The Greytown Fresh Choice Capital Four team. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
FOOTBALL
CHRIS COGDALE
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A top-half finish would be a good reward for Greytown Fresh Choice in their first season in the Capital division four championship.
Sixth-placed Greytown wrap up their campaign on Saturday at home to Petone Stonecutters, who are on target for promotion.
A win for Greytown would be another big scalp in the league after they upset previous leaders Wainuiomata Reserves in the last round before the covid-19 lockdown and could propel them to as high as third in the division.
That would represent a solid season in the league after a woeful start with Greytown taking six rounds to secure their first victory, 4-3 over Western Suburbs Red.
Since then, Greytown have won seven of their past 11 games and gave themselves an outside chance of promotion, only for a couple of crucial losses to end their chances.
A second Wairarapa team could join Greytown in the league in 2022 if local league first division champions Masterton Athletic can win their playoff game against the winners of the Wellington first division.
Wellington United Reserves and the Horowhenua-Kapiti champions Kapiti Coast United [KCU] Sopranos will play the first playoff game on Saturday, with the winners to progress to Capital Four.
Athletic will then play the loser of that game on September 25 for the second promotion position.
If Athletic win that, they would return to the capital leagues for the first time in 10 years.
Before that, Athletic are on target to complete the league-cup double in the Wairarapa Local Leagues.
Athletic progressed to the final of the Wairarapa Cup knockout competition with a 3-1 victory over second division side Masterton McAuley’s last Saturday.
They will meet second division champions Douglas Villa Skulls in Saturday’s final at Hullena Park.
Skulls upset another first division team Carterton 3-1 in the semifinal.
In Saturday’s other finals, Douglas Villa Fall Protect will play Greytown Property Brokers in the Plate final, Carterton Reapers take on Property Brokers Featherston United in the Bowl final, and the Shield final will be fought out between Greytown and Wairarapa Evergreens.
