Rangers stride as United stumble

Trust House Wairarapa United's surprise 4-2 loss to Tawa on Saturday has allowed Miramar Rangers to join them at the top of the central league football points table but the consequences could have been worse.
Western Suburbs, who started the weekend just three points (or one win) off the pace, were no better off than they were after being on the end of a 2-1 upset by Palmerston North Marist, while Lower Hutt City and Olympic stayed in fourth equal place when their fixture finished in a 1-1 draw.
The only big improvers among the front runners were Miramar Rangers, who were involved in a high scoring encounter with Petone, winning 5-3.
There was plenty of goal scoring action, too, in Sunday's local derby between Napier City Rovers and Maycenvale, Napier City Rovers winning 4-2.
The current central league points table is: Miramar Rangers and Wairarapa United 15, Western Suburbs 12, Olympic and Lower Hutt City 11, Tawa 10, Petone 7, Palmerston North Marist, Napier City Rovers and Maycenvale all 6.
Leading the Golden Boot award for the most goals is Olympic's Jimmy Haidakas with 5 while Wairarapa United's Pita Rabo shares second place with 4 along with Joachim Rande (Maycenvale) and Naoki Hotehma (Wests).There are seven players on three goals, including Wairarapa United's Adam Cowan, Seule Soromon and Campbell Banks.
Wairarapa United host Miramar Rangers at Queen Elizabeth Park oval in Masterton in the next round of central league games on May 22 but will first play Wainuiomata in a Chatham Cup elimination match at Wainuiomata this Saturday.
The Wairarapa United seconds drew 1-1 with Karori Cougars in a top-of-the-table Capital division four match at the weekend. That result left Karori Cougars on 14 points, just one ahead of Wairarapa United seconds and Wainuiomata on 13. Then come Tawa Devilz 10, LH Ancient Ones 9, University Scarfies and Island Bay HHH 6, Island Bay Massey and Island Bay United 5 and Brooklyn Northern United 1.
The first round of knockout competition matches were played in the Wairarapa championship on Saturday and results were:
Carterton Redbacks 5, Masterton-Gladstone Lions 2; Douglas Villa Good Beginnings 5, Douglas Villa Wairarapa Funeral Services 1; Douglas Villa Hasbeens 4, Carterton Shoe Clinic Social 3; Masterton McAuleys 7, Masterton Farmlands Presidents 0; Carterton A1 Homes 4, Douglas Villa Laser Eletrical 2; Greytown White Swan 7, Masterton Pacific United 0; Carterton Skulls 7, Greytown Turkey Red 0; Masterton Trevs Sports Athletic 6, Evergreens 0.