Caversham played its first game at its new ground at Hancock Park, part of a new ground-sharing venture with the Pirates rugby club.
A standout performance from Michael Hogan, with a hat-trick, ensured Caversham recorded back-to-back victories with a 4-0 vwin over University. Both teams started brightly with some slick passing — Ben Kiore crossing for Hogan to get off the mark after 24 minutes. Ben Wade scored on 35 minutes to give Caversham a two-goal buffer at the break.
Varsity pressed forward and had chances but was not able to get them on target. Hogan scored twice in the second half — one a well-taken first time effort from a corner and the other a penalty. Caversham coach Malcolm Fleming, while praising his team’s all-round effort, thought Alan McBride had a particularly strong game.
Roslyn-Wakari put on a powerful performance, to which Northern had no answer, and eventually won 8-0.
Roslyn’s Nick Treadwell is proving to be an astute signing by Colin Thom as he followed up last week’s performance with a hat-trick. Treadwell joined Southern United late in the season and his physical style is an asset for Roslyn.
Tennessee Kinghorn put Roslyn ahead early on with a low left-footed drive. Northern threatened when a shot was tipped on to Roslyn’s crossbar. However, three more goals before halftime meant the game was effectively over.
Luiz Uehara’s Northern side did improve in the second half but a further four goals in the second period gave Roslyn an 8-0 win and with a healthy goal difference it is now second on the table. Along with Treadwell, Cam Anderson (2), Kinghorn, Nathan Wilkie and Tom Bealin got on the scoresheet.
Dunedin Technical had a convincing 4-0 victory over the previously unbeaten Southland United. Southland slips to fourth place, such is the competitiveness of the league this year.
Technical’s quicksilver Tim McLennan scored after five minutes, then Southland rallied and enjoyed a long period of dominance without ever threatening Tom Fitall in Technical’s goal. It remained 1-0 at the break.
Southland did not adapt to the weather conditions and Technical seized the chance with a counter attack midway through the second half, with Alistair Rickerby scoring to extend its lead. Southland looked to get back into the game but Tony Martin’s Technical team picked it off with further goals to Rhys Quarrell and George McCall.
Queenstown retained its three-point buffer at the top of the league with a ruthless first-half display at Memorial Park. Finding space behind the fullbacks, Queenstown threaded a through ball and Josh Cartman raced forward to score through the legs of Mosgiel’s goalkeeper, Sean McDonald.
The home team rallied and equalised when Morgan Day planted a header past Daniel Bocatios. Queenstown’s wide men, Lewis Walters and Tom Mills, switched flanks and two goals similar to the first — a few minutes apart — from Cartman and Carlos Herrmann had Queenstown quickly up 3-1.
Cartman scored from a contentious penalty awarded late in the first half to claim a first-half hat-trick. One more goal from Tom Mills in the 70th minute killed the game off and Queenstown recorded a 5-1 victory.
Invercargill Thistle beat Melchester Rovers 4-1 in a first-round Chatham Cup tie in Invercargill on Saturday.
- Neville Watson
