Wainui wins Chatham Cup opener

By Ryan Imray

Wainuiomata opened their 2023 Chatham Cup Football campaign with a convincing 3-1 victory over Seatoun on 13 May.

After Wainui’s defeat to Seatoun in the league a week earlier, the premier team had the chance to rectify that as they hosted the same opponent.

In front of a vocal crowd, it was the hosts who got off to the perfect start when Baxter King converted a penalty in the seventh minute after Hadley Attewell was fouled inside the area.

Things got better in the 38th minute when Hadley latched on to a through ball and slotted it home to extend the lead.

The visitors pulled a goal back just before half time to ensure the second half was an exciting one and that’s exactly what it was.

Both sides had chances in a half that was end-to-end but the game was sealed in the ninth minute of stoppage time when Baxter scored his second and Wainui’s third goal.

The final goal came once again from the penalty when Paikea Bai was fouled inside the area.

Across the club it was honours even in the local derby as Halfbaked and Roundballs played out a thrilling 2-2 draw.

A late penalty sank the Wainuiomata Fiddick’s in their match against Victoria University, who claimed a 2-1 win.

The Wainuiomata Undertakers maintained their 100% start to the season against second place Island Bay.

The Undertakers’ 4-1 victory augurs well for the season ahead.

The under 13 Wainui United team carried on their unbeaten run in their first season on a full size field with an emphatic 9-0 win over Western Suburbs Asteroids.

The Wainuiomata OCs lost to Brooklyn United 1-8 while the women’s team lost 0-4 to Stop Out.

The Wainuiomata Football Club says “a big thank you” to its 2023 sponsors for: Des Smith Kemeys Brothers, Design & Build, Clives Chemist, Dave Smith Motors, Creative Meats, Seven Electrical, Q Limited and Fine Signs.