Nice sting in Wasps tale

Kaitaia Nomads 4 WASP 8 : The Whangarei Aged Soccer Players brigade proving far too experienced for a hastily cobbled-together group of locals in this friendly golden oldies game of football played over three 30-minute halves in gloomy but mild conditions at Taipa on Sunday.

Nothing at stake here, just a bunch of ageing lovers of the round-ball game having a get-together as an excuse to celebrate the Fifa World Cup in Brazil, have a beer and catch up with old rivals on a Sunday afternoon. Kaitaia senior team player manager Andy Booth said the match was initiated by the WASP fraternity. Never one to turn down such a request, particularly considering how many Whangarei sides have handed in default notices to Kaitaia over the years, Boothy, who ended up reffing the match, decided the mid-season friendly was a solid concept.

Both teams wheeled out their aged and put on a good-natured display of ball-to-feet football (as opposed to ball-in-space which would have required far more running than anyone particularly desired).

However, the real bonus came at the aftermatch at the pub across the road and it wasn't the sausages and chips. Instead it was the announcement by the community-minded WASPs that they have a whip-around amongst their ranks for a local cause whenever they play and this time it was to hand over a cheque for $200 to go towards the travelling costs of one of Kaitaia's most talented up and coming footballers, 15-year-old View Rungpao, who has been selected to trial with the national squad for the upcoming Fifa U-17 World Cup.

Kaitaia were humbled by the pledge and said they would match it: a fitting finale to a fun day of football.

Stafford Choat results

Kerikeri Harcourts Masters 6 Kaitaia United Top Roofer 1: Kaitaia crashing to its second consecutive, emphatic loss in two weeks at Waipapa as the 2014 Stafford Choat Cup tournament began for all Northland men's sides on Saturday.

Both sides were competitive in the derby, with the homeside leading the Northland men's 2nd div and Kaitaia atop the 3rd. The visitors' sole goal was by Mauro Ferreira, although the Brazilian also missed a host of chances throughout including several one-on-one with the homeside keeper, as well as being denied by the woodwork on two occasions. The Kaitaia standout was Steve Daykin.

Kerikeri player manager Graham Sharp proved gracious in victory. "She was a great game, and a lot closer than the scoreline suggests," he said, noting there were six different goal-strikers including player of the day Chris Whittaker along with Steve Mosland, Steve Gardner, Sam Walden, Sam Chapel, and Bob Andrew.

Central Brown 0 Kaitaia Justa Plumber 0 (ft 0-0, Kaitaia win 3-2 on penalties): Kaitaia winning the clash of the two NM1 sides in a gritty match played in grey conditions on a sludgy pitch at Otaika. No goals after 90 minutes and with no extra time (courtesy of the competition format), the match went straight into a penalty shoot-out, "Just like the world cup," noted one Kaitaia player. Kaitaia keeper Daniel De Waal proved the difference, saving two shots while another was missed, with Kaitaia slotting three of their first four penalties to win the shoot-out and advance. Also notable for the visitors was Rikki Green with another committed performance down the right flank.

Other Stafford Choat Cup results of Far North relevance were, Kerikeri Pioneer Reserves 1 Madhatters Green 4: A surprisingly emphatic scoreline by Madhatters Green in this clash of the two 1st div sides at Waipapa; and, Central Brown 3 Bay Cosmos 0 DEFAULT: Cosmos' lack of numbers apparently due to the sheer number players unavailable with the onset of the school holidays but expecting to be back to strength for this Saturday's NM2 league game against Madhatters Black.

In other men's football news, Kerikeri Bay Builders had the bye in both the Stafford Choat Cup (as did all NMP sides) and round 13 of the Northland Men's Premier Division. Thus the champions were forced to sit, wait and see if their arch-rivals took the opportunity to sneak ahead on the standings.

Sunday women

FC Whangarei 1 Kerikeri High 1 (ht 0-1): Kerikeri going ahead through a goal from Emma Richards before the homeside equalised to take a share of the spoils in the penultimate round (13) of the Northland Women's Premier Division (NWP) championship. Kerikeri coach Russell McCabe said this was another evenly contested match, his side's second draw in as many weeks.

"We are the draw kings," he laughed. "It was very even. One of those games which went back and forth. Our goalkeeper kept us in the match but in saying that, theirs did the same for them too. We had shots at goal, hit the post, so did they."

Standouts for the visitors included goalie Nada Walker, striker Finella O'Leary and, once again, his prolific striker Richards who was "outstanding in her work rate". McCabe noted that was "just about it" for the Kerikeri High School girls in the NWP campaign. The side only has a bye left before the competition's annual Knockout Cup tournament begins at the end of this month.

Hora Hora 3 Bay Cosmos 2 (ht 2-1): Cosmos coach Jeff May noting six of his best players were unavailable, wither away or out for the count through illness. "Still a great effort from the girls," he said. Goals by Hannah Jull 2 while standout was centre back Erin Williams.

Kerikeri Siteworx had the bye. Meanwhile, for those who weren't aware, Kamo are officially now the 2014 NWP champions and walloped the hapless Tikipunga 17-nil in Tikipunga on Friday night to underline the achievement.

NWP STANDINGS: Kamo (played 11, f/a 69/4) 33 points, Kerikeri Siteworx (11, 37/13) 23, Kerikeri High (12 (48/27) 16, FC Whangarei (10, 34/20) 14, Bay Cosmos (11, 26/ 28) 13, Hora Hora (10, 29/30) 10, Tikipunga (11, 2/123) 0.