Weekend Round Up

It's hard to believe that we are five games into the league season already and Wainui have a massive fixture against Petone this coming weekend in Wellingtons Premier League which should be a cracker of a game.  Here is a bit of a rundown on how the other teams in the club fared over the weekend just gone........

Keep your eyes on the action

Division 4 : Wainuomata 1 0 Lower Hutt Ancient Ones * A clean sheet for everyones favourite hero Ralphie and a second win in a row for Rob Bennets charges puts them 3rd on the table.

Division 6 : Marist Inter 2 2 Undertakers

Division 14 : Half Baked 2 2 Lower Hutt Roundballs * It was somewhat of a Wainui Cricket Club v Wainui Cricket Club grudge match here in a 'spirited' game which saw Kurts Half Baked team fight back to claim a draw against the unbeaten Roundballs.

Division 16 : Island Bay United 1 3 Wainuiomata

Masters Division 4 : Western Suburbs 3 2 Wainui Pacifica

Womens Division 1 : Tawa 1 1 Wainuiomata * Looks like the womens first team are adjusting well to life in division one this season with a win, a draw and two losses to kick start their season.

Womens Division 3 : North Wellington 10 0 Wainuiomata

Gone in 420 Seconds

The opening goal for Waterside

Wainui were back at Richard Prouse Park today for the visit of Waterside Karori.  Generally these encounters are always tight affairs and after earning two draws in recent weeks in the league there was a bit of hope around the ground that maybe Wainui could just about edge out the visitors.

However, Waterside didn't read the script and after a tight opening 25 minutes suddenly raced into an unassailable 3-0 lead in a seven minute spell. 

Neil Barclay makes another timely intervention

The seven minutes apart both teams were very evenly matched.  Wainui came more into the game in the final 15 minutes of the first half and could have sneaked a goal but for some wayward shooting.

Shon McKechnie, who earned himself a man of the match award today, caused some trouble for the Waterside defence early in the second half with some great running down the left wing but the visitors defence scrambled well to keep Wainui out.

As the game entered its final stages Waterside crept back in and looked like adding to their tally.  Some superb defending from captain Neil Barclay kept the game alive for Wainui though with some well timed tackles denying Waterside time and again. 

So a disappointing result today in Wellingtons Premier League but some good news for local hero Ralphie who kept a clean sheet for the reserves as they ran out 1-0 winners against The Lower Hutt Ancient Ones in the early game.  Next up for the boys is a trip to Memorial Park for a local derby against Petone, a tough hard battle is expected for this one with many Wainui players having previously donned the blue of Petone.

  

RCSC 2012.....The Legacy continues

The Ralph Chenery Supporters Club was in full voice at Bishop Park yesterday as local hero Ralphie made a late appearance in The Chatham Cup tie against Eastbourne.  Being as versatile as he is, recently Ralph has played a lot of football in goal, a centre forward type role posed no problems at all.

Local hero Ralphie puts 'em under pressure

With the 15 jersey on his back again Ralphie was full of running and energy and as was reported in yesterdays game very nearly stole a goal for himself right at the death.  I'm pretty sure Bishop Park would have erupted and the cheers heard all the way over the hill in Wainuiomata had that happened!!

ANZAC Day Chatham Cup special

It wasn't quite the Nou Camp as seen on ESPN early this morning and it's certainly a far cry from Wembley Stadium but Wainuiomata kicked off their Chatham Cup campaign at a sun drenched and windswept Bishop Park against Eastbourne this afternoon.

Picturesque Bishop Park in Eastbourne

With a much changed team from Saturdays game that even saw Stephen Quirke included in a central midfield role Wainui got off to a great start with a goal after ten minutes.  Joel Evans then doubled Wainuis lead before the break to calm any nerves that might have built up around such a slender lead.

Playing into the wind in the second half Wainui looked comfortable at the back as Eastbourne pushed on to try and grab a goal to make a contest out of it but Wainui always looked dangerous on attack.  Stephen Quirke almost added to the tally of goals when a cross come shot drifted over the goalkeeper but I'm sure the wind played its part in helping to blow the ball just inches wide.

Jordan Blake beats his man

Local hero Ralph Chenery made a late appearance at centre forward and almost snatched a late goal but Eastbournes keeper was equal to the shot.  The game eventually wore down to its conclusion seeing Wainui advance to the second round and a glamour tie (clarification needed) at home to former champions Wellington Olympic at Richard Prouse Park next month.

Point a piece after epic showdown

After a long, long week at work it was great to get to the artificial turf at Wakefield Park and witness Wainuiomata pick up another point after a ding dong battle with Island Bay United. 

Having failed to score in both of last seasons encounters Wainui made a bright start and striker Cameron Blake gave the team the perfect start with a superb 20 yard strike, after drifting past three players effortlessly, that gave Island Bays goalkeeper no chance at all.

Things were looking even better for Wainui as half time approached as Josh Wilkie bundled home a goal after Ewan Barclays header was blocked on the line to put them 2-0 up with what was looking like an unassailable lead.

Island Bay come very close to scoring

Island Bay came out fighting in the second half and two minutes in and an unstoppable thunder bolt of a strike had Michael Howells beaten all ends up to halve Wainuis lead.  It looked like they could hang onto the lead as the back four, led by centre half Neil Barclay, kept Island Bay at bay (no pun intended) but everything turned around during a crazy five minute spell with 15 minutes remaining.

First a penalty was conceded an dispatched to make it all square, then a goal from a corner suddenly put Island Bay into the lead late in the game.  There were a couple of chances for the home side to improve on their lead but again Michael Howells was in top form to keep Wainui in the game.

Dee Singh sends the keeper the wrong way

Wainui never gave up and entering into the final minute a long ball over the top caught the home defence napping and Wainui earned themselves a penalty.  Up stepped substitute Dee Singh and he put the keeper the wrong way to rescue a point for Wainui.  Super stuff from the boys and some great determination not to have left Wakefield Park empty handed having led the game for so long.  Next up is a trip to Eastbourne on ANZAC Day for a Chatham Cup encounter and maybe a plum first round tie against 2009 champions Wellington Olympic.

Local hero Ralph Chenery was in action straight after the game ended for the reserves as they came away with a 4-2.  Unfortunately though I couldn't hang around as I wasn't dressed appropriately to watch football in a t-shirt as the sun had gone down and the temperature was dropping, maybe next time Ralphie!!