Peringa claim football premiership title

Will Johnston

Peringa are the new champions of Taranaki’s football premiership after the title was decided on the final week of the competition.

The New Plymouth club were always in the box seat heading into the final weekend of the competition after beating New Plymouth Rangers 3-1. FC Western needed to beat Moturoa by six or more goals to claim back-to-back titles only to win by the same margin. Both teams were on the same points (33) at the end of 15 weeks, but Peringa claimed the silverware because of a better goal differential.

The title is only the club’s second and first since 2009. They also secured the Challenge Trophy within the competition – a Ranfurly Shield-type format – after taking it off Rangers during the year.

Coach Domineco Squatriti said the win is “really big” for the club after it had come second and third over the past few seasons.  

“We had had huge support from our club members and also the wider football community,” he said. “We’re a friendly club and try to play football at the highest standard possible with the players we have.”

He said players have shown commitment during the season with many training in the poorest of weather.

This year, Peringa’s squad is like an extended family with new players forming positive relationships with the more experienced ones, Squatriti said.

During the season, which included a reduced number of teams from nine to six, Peringa played 10 matches with three draws, two losses and a plus-32 goal differential. The results included three wins against FC Western.

Senior player, Domineco’s son, Dom, said the club was lucky to have good depth as the injury and unavailability list plagued them during the season.

“In our final game against Rangers, we had nine players unavailable,” Dom said.

He said beating FC Western during the year showed Peringa deserved to be at the top of the table.

Dom said while every week was “just a massive team effort by all the lads,” Scott Manning was one standout during the season. Manning missed the last game on Saturday as he’s moved to the United States for football and university commitments.

“He played up front with me and he carved up.”

Saturday’s championship isn’t Peringa’s last game of the season. The club have two semi-finals to come in the Federation Cup against Napier City Rovers away and against the winner of FC Western and Rangers in the Duff Rose Bowl knock-out competitions.

New Plymouth Boys’ High School beat winless Hawera 3-2 in the remaining premiership match.

After the season, the points are; Peringa 33, FC Western 33, NP Rangers 29, Moturoa 24, NPBHS 12, Hawera 0.

Despite missing out on a premiership title, FC Western won the championship and division one competitions. Peringa also claimed two titles winning the division two competition, Woodleigh claimed the division three trophy and Moturoa won the women’s premiership title.

Full weekend wrap up:

MEN’S FEDERATION LEAGUE – ROUND 17:

ALH Limited Gisborne Thistle hosted Shani’s Taradale AFC. The home side managing to take a 2-0 lead into the half time break thanks to a brace of goals from Jimmy Somerton.  Taradale however were not going home without a fight and with 2nd half goals from George Watson and Ayden Jones they were able to level the scores and the match ended in a 2-2 draw.

Watson Integrity PN Marist welcomed Thirsty Whale Napier City Rovers to Arena Manawatu. The home side started well and a brace of goals from Paul Awa gave them a 2-0 lead at the break. Their lead was doubled early in the second half when Melvin Rumere netted a brace of his own before Mason Charlton completed the scoring late in the match to round off a comprehensive 5-0 Victory for the hosts.

 

WOMEN’S FEDERATION LEAGUE – ROUND 14:

At Guthrie Park Havelock North Wanderers were up against OneStaff Marist Reserves. It was a brace of goals from Maddison Hughes that proved to be the difference as Havelock North were 2-0 winners on the day.  

ATLAS NP Rangers hosted Kitchens by Healey Palmerston North United at Merrilands Domain. Zara Erol-Watt gave Rangers the lead in the 12th minute. Their lead was doubled in the 61st minute when Sasha Rasmussen found the back of the net. Paris Liu pulled a goal back for PNU in the 63rd minute to give the visitors hope of a comeback. However, any hopes of a comeback were eliminated when Rasmussen again found the back of the net as Rangers secured a 3-1 victory.

Yorb Taranaki Men’s Premiership – Round 15 

This weekend Peggy Gordon’s NP Rangers welcomed NZ Forestry Peringa United Premiers to Merriland Domain. Peringa opened the scoring in the first half with a brace from Marcus Powell-Cullingford in the 26th and 35th minutes of the match. Cody Buck scored in the 63rd minute to take the score to 3:0 for Peringa. Taku Warren got one back in the final minutes of the match however this wasn’t enough, as peringa took the win 3:1. TMT Building Ltd Moturoa AFC took on Rampage Fitness FC Western. Moturoa opened the scoring with a goal from Tyler Webber in the 9th minute to take the lead early. However, Western got two goals back thanks to Connor Oliver-rose and Benjamin Furze in the 17th and 19th minutes of the match to take the lead 2:1 at the break. Western got one more in the 74th minute to take the score 3:1 thanks to a goal from Kernow Phillips. Western took the win 3:1. Premier Heating NPBHS 1st XI played Hawera Kitchens Ltd Hawera FC. In what was a competitive match, it was NPBHS who scored first with a goal from Fletcher Gordon in the 2nd minute of the match. Nicholas Walker got one back Hawera in the 34th minute of the match. However, NPBHS netted one more to end the half 2:1. Qingcheng DU scored in the 68th minute to end the match 3:2 for NPBHS. 

Taranaki Men’s Championship – Round 17 

Novotel Woodleigh FC took on Western Autos Moturoa this weekend. Moturoa took an early lead scoring goals in the 7th and 9th minutes of the match thanks to Jacob Towning and Logan Hislop. Jacob Hyslop got one back before the break for Woodleigh. Woodleigh came out hungry in the second half netting 3 more goals from Luke Evans, Conor Williams-Watson, and Dean Langton to take the win 4:2. Trafficr NP Rangers took on Peringa United. The Rangers opened the scoring in the first half with goals from Brayden Donald-Pashby, Tyson Gundesen, Jacob Mcewan-Shepherd. The Rangers scored their final goal in the 86th minute of the match with Jacob completing his brace and ending the match with a 4:0 win. Inglewood AFC Championship played Cunningham Construction Kaitake FC. In what was a closely fought match neither side could break the scoreline in the first half. It wasn’t until a late goal in the second half from James Bevington in the 79th minute for Kaitake to take the win 1:0.  

Taranaki Men’s Division 1 – Round 17 

Shining Peak NP Rangers AFC Oddbodz welcomed Moturoa AFC to Merrilands domain this weekend. Ben Dowman scored in the 25th minute of the match for the Rangers. Moturoa struggled to find the net as Rangers netted another two goals thanks to Joshua Barrett scoring a brace in the 60th and 80th minutes of the match. Rangers took the win 3:0. Elca Stainless Inglewood took on KP Joinery Waitara. Inglewood won 3:2. Goal Scorers unknown. CG Office Furniture FC Western Flaming Wolverines took a comfortable 8:0 win over Wonder Minerals Kaponga. The goal scorers were Cameron Brownlie, Matt Lamb, Shaun Bracegirdle (2), Joseph Crowe (3), and Stephen Mcgrath. Taranaki Thru Tubing NP Rangers played a competitive game against Smart Rehab & Physio Peringa United Ballers. Neither side was able to find the goal in the first half, which made for an exciting second half. Gordon Davenport opened the scoring in the 50th minute for Rangers. Peringa got two back in the 73rd and 77th minutes of the match thanks to Barry Clark and Stephen Alderdice. Peringa looked to have taken the 3 points, but it was for a late Jason Cross goal in the 93rd minute for Rangers to draw the match 2:2. Congratuations to CG Office Furniture FC Western Flaming Wolverines on wining Div 1 this year.  

Taranaki Men’s Division 2 – Round 15 

Withers Coachline FDMC Senior Team took on Webber Building Kaitake FC HBs. In what was a competitive match Kaitake opened the scoring with a goal from David Gilmour. Toby Stephens got one back for FDMC to draw the first half 1:1. David completed his brace for Kaitake in the 75th minute of the match giving his side the lead however Logan Jones got one back for FDMC to draw the match 2:2. Marty Suchy Harcourts FC Western played Mcdonald Real Estate Stratford this weekend. FC Western took the lead in the first half with a goal from Mark Leuthard in the 13th minute. The side continued to show their strength in the second half, slotting away another three goals thanks to Brent Youngson, Tallen Cottam and Mark Leuthard. Western took the win 4:0. Pipeline Peringa United took on Egmont Texturers NP Rangers AFC. Peringa Started the match strong three unanswered goals in the first half thanks to Mario Diedricks, David Peterson, and Nitin Khare. Neither side were able to find the net in the second half, Peringa winning the match 3:0. 

Taranaki Men’s Division 3 – Top 4 

Rob Mason Electrical Group Woodleigh FC took on Moturoa AFC. Woodleigh netted two unanswered goals in the first half from Jaedyn Davis and Caleb Werder. Woodleigh took the win 2:0. Inglewood AFC Div 3 won 5: 3 against Peringa United Socials. Goal Scorers Unknown. 

Taranaki Men’s Division 3 – Bottom 4 

Stratford AFC Reserves took on Waitara SC this weekend. Waitara opened the scoring with a goal from Lucas Wakeham in the 25 minutes of the match. However, Stratford got one back thanks to Jamie Pretty to end the half in a 1:1 draw. The match looking likely to end in a draw, until Jamie Pretty completed his brace for Stratford in the final minutes of the match and took the win for his side 2:1. 

Taranaki Womens Top 6 – Round 4 

Hipp Accounting Ltd Hawera played HEL Rimu NP Rangers Development this weekend. The Rangers opened the scoring in the first half with a goal from Reyse Andrews. The side then went on to score another four in the second, thanks to Darcy Holden, Aimee Wisnewski, Charlotte Brockway, and Reyse Andrews completing her brace. Hawera did manage to get two goals back however this wasn’t enough as Rangers took the win 5:2. Withers Coachlines Moturoa AFC Women took a comfortable win over NPGHS this weekend. Moturoa was a strong side to face, scoring six of their goals in the first half and another five in the second. NPGHS put in a fight however with Riley Packman scoring a brace and Talia Hinz scoring the final goal of the match for NPGHS. Moturoa took the win 11: 3. Their goal scorers were Evealyn Newman (6), Julie Withers (2), Solange Perault (2) and Kate Phipps. 

Taranaki Womens Bottom 6 – Round 4 

Tungsten Legal Stratford took on Equipfix Peringa United this weekend. Katie Topham opened the scoring for Peringa scoring in the 35th minute. Taking the lead in the first half. This was followed by a goal in the 51st minute from Alissa Tui. Peringa took the win 2:0.