It's that time of year again, Chatham Cup kicks off, well OK technically it kicked of a couple of weeks ago but that was for the regions that required preliminary rounds, which is not something we need in our region this season.
It also gives me a chance to get back to this blog as you may have noticed I haven't updated it for a while. That's not because I haven't been doing anything but in between writing the 125th history of Waterside Karori and being the media officer for Wellington United, oh and also my day job I just haven't had the time. So I decided I would do a Chatham Cup series this season, of course the great plans I had of finding out who Otaki Purutiatama were and their hopes for the cup haven't happened due to time!
I don't just want to do match reports as I have in past years, so will be looking back at certain teams and years of the Chatham Cup. But as time is an issue I'll start with a Round one preview of the games in the Capital Region. (Sorry other regions but again time...)
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| Advert for the 1963 Chatham Cup Final North Shore United of Auckland beat Nomads of Christchurch 3-1 |
ALL GAMES SATURDAY 11 MAY
Delany Park, Stokes Valley, KO 2pm
Stokes Valley (Capital 2) Best Performance in Cup R5 (Last 16) 1979, 1988
BNU (Capital 1) Best R4 (1972,93,03)
Stokes Valley are currently 3rd in Capital 2 and have only had one loss this season so far, BNU on the other hand are still looking for their first win of the season and are sitting at the foot of the table in Capital 1. So Stokes Valley will probably be backing themselves for an upset here.
This will be the third time the clubs have met in the Chatham Cup BNU winning 5-2 in 1976 and 1-0 in 1995, while Stokes Valley were 2-1 winners in 1980. A more reliable guide may be the most recent results between the clubs in Capital 1 last season BNU won both games 7-3 at home and 3-1 at Delany Park
MY PICK : STOKES VALLEY
OTAKI PURUTITAMA v TAWA
Hauratai Park, Otaki, KO 2PM
Otaki Purutitama (Horowhenua Kapiti Premier) Best : Never entered before
Tawa (Capital Premier) Best : Semi Final 1992
This is a first, as far as I can make out this is the first time a club from Otaki have ever entered the Chatham Cup. The team are currently 3rd in the Horowhenua\Kapiti Premier division, but rumoured to be stacked with some extra fit ex rugby players.
Tawa are doing their usual slow start to the league, couple of wins, couple of draw and a couple of losses and are currently 3rd bottom in the Capital Premier League
MY PICK : I'd love to see Otaki win but I think it will be Tawa that do
WAINUIOMATA v SEATOUN
Richard Prouse Park, Wainuiomata, KO 2PM
Wainuiomata (Capital Premier) Best : Quarter Finals 1990
Seatoun (Capital One) Best : WON 1957, 58
Capital Premier side Wainuiomata host Capital One team and two time cup winners Seatoun in another tie that could see an upset. Wainuiomata are apparently missing five regular starters due to injury. Seatoun have had a stuttering start to the season, mainly because they have had two games in a row abandoned due to players (one theirs and one North Wellington's) getting very bad leg breaks.
This is the sixth meeting of these clubs in the Chatham Cup, the previous five have ended in two wins a piece and one draw which Wainuiomata won on pens
MY PICK : Wainuiomata in Extra Time
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| Advert for the 1924 Chatham Cup Final Habour Board of Auckland beat Seacliff of Dunedin 3-1 |
MARIST v WELLINGTON OLYMPIC
Kilbirnie Park, Kilbirnie, KO 2PM
Marist (Capital 2) Best : WON 1932, 46
Olympic (Central League) Best : WON 2009
Two previous winners of the competition meet in what could be the biggest mismatch of the round. Marist currently bottom of Capital Two take on Wellington Olympic currently 3rd in the Central League. It'll be interesting to see how Marist will approach this game, you would think a 11-0-0 formation maybe the most likely, but hey its a cup game.
For two clubs that are close to each other and both been around for along time (Marist 120+ years, Olympic are 60 this year) there have only been five games between the top teams and Olympic have won three of those with Marist one and one being a draw.
MY PICK : WELLINGTON OLYMPIC
KAPITI COAST UNITED v STOP OUT
Weka Park, Raumati, KO 2PM
Kapiti Coast United (Capital Premier) Best : Last 16 1993 (as Raumati Hearts)
Stop Out (Central League) Best : WON 1956
Currently sitting bottom of Capital Premier, Kapiti Coast United take on Central League Stop Out. The last time these clubs met was in 2011 in the Chatham Cup, where Stop Out won 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. I don't think Stop Out will have too much trouble here
MY PICK : STOP OUT
NAENAE v ISLAND BAY UNITED
Naenae Park, Naenae KO 2PM
Naenae (Capital 1) Best : Last 16 2005
Island Bay United (Capital Premier) Best Quarter Finals 2014
Capital One Naenae host Capital Premier Island Bay United. Both teams have had slow starts to the season with 6 & 7 points respectively. This is the sort of game that could be a cup classic, but then it is at Naenae and classic isn't a word you'd use in relation to their park!
MY PICK : I really have no idea on this one and think it could go either way, since I had a go at Naenae's ground I'll even it up and pick them!
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| 1939 Chatham Cup Final Program Waterside beat Western of Canterbury 4-2 |
PETONE v MIRAMAR RANGERS
Petone Memorial, Petone KO 3PM
Petone (Capital Premier) Best WON 1928, 30, 49
Miramar Rangers (Central League) Best WON 1966,92,04,10
In recent years it has been written that when the Chatham Cup draw is done, Miramar must be drawn away from home. In the last 12 games Miramar have played in the Cup, dating back to 2014, only one of those have they been drawn at home!
Both successful Chatham Cup teams, Petone are three times winners, while Miramar have won the trophy four times. Currently Petone are second in Capital Premier while Miramar are third from bottom in the Central League. However Miramar will be boosted by the return of their Team Wellington players.
Head to head, Miramar has the definate advantadge winning 30 of the 45 games played between these clubs since 1968.
MY PICK : MIRAMAR RANGERS
VICTORIA UNIVERSITY v WELLINGTON UNITED
Boyd Wilson Field, Te Aro KO 3:30PM
Victoria University (Capital Premier) Best : North Island Final (Semi Final) 1955
Wellington United (Central League) Best : Runners Up 1991
Capital Premier Victoria University have played Wellington United just eight times in their history and have yet to notch up a win. They will be backing themselves to pick one up in this game. They are sitting mid table with Three wins Three losses and a draw but it is more Wellington United's current record that will be giving them hope. They have yet to win a game this season and had a horror second half showing against Stop Out which ended in a 12-0 loss. But if its the Wellington United team that took Napier to the 92nd minute before conceding a last minute winner to lose 3-2 that turns up then it will be them going through.
MY PICK : WELLINGTON UNITED
WAIRARAPA UNITED v UPPER HUTT CITY
Masterton Memorial Turf, Masterton, KO 5:30PM
Wairarapa United (Central League) Best : WON 2011
Upper Hutt City (Capital Premier) Best : Last 16 2004,10
And yet another giant killing chance with Upper Hutt City top of Capital Premier taking on Wairarapa United currently bottom of the Central League. An even head to head record between these clubs both winning six games each. Wairarapa are a team that can score goals, but they can concede very easily as well and without Paul Ifill and player coach Cory Chettleburgh, both out with injuries they are a different team.
MY PICK : UPPER HUTT CITY
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