10 AUG 1998 , Edition 2, Page 16.
String of injuries casts a cloud over Ngaruawahia
By: ANDERSON Ian
Physiotherapists may be the busiest people in Ngaruawahia this week.
The Ngaruawahia United side who will meet Dunedin Technical in Sunday’s Chatham Cup semifinal have a worrying injury list after Saturday’s 1-0 home loss to Three Kings in the Northern League division one soccer competition.
Striker Nikolai Helwig is in doubt with a groin strain which saw him complete only half of Saturday’s loss while Scott Granville, Andy Bell and Kerry Hawkes are also in a race to be fit for the semifinal.
Ngaruawahia’s loss didn’t upset coach Jeff Coulshed, who felt his side competed well in a competitive match settled by a first-half strike from the away side.
Also in division one, Melville United recorded possibly their best result of the season with a 2-1 away win over a strong Oratia United side.
Melville’s hero was man-of-the-match midfielder Jason Scott, despite giving away a second-half penalty. Scott put Melville two ahead with 25 minutes remaining with a great strike to cap off a flowing movement while Paul Thompson, who later limped off with a hamstring injury, opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a shot from inside the box for the improving Melville unit.
In division two, Cambridge gave their hopes of staying up a massive push with an essential 4-1 home win over bottom-placed Forrest-Hill Milford. Cambridge are next in line for the drop but have clawed their way to within three points of relegation-threatened Bay Olympic and Mt Albert Ponsonby.
However, Claudelands Rovers’ dreams of promotions suffered a setback in the same league when they drew 2-all away with Waitemata.
In division three, Matamata Swifts stayed one point off a promotion berth when a headed goal early on from Adam Graham gave them a hard-fought 1-0 local derby win over Waikato Unicol.
Te Awamutu continued their fine season with a 4-1 away win over hapless Glen Eden while Huntly Thistle thumped North Shore 6-0 and Tokoroa went down at home 3-1 against Onehunga-Mangere.