Late goals dash Upper Hutt's hopes
BY COLIN WILLIAMS
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Upper Hutt Leader
Two late goals to Waterside-Karori put paid to the ambitions of the top Upper Hutt side in the pre-season Hilton-Petone football tournament at Memorial Park on Sunday.
Upper Hutt qualified to the quarter-finals by virtue of a countback on goals, after a 1-3 first loss in pool play against a Team Wellington youth side. The locals more than matched the Waterside-Karori side till the end-game crash.
Upper Hutt dominated possession but were left regretting their inability to convert any advantage into points.
The side's effort was not helped by the injury and loss of the experienced Wayne Rooker, a creative player in the tournament games.
Coach Ian Porteous was left feeling positive enough with his squad's effort but felt there was a lack of intensity in the latter games, particularly against Team Wellington.
"We may have been guilty of taking them a wee bit lightly because of their youth," he says.
Champs Premier play begins at Easter with a double header weekend, a scheduling Porteous believes is neither necessary or productive.
"It doesn't make sense. We don't have the longest of seasons so I don't know why they do it," he says.
The side's first championship game on April 3 is away against Miramar Rangers while they at are home on Easter Monday at Harcourt Park against Wellington United.
Meanwhile, in the Hilton-Petone B-division play, the Upper Hutt City side had the better of a goal feast in beating Tawa B 5-3 after being down two goals early.
Locals goals went to Adam Brown, Ian Mawdesley (2), Sam Bone and Sam Rausch.
The side is set to meet a Wellington Federation under-17 side in this week's semi-final.
- Upper Hutt Leader
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LOL Matty. That picture looks like that no.7 has nicked the ball through your legs.....nuts.