North Force put to the test

North Force braved the wet at Tikipunga Sports Park to play the New Zealand Under-17 lads in a soggy conditions.
What started out as a competitive and fairly even match was spoiled in the second half when the pitch became waterlogged.
While the option to abandon the match was considered, both sides decided to carry on.
North Force coach Dean Wheatley said he used 18 players in total, giving mostly reserve team lads a run, with three or four premier side members on the field at any one time.
The friendly match  was a prime opportunity to test North Force's younger players against the country's top under-17 footballers and any game time was great for the visitors ahead of their Under-17 World Cup campaign later this year, he said.
Both sides battled hard for most of the first half before  the New Zealand representatives slotted a goal just before halftime, followed by another after the break.
 Murray Wootten  found the back of the net to close the gap to 2-1. The visitors wound up the match with two late goals to win the match 4-1, with both teams grateful to escape the pouring rain.
"For us it was pleasing to see that we were up to the standard of those guys," Wheatley said.
"We're not too far behind them and some of our lads were younger, so it was a good result."
Wootten was a standout up front, while Tom Taylor was impressive in the midfield as was Isaac Lindsay out wide on the right and Mitch Pomfrett at right back.
On Saturday, North Force men return to the regular US1 Premiership competition clashing with Glenfield Rovers at Kamo Sports Park.
During North Force's bye weekend they slipped into ninth position after Hibiscus Coast defeated North Shore 5-0 on Saturday - North Force will need to lift to get one over the third-placed Glenfield outfit.
Takapuna are in fourth following their victory against fifth-placed Birkenhead. 
After a game drought, North Force women in seventh are at home on Sunday against Fencibles United in sixth in what should be a close match.
In the hotly contested Northland Premier Division, Kerikeri overcame FC Whangarei 1-0 while Kamo were three up on Kaitaia United who failed to get any points.