Bay Olympic head south for cup clash

SHANE WENZLICK

DUNEDIN-BOUND: Bay Olympic captain Craig Wylie will be hoping to lead the club to its first Chatham Cup in 40 years.

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Captain Craig Wylie and his Bay Olympic team-mates will have the gloves and beanies packed for an important venture down south this weekend.

The New Lynn-based club is heading to Dunedin to play Caversham in their Chatham Cup semi-final on Saturday.

It is Bay Olympic's first time in the final four since Blockhouse Bay and Green Bay-Titirangi United merged in 1998.

Blockhouse Bay competed in the 1988 semifinals and won the Chatham Cup in 1970.

"Our coach went down last weekend to have a look at the city and ground," he says.

"Hopefully he's got some good information about what we need to take to keep warm during the match."

The 26-year-old will also be hoping coach Shane Knowles has some data about their opponents.

Wylie admits knowing very little about a Caversham side that has scored 23 goals in their last three Cup fixtures.

"I do know they are a very fit side and will be encouraged by playing on their home ground and in their own environment," he says.

"My team-mate Ross McKenzie has played for clubs down in Dunedin so he might have some inside information on them."

Wylie sights McKenzie and striker Yoji Tanabe as key figures for the Bay but knows each player will be psyched for the event.

"All the boys have been talking about this game for a while so I doubt they need some motivational speech before kick-off."

But Wylie has his own extra incentive to beat Caversham – it could mean another shot against Wellington's Miramar Rangers.

"I played for Waitakere City in 2004 and lost in the final to Miramar so it would be nice to get one back against them," he says.

"In saying that East Coast Bays are top of the Northern Premier League so to beat them would be good as well."

- © Fairfax NZ News