Race for top spots heats up while women contest cup final
Wanganui City host Levin AFC today in the Western Premiership in what promises to be a physical affair on Wembley's No1 ground at 12.30pm.
Meanwhile the women's James Cup final will be contested between the Wanganui High School Girls 1st XI and the Wanganui Collegiate Girls 1st XI over at the WHS grounds.
In the men's Division 1 and 2 grades, things are heating up as teams jostle for top spots, creating some feisty match ups this weekend.
Wanganui City made a triumphant return to form last weekend against North End after a couple of weeks sitting in the doldrums.
Today will be a true test of their steel as they face an historically-physical Levin side who will be determined to steal points from them.
City have taken the honours in the previous two meetings between the teams, with 3-1 and 4-1 victories giving them the upper hand for this match.
But it's always been a match that City have had to work hard at for 90 minutes to take the victory from.
Wembley's No1 field is a nice, wide pitch, which should allow City to play their expansive style of play, and really move the ball around the visitors, creating chances for the players up front to take their chances on goal.
If City can ensure they are all switched on and energised at the opening whistle, it won't be long until they get themselves on the scoresheet.
In football, being overly-physical can often work against you, especially if you're up against a side that's keen to move the ball around.
I'm predicting City will have their tails up and will take it to the Levin lads, and could well finish up with something in the area of a 6-2 victory, although that's being harsh on the stoic centre-back pairing of Adrian Ngaau and Dylan 'Horse' Howells, who have held the team's defence lines well even during their rough patches.
The James Cup final is being played out on the WHS grounds with double the bragging rights on offer between the Wanganui High School and Collegiate Girls 1st XI's.
The James Cup is a novel competition, which gives lower-placed teams from the regular league a handicap going into matches against higher-placed teams, in an effort to even the playing field.
Historically this has led to some surprise victories, and this year has been no different.
The men's Division 2 kicks off at 12.30pm today with only one game in this grade being played at Wembley, with Athletic Weekenders going up against the Marist Casuals, in what will be a must-win match for both teams, as they jostle for the top spot.
The other match between the Wanganui Collegiate 1sts and Castlecliff United is being played at Collegiate today, which will see the home lads looking to bounce back from a poor showing during the week in their inter-school game against New Plymouth Boys High School.
The Division 1 round kicks off at 2.30pm with Castlecliff St Anthony's facing off against tough opposition in the Total Automotive City Hammers.
With just one point separating the two teams, and both teams always playing a fast-paced, physical game, this is shaping up to be a firecracker.
The Castlecliff Braves host the Athletic Reserves on field No6, with the Reserves sure to be bolstered by some of their first team players looking to keep some match fitness before their upcoming play-off match next weekend.
This will be a big challenge for the Braves, but they are a team who take great pleasure in claiming scalps of the unsuspecting.
Marist Bhoys will be looking for their first win in Division 1 when they go up against the hugely experienced Athletic Cosmos, which will pose a big challenge for them for 90 minutes.
The Cosmos will look to play their possession football and keep the Bhoys off the ball in what will be an interesting fixture.
In the final game of the day, Marist Celtic must win their match against the St John Castlecliff 1sts if they are to stay within a mathematical chance of reaching the top of the table.
The Cliff 1sts will also be searching for three points, as their season in the top division has flourished and also sees them with a good chance of winning the league should they turn the final few results in their favour.