Soccer: Uproar over venue swap

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Tauranga City United were in uproar last night after being told they must play the Chatham Cup final at the ground of their opponents, Napier City Rovers.

The drama unfolded yesterday when North Harbour Stadium - the intended venue for the July 21 final and the women's Knockout Cup final - was ruled unfit following six Oceania Cup matches in five days.

NZS considered a number of options, including Ericsson Stadium, Eden Park, North Shore's Allen Hill Stadium and Bill McKinlay Park in Mt Wellington.

It was decided to play the women's final between Ellerslie and Lynn Avon at Bill McKinlay Park, but that ground was deemed suitable for just one match on finals day.

Given the recent weather patterns and the prospect of more rain in Auckland and the Bay of Plenty, it was decided to shift the Chatham Cup final to a drier Napier.

NZS offered to take the Tauranga players south the day before the game, provide meals and accommodation, bus transport for their supporters and 200 free match tickets.

A meeting of the Tauranga City United committee last night rejected that proposal and will make submissions of their own to NZS today.

Club president Ron Boyle said he wanted NZS to consider Taupo's Owen Delany Park and perhaps Rotorua's International Stadium.

"We don't want to rock too many boats," Boyle said. "But our desire all along has been to see the game played at a neutral venue."