Hat-trick hero Tui Dugan [centre] wins an aerial battle with a Victoria defender. PHOTO/JADE CVETKOV
FOOTBALL
CHRIS COGDALE
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Wairarapa United 9
Victoria University 1
Tumu ITM Wairarapa United made no race of their Kate Sheppard third-round clash with Victoria University at Trust House Memorial Park on Saturday.
A first-half hat-trick to captain Tui Dugan, and goals to Emma Megchelse and Samoan international TJ Lyne-Lewis gave United an unassailable 5-0 lead at halftime.
Sam Whyte scored a double, Lyne-Lewis added a second and Kennedy Bryant wrapped up a one-sided clash.
United coach Paul Ifill was impressed with most of what he saw from his team.
“We started really well and probably played the best we have all season and then we had a 10-minute period where we were awful, but it was probably complacency because we went up so quickly and you know they’re probably not going to get back in the game,” he said.
Ifill said he told the players at halftime to use the second half practice with four season-defining games over the next month against Waterside-Karori away, Palmerston North Marist at home and Wellington United Diamonds twice, in the cup and in the W-League.
“I told them get used to keeping the ball under pressure and try playing out from the back under all circumstances and we did that in the second half, and we were good.
“They scored a goal from a corner but didn’t play through us at any stage, so I was pleased.”
