Reds pipped at the post

Cambridge’s first season in the Northern League football championship finished in bitter sweet fashion on Saturday.

Cambridge goal scorer Josh Clarkin. Photo: Steph Bell-Jenkins.

The men were set a challenging target of beating Wanderers in Hamilton while hoping results elsewhere went their way to secure second place – and promotion to the premiership.

Part one was achieved – a 2-1 away win secured in added time with yet another Josh Clarkin goal.

But Northern Rovers beat league champions Manukau United 3-1 to finish third – and Melville’s 2-1 win over Hibiscus Coast at Gower Park ensure they were promoted straight back in the premiership in second place.

It was another match of late drama as all the goals came in injury time- first to Hibs, then two to Melville in the 98th and 101st minute.

Melville will be the sole Waikato representative in the premiership next season, and Ngāruawāhia, beaten 4-0 at Onehunga Mangere will drop down.

It’s been a remarkable season for the Waipā club, which won promotion from the Southern Conference 12 months ago to rub shoulders with three other Waikato clubs.

At the same time the club’s women’s team also won a playoff to reach the Northern League and this season established themselves to finish fifth in the eight team competition won by Melville with a game in hand.

Three extra points were secured by Cambridge on Sunday with a 3-1 win over Central United.

Meanwhile Cambridge finished second in the Northern League under-23 men’s championship.

Cambridge Football Club’s top women’s team celebrated last year their promotion to the northern league with some of the junior players they mentored, their coach Scott Bult, strength and conditioning coach Caleb Wesselson and physio Hamish Lockwood. – Photo Selina Oliver.

 

More Recent Sports

Gaze passes final day test

Cambridge professional Sam Gaze produced remarkable ride to pass more than 50 riders to 12th place in the elite men’s cross-country on the final day of the UCI MTB World Championships in Switzerland. After an…

Football eyes on Luke

Cambridge footballer Luke Brooke-Smith has become one of the youngest players to debut for the All Whites. Brooke-Smith became All White No. 645 when he took the field against Australia in the second leg of…

High five and goals

Twenty-one Waipā teams braved wild weather to take part in WaiBop Football Federation’s junior 5-a-side tournament in Hamilton on Sunday. Despite torrential rain and gale-force winds at the start of the event, children from across…

Cyclones hit a Waikato storm

Community support was clear on Saturday as hometown hero Keelah Bodle and the Waikato Farah Palmer Cup rugby team defeated Manawatū Cyclones at Cambridge Memorial Park. Waikato’s 15-10 victory in driving rain and wind at…