THE LONGEST PRE-SEASON TOURNAMENT EVER

The Hilton Petone Cups (Original on left) Story for another time Photo TJF Photos

 2020 Hilton Petone Cup Final

Tawa 6 Lower Hutt City 0

Petone Memorial Park

Saturday 30 May 2020

ATT : A socially distanced 86

Its been a long time coming. The 65th edition of the Hilton Petone Cup started on February 22nd this year. With just eight teams in division one of the competition the finalists of Tawa and Lower Hutt City had been determined by March 15th and then the COVID-19 pandemic kicked in, we were put on level 4 alert and no one really knew what was going to happen.

So now just over three months after it started, probably the longest Hilton Petone Cup competition had its final.

Lower Hutt City were playing in their 12th division 1 final, and had won the cup on six previous occasions. Their most impressive run coming from 2001-06 where they appeared in six finals in six years, winning three of them. 

Tawa were in their sixth final, having won it in 2009 and 2012. It was also the third meeting of the two clubs in the final of this tournament with Lower Hutt City winning out 3-0 in 2001 & 02 and 1-0 in 2011.

Tawa's keeper gathers the ball after a great 1 on 1 save Photo TJF Photos

Lower Hutt would have appeared the favourites to win a fourth final between these clubs, being a Central League side, whereas Tawa are in Capital Premier, a league below. However over the years the Hilton Petone Cup has become a tournament used by many clubs to experiment and give experience to younger players. So it was actually Lower Hutt City's reserve team, who play a division below Tawa in Capital 1, that lined up in the final. It was only fair as it was those players that had earned their place in the final beating North Wellington 4-3, Wainuiomata 12-2, drawing 1-1 with Petone and then beating Upper Hutt City 3-1 in the semi final.

Tawa also had 2 wins and a draw in the group stage, beating Western Suburbs 2-1, Stop Out 5-1 and drawing 2-2 with Upper Hutt City. They then beat North Wellington 4-2 on penalties in the semi final after the game ended 1-1.

The game started with a very preseason feel about it, players who had been in lockdown for 7-8 weeks not being match fit and trying to suss out where they were. Lower Hutt City looked the more skillful team on the ball but as with many young teams they didn't really do anything with it. Tawa were playing a high line and Lower Hutt were continually pulled up for offside and never really worked out how to beat this trap.

Tawa took the lead at about the half hour mark with a nice flicked on header (apologies I never got the goalscorers names) and then about 10 minutes later they doubled their lead. Now they say 2-0 is the most dangerous lead to have in football and Lower Hutt City nearly proved it early on in the second half with some penetrating runs down the left wing and it was only the outstanding goalkeeping and defending from Tawa that kept the score at 2-0.

Tawa make it 4-0 Photo : TJF Photod

As the game went on Tawa started to assert themselves on the game more and were finding ways past the Lower Hutt defence and eventually made it 3-0. From here it looked as if the game was safe, but to make sure Tawa went on a scoring spree with a further three goals in 10 minutes to make it 6-0 with still 15 minutes on the clock. They could have had more with several near misses and also an attacker trying a fancy back heel, but fluffing it, but at 6-0 I suppose you are allowed to do that sort of thing.

6-0 is how it finished, a comprehensive win for Tawa and the record winning margin for the Hilton Petone Cup. It was the fourth time six or more goals had been scored in the final.

How the teams will go in their respective leagues is anyone's guess, history shows that in more recent years teams that have a good Hilton Petone Cup run don't tend do do as well in the league. However Lower Hutt City in Capital one will surely be one of the contenders. While Tawa may not be a contender in Capital Premier, they have a good solid squad and will definitely be a team that could effect the outcome of the league.

Whatever happens - Football's back - woooohooooo

FOR PICTURES OF THE GAME CLICK HERE

Tawa AFC 2020 Hilton Petone Cup Champions Photo : TJF Photos