Football: Rovers eye records and cup glory

FIRING: Rovers' goal machine, James Hoyle (left), Ryan Tinsley, Angus Kilkolly and Saul Halpin. PHOTO/Paul Taylor

As far as Napier City Rovers are concerned, today is just another trip to a football field of contempt in Wellington.

"That coach [Declan Edge, of Western Suburbs] has been disrespectful to us a couple of times now," says TSB Bank-sponsored Rovers coach Bill Robertson, before they play their penultimate Lotto Central League match against Western Suburbs at Endeavour Park, Wellington, at 2.30pm.

The Danny Wilson-captained Rovers have comfortably beaten Suburbs twice and were crowned league champions three rounds ago but are now chasing records of most goals scored in a league season and most points.

However, Robertson says they don't expect anything different from the hosts today, based on Edge's previous interview after a 5-1 league loss in Napier as well as a 3-0 defeat in the ASB Bank Chatham Cup quarterfinal at Endeavour Park early this month.

"We won in emphatic style so it's water off a duck's back for us, because we have the Chatham Cup to focus on," says Robertson, before the away cup semifinal against Birkenhead United the following Sunday.

After the cup quarterfinal, the placid Wilson lashed out at Suburbs' impertinent behaviour claiming they were "loud and disrespectful" even when they were trailing 3-0.

Says Robertson: "Even though we're chasing records, our bigger picture is [the] Chatham Cup."

The Blues need seven goals from two remaining league games, including the only league campaigners to beat them this winter Petone FC, to claim most goals in a season.

"Tawa were the favourites to get more goals and Suburbs aren't but the boys know that."

In their last outing, Edge's troops also sported a red-and-blue strip,forcing Rovers' to find an alternative white one to avoid a clash of colours.

A defiant Robertson says the strips are a red herring, as his men will feed off previous results no matter who dons what colours. However, an influenza virus has disrupted their build up this week.

"At least 10 players have caught something that is going around in the dressing rooms.

"We'll need to look after some of the players for the cup," says Robertson, with Ryan Tinsley and Angus Kilkolly in the golden boot race on 19 and 18 goals, respectively.

SUBURBS: Mitchell Stewart-Hill (GK), 2 Riley Kelliher, 3 Bryce McMillan, 4 Jamie O'Connor, 5 Tyler Lissette, 6 Liam Jones, 7 Ben Sippola, 8 Callam McCowatt, 9 Noah Billingsley, 10 Juan Chang, 11 Billy Scott, 12 Ahmad Mohammadi, 14 Owen Parker-Price, 15 Tinashe Marowa, 16 Robert Gallegos, 17 Brendan Lesch, 18 Tim Rawiri, 19 Mikey Faber, 20 Elliott Collier, Mason Kelliher (RGK ).

Coach: Declan Edge.

ROVERS: Ruben Parker Hanks (GK), 2 Daniel Ball, 5 Finlay Milne, 6 Miles John, 7 Stephen Hoyle, 8 Ryan Tinsley, 9 Angus Kilkolly, 10 Saul Halpin, 11 Tom Biss, 14 Josh Stevenson, 15 James Hoyle, 16 Danny Wilson (c), 17 Fergus Neil, 19 Bill Robertson, 20 Fane Morgan, 23 Kyle Baxter (RGK).

Coach: Bill Robertson. Asst coach: Chris Greatholder.