Wairarapa United: Victorious

Now, where to put the cup?

Wairarapa United defied the odds yesterday to lift the Chatham Cup - New Zealand soccer's most famous prize - beating Napier City Rovers 2-1 in front of a passionate and vocal crowd at Palmerston North's Memorial Park.

The victory capped a remarkable season for the local underdogs, with the team getting up time and time again to progress to the final of the national knockout tournament, before outplaying their four-time cup-winning opponents for most of yesterday's match.



The final whistle sparked wild Wairarapa celebrations, with players hugging on the pitch and a large green and red section of the crowd cheering and chanting for the club.

Wairarapa United midfielder and club stalwart Carl Shailer said there was no place to house the silverware.

"We don't even have a home ground so there's nowhere to put the cup."

This season United have played home games at Masterton's Queen Elizabeth Park Oval, the Colin Pugh Sports Bowl, and Howard Booth Park in Carterton.

Shailer said yesterday's result would "go down in history as one of the great victories".

"We did it for the team and the community - it's just huge for Wairarapa," he said.

No Wairarapa team had previously made it past the quarter-finals in its 89 years.