Sharks storm back for win

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

WAINUI Sharks beat Bohemians 4-3 at Wainui on Saturday, but the scoreline is not even half of this Eastern League Division 1 football story.

Bohemians led 3-0 at halftime, then Wainui came storming back.

Ricky Boyd scored a hat-trick as the Sharks banged in four goals and held on for the last five minutes for a deserved but slightly crazy victory.

Bohemians had a dream start, striker Steve White scoring twice in the first 10 minutes. One came from a through ball from central midfielder Dylan Goldsmith; the other was served up to him on a plate by right midfielder Caleb Craig, who darted down the wing and squared the ball to the waiting striker.

Craig was the supplier for the third goal, too. He beat a defender, got to the byline and crossed to the far post, where left midfielder Trent Donnelly bundled the ball across the goal-line.

The size of the margin perhaps flattered the Bohs, but they had a good first half.

Craig and White were always dangerous, while Goldsmith and Phill Gloistein held their own against Wainui’s more than capable central midfield pairing of Shane Hooks and Marcel Campbell.

And at the back, Tyson Maraki was making such a good fist of the unfamiliar role of centreback that at the end of the game he was named Bohemians’ man of the match.

But Wainui started the second half with a burst to rival that of Bohemians in the first.

For his first goal, Boyd turned on the ball inside the Bohemians goal area and his shot wrong-footed keeper Eru Rawiri.

Energetic midfielder Greg Judd pounced on a rebound to score Wainui’s second . . . less than 10 minutes after the restart they were right back in it.

Boyd grabbed the equaliser with 15 minutes to go and the winner five minutes from the end.

Bohemians threw everything at them but the Sharks would not give up such hard-won points.

If Boyd’s goals won it for Sharks, then honourable mentions should go to strike partner Michael Smith, midfielders Judd, Tobias Tillman, Hooks and Campbell, and defenders Simon Blaker and Jamie Gallacher.

The result leaves the Sharks fourth and the Bohs eighth in the nine-team league, but it’s early days.

Thistle Massive have five wins from five games. They beat Wainui Demons 6-2 at Wainui.

United — second with three wins and a draw — had the bye, and Gisborne Boys’ High School are third with three wins and a loss.

Carpet Court Thistle moved into fifth by inflicting that loss on Boys’ High, 2-0.

Riverina moved to sixth with a 4-0 victory over last-placed United (2).

Game of the day on Saturday should be that between Thistle Massive and United (1) at Childers Road Reserve at 2.30pm.

In Division 2, Wairoa Athletic maintained their 100 percent record with a 7-2 victory over Liquid Thistle Allsorts at Childers Road Reserve.

Third-placed Bohemians (2) did Wairoa a favour by holding second-placed Thistle Vintage to a 1-1 draw at Nelson Park, while the Bohemians and United third teams battled to the division’s other draw, 2-2, at Anzac Park.

Ngatapa Silkies won the battle of the retired rugby players, 3-1 against Smash Palace Shockers. But it must be acknowledged these teams have welcomed football recruits willing to do the running that makes life easier for those with older bones.

In two schoolboy clashes, Campion College beat Lytton High School 5-1 at Campion, while Boys’ High (2) beat Boys’ High (3) 12-0.