Soccer: Hat-tricks as Bays blow over Grammar

Phil Edginton scores a hat-trick for East Coast Bays against Auckland Grammar, during round 3 of the Chatham Cup at Bay City Park, Browns Bay. Photo / Natalie Slade

Hat-tricks for Phil Edginton and George Suri laid the foundation for East Coast Bays' 9-0 Chatham Cup win over Auckland Grammar at a windswept Bay City Park.

While the underdogs battled bravely into the strong end-to-end breeze to hold Bays to 3-0 at halftime, they could not maintain the same pluck and courage in the second half as their more experienced rivals took control.

Many of the goals came from headers with both Edginton and Suri rising above their rivals to nod home from set play with Bays' captain Leigh Kenyon often the provider.

It was closer elsewhere as other surviving cup-winners Waitakere City and Miramar Rangers got home by the odd goal.

City beat Metro 2-1 in Friday night's third round opener while Miramar were taken to extra time before winning 3-2 in their home tie with Lower Hutt City after Rangers had gone 2-0 ahead in the opening 20 minutes.

Northern premier clubs continue to show out with the big four East Coast Bays, Three Kings United, Bay Olympic and Waitakere City along with Forrest Hill Milford (eighth), Albany (ninth) and Glenfield Rovers (15th) through to the last 16 along with fourth-placed first division club Birkenhead. Six of the northern survivors are from United Soccer 1.

Bay Olympic made Takapuna pay after the home team were reduced to 10 men after 25 minutes. They held the visitors to 0-2 at halftime but, aided by two Ross McKenzie penalties, Bay Olympic cruised home 5-0.

Last year's runners-up Three Kings were held 1-1 at halftime but edged home 3-2 over a spirited Eastern Suburbs who were eyeing their first cup final appearance since they lost on penalties to Western Suburbs in 2006.

Birkenhead needed an extra time Robin Wang goal to claim a 1-0 home win over Tauranga City in an all-first division clash.

Forrest Hill Milford ended the hopes of the Waikato/Bay of Plenty clubs with their 1-0 away win over Melville yesterday.

Albany beat Hamilton Wanderers 3-1 and Glenfield had a 2-1 win over Ellerslie.

The biggest win of the round came yesterday when former cup-winners Napier City Rovers swamped Red Sox Manawatu 12-2.

In a southern game yesterday, another former winner Western (Christchurch) scored a 1-0 away win over Nelson Suburbs and Ferrymead Bays beat Christchurch rivals Cashmere Wanderers 6-0.

The fourth round draw will be made tomorrow.