The Reds’ Waikato Ball (left) has bagged four of Te Awamutu’s six league goals this season. Photo: Arthur Uden.
High flying Te Awamutu take on Rotorua club Lakes in the country’s oldest knockout competition on Anzac Day.
Joint WaiBop football league leaders Te Awamutu go into the 2pm clash having clocked up successive wins, the latest a 2-0 home win over Lakes’ neighbours Ngongotaha.
The Chatham Cup is New Zealand’s equivalent of England’s FA Cup.
A check on Lakes reveals little to give any indication of their strength, but the club’s top team plays in the same league as Ngongotaha reserves.
The competition has attracted 129 entries, from Auckland Sunday league outfit Sperm Whales FC to top clubs like Hamilton Wanderers and Melville.
Otorohanga hosts Waiuku AFC, Matamata travel to pay Auckland powerhouse Central, while Taupo goes to Auckland to play Bohemian Celtic – the present-day iteration of another former powerhouse, Mt Wellington.
Te Awamutu will be happy to see a repeat of the crowd numbers which watched the win over Ngongotaha. An estimated 150 fans were present to see a good battle which was settled with goals to league top scorer Waikato Ball and sub Nischal Dhamala.
New signing Wade Vincent made an outstanding debut in goal.
The club reserves have the weekend off after Unicol defaulted in the Waikato Cup which was to be played tomorrow (Saturday).
