Waiuku Prems in Seven Heaven

Waiuku Premiers made up for last weeks loss to North Shore with a resounding 7 0 win over Cambridge United at Massey Park on Saturday.

Charlie Heather, Robbie Leonard, Grant Duncan and Jerry Hubbard all contributed goals along with Derek Sinclair who bagged his second hat-trick in three games.

Cambridge – currently propping up the bottom of the NRFL division 2 without a win - knew it would be an uphill struggle right from the start. With only two minutes gone Grant Duncan converted a Derek Sinclair cross only to be judged off-side by the referee’s assistant. The visitors tried to stake their claim on the things straight after with what was to be their only real attack of the game. A lone striker managed to slip the Waiuku defense and found himself one on one with keeper Stu Ruddell but the young keeper came off his line to close down the player and pull off a great save. The floodgates opened shortly after with Robbie Leonard netting the first and then minutes later Charlie Heather with a fine shot across the keeper. Cambridge tried to rally but when Grant Duncan eluded the defense and headed the third goal home they knew it was going to be a very tough task indeed. Then just a minute before the half time whistle, Sinclair redirected a Phil Donovan shot past the keeper, all but putting the game out of Cambridge’s reach.

In the second half Cambridge began to play the ball around well and kept some good possession but never really threatened the Waiuku goal. Sinclair then added to their woes by scoring his second of the game from a poorly defended corner. His hat-trick seemed inevitable moments later when he was clear through but was brought down to be denied a goal but be awarded a penalty. Instead of completing his hat-trick there and then he handed the honour to captain Jerry Hubbard who had brilliantly led the Waiuku team all game. Hubbard made no mistake in making it six for the home side. With ten minutes of the game remaining Sinclair polished of his day in emphatic style; taking on and beating three Cambridge defenders and neatly slotting the ball past the advancing keeper. Full time and the home team have rewarded their loyal fans with a great display of teamwork and finishing.

After the game coach Jim Evans said “the team stuck to the game plan today and we went out there with respect to Cambridge and because of that we were 4 0 up by halftime. Derek Sinclair got another great hat-trick and Scott Petersen played well on his full debut but Robbie Leonard gets man of the match today”.

Waiuku meet Papakura City at McLennan Park next Saturday in what can only be described as a tense local derby. Kick Off 2:45.

Team – Stu Ruddell, Scott Petersen, Jerry Hubbard, Sam Van Pomeren (Neil Holyoake 55), Darren Woolnough, Charlie Heather (Evan Crean 80), Phil Donovan, Robbie Leonard, Dom Winter (Luke Sutton 55), Derek Sinclair, Grant Duncan.

Subs not used – Phil Van Den Broek, Arthur Hislop and Simon Millynn.