Wairarapa United’s Carl Shailer, right, in action against Havelock North Wanderers in a 2015 Chatham Cup match at Masterton’s Memorial Park. PHOTO/FILE
By Gary Caffell
Wairarapa United came up smelling roses when the draw for round two of New Zealand Football’s Handa Chatham Cup and Women’s Knockout Cup competitions over Queen’s Birthday weekend was released yesterday.
In the Chatham Cup, Central league leaders Wairarapa United will travel away to play lower-graded Island Bay United.
In the Women’s Knockout Cup, Wairarapa United will confront fellow W-League strugglers Stop Out at Masterton’s Memorial Park.
While the Phil Keinzley-coached Wairarapa United appear to have drawn favourably in the Chatham Cup the action will be intense in some of the other matches in the Capital region.
Wellington United, which consists of members of the Wellington Phoenix academy, will do battle with a Miramar Rangers squad which now has their Team Wellington O-League players back on deck while Napier City Rovers, the team Wairarapa United beat in the 2011 Chatham Cup final, will be at home to another high flier in Wellington Olympic.
On the other hand, Central League cellar dwellers, Palmerston North Marist, are likely to be facing an uphill battle when they strike Stop Out, who are second behind Wairarapa United in that competition.
In the Women’s Knockout Cup the second and third placed teams in the W-League, Wellington United and Palmerston North Marist, will meet each other in what promises to be a thriller.
Capital region round 2 draws (home teams first)
Chatham Cup
Wellington United v Miramar Rangers, North Wellington v New Plymouth Rangers, Island Bay United v Wairarapa United, Stop out v Palmerston North Marist, Western Suburbs v Napier Marist, Napier City Rovers v Wellington Olympic, Upper Hutt City v Tawa, Petone v Naenae.
Women’s Knockout Cup
Wairarapa United v Stop Out, Wellington United v Palmerston North Marist, Victoria University v Upper Hutt, Seatoun v Brooklyn Northern United.
