Soccer: Chatham Cup luck runs Auckland's way in quarter-finals

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Auckland teams have been handed a Chatham Cup bonus with home draws in all quarter-finals.

In last night's draw, Bluebird sponsorship manager Kevin Snell picked all surviving Auckland clubs out of the hat first.

That has added extra steel to Sunday's outstanding fourth-round clash between Central United and Waitakere City because the winner will have home advantage against Napier City Rovers in the July 28-29 quarter-finals.

The draw is: North Shore United v Christchurch City, Central United/Waitakere City v Napier City Rovers, Eastern Suburbs v Dunedin Technical, University Mt Wellington v Manawatu.

Two of the sides are not in the national league - North Shore and Eastern Suburbs.

North Shore, who tipped out national league Tauranga City on Sunday, have been the form team in the northern premier league this season.

They are the country's oldest soccer club and are chasing a return to the national league.

Eastern Suburbs have faced lean times in recent years but are back in the northern premier league. They beat first division Taupo 4-1 to book their place in the last eight.

University Mt Wellington who, as Mt Wellington, have won five times and are chasing a sixth triumph to join North Shore and Christchurch United as the most successful clubs in the almost 80 years of the Chatham Cup.

Three-time cup winners Napier City Rovers face a tough journey to either Kiwitea St or Fred Taylor Park.

At home, Napier have been one of the best cup sides of recent years, but the away trip will make it hard for the side. They did win away at the weekend, 2-1 against Lower Hutt City after trailing 0-1 at halftime.

The Bluebird Chatham Cup semifinals are scheduled for September 1-2 - the same weekend as the national league play-offs, which could make for a congested programme.