 in added time, but it was too little too late for Suburbs.

Technical now face Nomads on Tuesday evening in the Blackwells Holden English Cup.

Coastal Spirit’s first Hurley Shield defence of their new tenure got off to a good start as they  defeated FC Twenty11 5 -1 to remain in second spot.

Anthony Jones opened the scoring early and Liam Hare quickly followed to give his side an early 2-0 lead. Tristian Nicol bagged his first goal of the season right before half time to make it 3-0. Jones bagged his second at the start of the second half before Sean Liddicoat added a fifth. Benji Lapslie pulled a consolation goal back for FC.

Ferrymead Bays continued their winning ways when they overcame Universities 2 – 0. Chris Murphy opened the scoring for Bays in the 51st minute and Juan Chang doubled Bays lead from the penalty spot just minutes later.

Bays are now just two goals away from becoming the first club to reach the milestone of 700 MPL goals. 

There were plenty of goals in the weekends final game as Nomads recorded their fourth win on the bounce beating Selwyn 5-3. Golden boot leader Stephen Hoyle notched up his third hat-trick of the MPL of the season, taking his tally to 15 for the season. Byron Heath also scored for Nomads before the break with Jamie Carradous and Aidan Barbour-Ryan scoring for the Stallions to make the scored line 3 - 2 at the break. Hoyle completed his hat-trick early in the second half before Mason Stearn netted Nomads final goal with Dan Ede then reducing the margin for the home side.  

With two rounds remaining, Technical have 32 points, Coastal have 27, Bays have 23 and Suburbs and Nomads are tied for fourth place on 21. All five teams have now confirmed their top five status claiming their places in the upcoming South Island League.

Gap Increases In WPL

Cashmere Technical has increased their lead at the top of the Women's Premier League (WPL), edging Universities 3 - 2 with Waimakariri accounting for Halswell 4 - 2 as Coastal Spirit had at bye.

With 8 of the 15 rounds completed Technical now have 17 points, Coastal 12, Waimak move to 8 with Universities 4 and Halswell 3, with Technical and Halswell yet to have their second bye of the season.

Technical had to hang on against Universities after late injuries to goal keeper Blair Currie and central defender, Annie Gilchrist, saw them reduced to 9 players for the final ten minutes.

The competition front runners took a 2 - 0 lead into the break, thanks to a double from Monique Barker, her second goal a stunning header over a stranded University’s keeper. The visitors cause not helped when failing to capitalise on a penalty awarded after Holly Pascoe was taken down inside the box by a tech defender. The resulting spot kick safely dealt with by the tech keeper.

After the break Barker completed her hat-trick before the students hit back, firstly to a well taken goal by Veronica Pontis, then Holly Pascoe, in her first game back from her time in the States. Pascoe, a previous CU Pride player of the year, stood out through the match, her class evident as she went close to taking a share of the points for the students well into stoppage time.

Waimakariri's Ella Fong completed her first WPL hat-trick as her side defeated the Hawks for the second time this season. Fong continuing her recent run of good form, caused the Hawks defence problems throughout the fixture.

Waimak held a 3 - 1 lead at the break with the goals evenly shared in the second half.

Halswell's goals were scored by Hayley McManus and Kelly Drummond with Jayda Stewart adding here name to the score sheet for the Waimak side.  

Gap Closes At Top of CCL

The gap at the top of the Canterbury Championship League (CCL) closed to three points after leaders Halswell and Christchurch United played out the first scoreless draw of competition this season.

Second placed Western closed the gap when comfortably accounting for Waimakariri 3 – 0, with Parklands sharing the points with Burwood in a 2 – all result.

Halswell have 21 points, Western 18 and Parklands 12. Burwood have 10, Christchurch United moving to 10 and Waimak staying on 4, with both United and Waimak still having a game in hand.

Results / Scorers

Mainland Premier League

Men’s - Round 12 of 14

Cashmere Technical 4 (Lyle Matthysen 2, Andy Tuckey, Futa Nakamura) Nelson Suburbs 2 (Jordan Yong, Eddie Sillars) HT 1 - 0

Coastal Spirit 5 (Anthony Jones 2, Liam Hare, Tristain Nicol, Sean Liddicoat) FC Twenty11 1 (Benjamin Lapslie) HT 3 - 0

Selwyn 3 (Jamie Carradous, Aidan Barbour-Ryan, Dan Ede) Nomads 5 (Stephen Hoyle 3, Byron Heath, Mason Stearn) HT 2 - 3

Universities 0 Ferrymead Bays 2 (Chris Murphy, Juan Chang - pen) HT 0 – 0

Golden Boot

15 Stephen Hoyle (Nomads)

11 Anthony Jones (Coastal Spirit)

11 Lyle Matthysen (Cashmere Technical)

10 Dan Ede (Selwyn)

9 Nishan Biswa (Nomads)

7 Byron Heath (Nomads)

7 Andy Tuckey (Cashmere Technical)

7 Ben Wright (Nelson Suburbs)

7 Max Chretien (Cashmere Technical)

7 Dominic McGarr (Coastal Spirit)

7 Mark Peers (Ferrymead Bays)

Women’s - Round 8 of 15

Cashmere Technical 3 (Monique Barker 3) Universities 2 (Holly Pascoe, Veronica Pontis) HT 2 - 0

Waimarkariri 4 (Ella Fong 3, Jayda Stewart) Halswell 2 (Hayley McManus, Kelly Drummond) HT 3 - 1

Coastal Spirit the bye

Golden Boot

9 Cody Taylor (Coastal Spirit)

9 Emma Kench (Cashmere Technical)

6 Arna Roberts (Coastal Spirit)

6 Monique Barker (Cashmere Technical)

5 Mel Cameron (Coastal Spirit)

4 Ella Fong (Waimakariri)

3 Ashleigh Parent (Universities)

3 Frankie Morrow (Cashmere Technical)

3 Jayda Stewart (Waimakariri)