ASB
Premiership Semi Final
Hawke's
Bay United 1 Team Wellington 3
Bluewater
Stadium, Napier
Sunday
6th March 2016
So given
I have chosen the name The JourneyFan, it is probably about time I
did some more journeying, and since the results went Hawke's Bay
United's way the other week I traveled to Napier for the 2nd
Semi-Final in the ASB Premiership.
(The first Semi-Final between
Auckland City and Canterbury United was delayed a day due to fog at
Christchurch stopping Canterbury United leaving on time, Auckland City won the
game 2-1 when it was played.)
There
was no danger of fog at Bluewater Stadium (or Park Island for the
traditionalists) for the 2nd Semi-Final in what was a
stunning day in Napier. My first challenge was in getting to the
ground. I had been here before but it was sometime in the 90's and I
wasn't driving that time. So I asked the guy at my motel (on Marine
Parade) and he showed me the best route and said it was about 10
minutes away. Giving myself 20 minutes, I promptly left the map in the room and missed a vital
turn and ended up discovering the suburb of Taradale, the locations of Church
Road & Mission Estate Wineries and praising the wonders of
modern technology which got me to the ground a few minutes before
kickoff!
While
Bluewater Stadium is the home of Hawke's Bay United, it is also the
home of Napier City Rovers, the 4 times National League & Chatham
Cup champions. Many (including me) have made the mistake in the past
of believing that Hawke's Bay United franchise was basically Napier
City Rovers in disguise, we couldn't be more wrong and this club is
actually a great example of how the franchise system should work with
input from clubs in the area and utilising the best resources they
have. Bluewater Stadium at Park Island and the Napier City Rovers club rooms are the best in
the Hawke's Bay, and are up there among the best in NZ. Impressive was not just the foreign clubs scarves, but the several NZ Club teams shirts and pennants.
 |
| The Napier City Rovers club rooms - one of the best in NZ |
I have
always associated Napier and the Hawke's Bay with a pretty positive attitude, probably down to the great weather they have and also the
fact the place is a pretty funky little town. But there is being positive
and being positive and seeing Hawke's Bay United Chair, Paula Walker stating in the
program that their “...youth team showed strength and character and
improved results...” when the youth team failed to win a game all
season is probably taking things too far!
However
while the youth team results must be a worry, the senior team's
definitely aren't finishing 2nd in the regular season and
having the home advantage in the one-off semi-final game. Although
it was Team Wellington who stated their intent in the first minute
getting the ball into the net, only for it to be ruled offside. They
didn't take long to do it again, only 4 minutes later a Luis Corrales
effort counting. Hawke's Bay United came back into the game and got
one back before giving away a penalty and going into half time 2-1
down which was probably a fair reflection of the game.
In the
2nd half Team Wellington played the smarter game. HBU were
getting worried in the 30th minute a Team Wellington sub
who was warming up on the sideline exclaimed “is there only 10
minutes left?” The reason HBU were putting Paul Ifill on! While the
ex Millwall & Phoenix player injected some extra life into the
Hawke's Bay United team he was unable to score and it was Team
Wellington who got a goal on the break and booked their place in the
grand final.
 |
| Paul Ifill (HBU) being watched by Alex Feneredis of Team Wellington |
So
Thursday see's the Grand Final between 7 times champions Auckland
City & 3 times runner up Team Wellington. The 2nd
O-League place is also on the line, if Team Wellington beat Auckland
City it's theirs but if they lose Hawke's Bay United will become the
5th New Zealand team to play in the Oceania Champions
League
For more of my photo's from the game please click here
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