Soccer: Chatham Cup champs get tough draw

Chatham Cup holders Miramar Rangers have been handed a tough start to their title defence, drawing Napier City Rovers away in today's draw for second round fixtures on June 6.

The match between the two Central League clubs, who have lifted the 89-year-old trophy four times apiece and twice each since 2000, headlines the list of Queen's Birthday matches featuring 54 clubs around the country.

Lower Hutt City and Wairarapa United have been paired together in another juicy all-Central League clash, while Metro host Waitakere in an all-Northern Premier match-up, and Mainland leaders Ferrymead Bays are away to six-time winners Christchurch United.

First round giant-killers, Old Blues from Tauranga have landed a plum home tie against Hamilton Wanderers, while Westlake Boys High School travel from Auckland's North Shore to the Waikato to face Ngaruawahia at Centennial Park.

In the bottom half of the South Island, Timaru's Northern Hearts have drawn heavyweights Dunedin Technical while Caversham, who, like Technical, enjoyed a bye into round two, will travel to Invercargill to meet Southend.

Round two draw (all games 1400 kickoff on Monday, June 6):-
Northern region: Forrest Hill Milford United v Waiuku at Becroft Park, Warkworth v Hibiscus Coast at Shoesmith Domain, Manurewa v Lynn Avon United at Memorial Park, Old Blues v Hamilton Wanderers at Waipuna Park, Glenfield Rovers v Albany United at McFetridge, North Shore United v Birkenhead United at Allen Hill Stadium, Metro v Waitakere City at Phyllis Street, Ngaruawahia United v Westlake Boys High School at Centennial Park, Fencibles United v Bay Olympic at Riverhills, Takapuna v Mangere United at Taharoto Park, Waitemata v Claudelands Rovers at McLeod Park. Byes to Round three - Central United, East Coast Bays, Melville United, Onehunga Sports, Three Kings United.

Central region: Palmerston North End v Wellington United at Skoglund Park, Palmerston North Marist v Island Bay at Memorial Park, Napier City Rovers v Miramar Rangers at Park Island, New Plymouth Rangers v Petone at Merrilands Domain, Upper Hutt v Tawa at Harcourt Park, Red Sox Manawatu v Taradale at Skoglund Park, Stop Out v Inglewood at Hutt Park, Lower Hutt City v Wairarapa United at Bell Park.

Southern region: FC Twenty11 v Coastal Spirit at Avonhead Park, Christchurch United v Ferrymead Bays at Tulett Park, Nelson Suburbs v Richmond Athletic at Saxton Field, Woolston Technical v Western at Ferrymead Park, Roslyn Wakari v Northern at Ellis Park, Northern Hearts v Dunedin Technical at Aorangi Park, University v Grants Braes at Logan Park, Southend United v Caversham at Bain Park.

- NZPA