Stirling Sports Premiership Round 5 Preview

Well what a week, earthquakes, floods, mini tornado's, NZ playing and I got 4 out of 6 with my picks, including calling the NZ v New Caledonia home game correctly with a  2-0 win to NZ, shame I lost out on the away leg (which was 0-0). 

So on to this weeks games.

=========================================================

Good wins for both these teams last week, Hawkes Bay won 3-1 away to Tasman and Canterbury 4-1 at home to the Weenix. Hard one to pick

League Position   Hawkes Bay United 5^th Canterbury United 3^rd

Last season         Hawkes Bay United 2 Canterbury United 0

Stat Chat             Canterbury United have not won in Napier in the last 6 years

Pick                     Hawkes Bay United 2-1

=========================================================

The Weenix were holding their own against Canterbury, but getting Jack-Henry Sinclair and keeper Keegan Smith sent off saw them collapse to a 4-1 loss. Auckland City left it late to grab a winner against a much improved Southern United and with one eye one the Club World Cup in December could be vulnerable here.

League Position    Weenix 8^th, Auckland City 1^st

Last season          Weenix 1 Auckland City 3

Stat Chat               Auckland City haven't conceded a goal since the 3^rd minute of 

                              the first game of the season – that's 447 minutes

Pick                       Auckland City 2-0

=========================================================

Waitakere United drop to 4^th place after losing the #EastWestDerby 1-0 to Eastern Suburbs. Team Wellington seem to be hitting their stride coming from 2-0 down to hammer Hamilton Wanderers 5-2, a score which could have been a lot higher.

League Position    Waitakere United 4^th , Team Wellington 7^th

Last Season          Waitakere United 2 Team Wellington 4

Stat Chat               Team Wellington have only won in 3 of their 19 visits to 

                              West Auckland, but the 3^rd win was the 4-2 win last season

Pick                       Team Wellington 3-2

=======================================================

 

If you look at Wanderers record so far of win, loss, win, loss, they are due a win. 
Tasman United are still looking for their first win

League Position       Hamilton Wanderers 6^th, Tasman United 9^th

Last Season             1^st ever game between these 2 teams

Stat Chat                  In 10 games played in the Waikato by Nelson teams in 

                                 the National League they have only recorded 2 wins

Pick                          Wanderers 2-1

========================================================

Eastern Suburbs are unbeaten at home this season. Southern United were unlucky not to come away with a point from their game against Auckland City are looking for their 1^st win

League Position        Eastern Suburbs 2^nd, Southern United 10^th

Last Season              1^st ever game between these two.

Stat Chat                   Eastern Suburbs have faced 5 clubs from the Southern 

                                  United catchment area (Northern, St Kilda, Dunedin 

                                  Suburbs, Caversham & Dunedin City) in the 

                                  National League or Chatham Cup

Pick                           2-2 draw

========================================================