Keri derby keeps chill at bay

FIFTY/FIFty: Holly Inwood (Kerikeri High School, on right) and Chelsea Downey (Kerikeri Siteworx) contest the ball in round 7 of the Northland Women's Premier Division at Kerikeri Highschool.

Kerikeri High School 2 Kerikeri Siteworx 1 (ht 1-0): The Kerikeri High School girls' side claimed bragging rights after the final whistle blew in an intensely contested derby from round 7 of the Northland Women's Premier Division on Sunday.

This was decent entertainment, as good an advertisement for local women's football as anyone amongst the decent sized crowd who braved the wet and soggy conditions could wish to see: both sides did their best to keep the ball on the ground throughout the game with an emphasis on both short and long passing game while possession in the midfield was fiercely contested.

A goal to Priscilla Hornsby saw the hosts lead at the break. Siteworx came out the stronger side in the second spell and soon equalised through Emma Richards, and the visitors began to dominate proceedings, including one shot which hit the crossbar.

The younger High School girls never resorted to playing desperation football, and were rewarded when Tara Jackson found herself with time and space on the right wing and fired in an inviting cross which quicksilver striker Finella O'Leary met to bundle the ball over the line past the outstretched arms of keeper Ellie Liddington. Later in the half, Hornsby's sweetly struck shot pinged off the upright.

The end result was regarded as a bit of an upset; the first time the two sides had met this season resulted in a 5-1 win to Siteworx. Keri High coach Russell McCabe was beaming from ear to ear afterwards, pleased with the manner in which the game had been played and especially that his girls had never thrown in the towel.

"Awesome game, It was hard out there. Little bit sad for you," he said in commiseration with the Siteworx players after the match, only to quickly add, "but not really. You guys played really really well, it was anybody's game." McCabe gave the player of the day award to the whole team.

On behalf of the visitors, Ellie Liddington congratulated the high school girls for the vast improvement they have shown this season: "That was a fantastic game. I've been watching you guys for a while, and it's been really interesting to see how far you have come in such a short time. Every ball was 50/50 and played hard but in good spirits, as close as it could be," she said. Siteworx standout was striker/ right wing Katie Ralph while Amy Walden was also applauded for her workrate.

Referee Sean White - thanked for doing a fine job and letting the game flow in the slippery conditions and in the face of some crunching tackles - enjoyed a close-up view of proceedings and was left as impressed as any spectator by the quality on display.

"I thought it was a good game, pretty quick and a good spectacle for women's football. I covered some ground yesterday keeping up with the young ones."

Surprisingly, the result did not unseat Siteworx from the top of the standings, equal on points with Kamo who have two games in hand. Both Kerikeri sides share a common goal: a deep set desire to upset Kamo when they take their turn playing the champions later this month.

- NWP standings*: Kerikeri Siteworx (played 7, for/ against 31/9) 15, Kamo (5, 25/3) 15, Kerikeri High (6, 25/14) 12, Hora Hora (5, 19/25) 6, Northern Wairoa (3, 8/11) 3, Central Brown (4, 10/14) 3, Onerahi (6, 2/44) 0; *note, does not include Hora Hora vs Onerahi game on Sunday (still to be updated as the Age went to press yesterday).

The NWP is on hold this weekend - e.g. no games on Sunday - in deference to the Fifa U-20 World Cup match in Whangarei.

Northern Wairoa 0 Bay Cosmos Mixed 3 (ht 0-0): The Bay Cosmos Mixed crew occupying bottom spot on the standings after losing this catch-up game in the Northland 2nd/3rd Divisions Grading championship at William Fraser Park on Saturday. (Northern Wairoa appeared to have conceded home advantage to enable this catch-up match to take place in Whangarei, the idea being that would allow players from both teams to attend the Fifa U20 World Cup game taking place on the same day.)

Cosmos player coach Jen Crewther gave the POTD award to the whole team. The result also allowed Northern Wairoa to supplant Kaitaia Top Roofer United in the top six of the NM2/3G standings; with the top six teams going forth to battle for the 2nd div title, while the bottom six will play for the 3rd div title, which Kaitaia won last season.

This was the only senior club football match played on Saturday with all other games called off as a show of respect to the Fifa U-20 World Cup match.

- NM2/3G standings, top 6: Kerikeri Masters (played 7, for/ against) 22/6) 19 points, Madhatters Green (6, 27/10) 16, Madhatters Black (6, 24/8) 13, Northern Wairoa (7, 19/13) 12, Onerahi (7, 15/14) 12, Tikipunga Coastline (7, 14/10) 11; bottom 6: Kaitaia United (6, 16/11) 9, FC Whangarei (6, 8/13) 9, Kamo Whangarei Aluminium (7, 14/13) 7, Central Brown (7, 17/26) 6, Tikipunga Development (6, 7/31) 0, Bay Cosmos (6, 3/31) 0.

The draw for this weekend's games of Far North relevance features nearby.