Today’s the day. After a few months of delays and COVID-base scenario planning, interregional football finally kicks-off this afternoon for the teams able to play in the new National League: South Central Series. 

The new one-off competition sees the qualifiers from the Central and Southern Leagues come together for the first time but unfortunately doesn’t include any of the qualifiers from the Northern League because of the COVID restrictions around Auckland. 

So now we are finally able to play, how are the teams looking ahead of Round 1? 

Selwyn United v Cashmere Technical 
Saturday 6 November – 2pm

Selwyn’s story to qualify for the league was pretty epic. A 87th minute equalizer and a 94th minute winner in their final Southern League game of the season against Nelson Suburbs saw them claim the final National League Championship spot. Cue scenes. 

The come up against South Island rivals and Christchurch powerhouse Cashmere Technical in the first round. Cash Tech romped to the Southern League title with 6 wins and only one defeat. They also have a Chatham Cup final to look forward to early next year.

Tech will have Southern League top scorer Garbhan Coughlan leading the line who claimed an impressive 7 in 7 during the winter season. The Irishman is experienced at national level having previously played for Southern United and Canterbury United. For Selwyn, their top scorer Luke Blackie had less than half of Coughlan’s total but the team performed better at the oppositive end of the pitch with the second best defensive record in the league. 
 

Western Suburbs v Miramar Rangers 
Sunday 7 November – 1pm

Western Suburbs can lay claim to producing some of the best players in the country, with a number of current All Whites having come through their ranks. They qualified comfortably in the Central League, finishing fourth, but where still 10 points behind 3rd placed Lower Hutt City. 

One of the best teams to watch in the winter season, they have a host of young talent blended with a number of players experienced at national level including 20/21 winner Wan Gatkek and Canterbury United’s Ben Stroud. Goals will come from Ihaia Delaney and Otto Ingham who contributed 40% of Wests total in the Central League.

They host second-placed finishers Miramar Rangers whose squad is formed from much of the 20/21 Wellington Team side. They have a wealth of experience across the park with a solid spine of Taylor Schrijvers in defence, Andrew Bevin in midfield and Central League 4th placed top scorer Samuel Mason-Smith up front. 

When they played each other in June it finished in a draw. After both not playing since September,  this one will be difficult to call. 
 

Wellington Phoenix v Wellington Olympic 
Sunday 7 November – 4pm

Wellington Phoenix Reserves come into the South Central Series as technically a new side but in reality have spent the winter season playing as Lower Hutt City, finishing 3rd in the Central League and outscoring the rest of the competition.  

This Nix team is likely to look slightly different from the Lower Hutt side. Star players Ben Old and Alex Paulsen have been signed up as pros to the full Wellington Phoenix side – just reward for their great 20/21 campaigns. Defender Kurtis Mogg and striker George Ott have also been signed up to the senior side on scholarship contracts. Great to see so many players moving into the professional game as well as freeing up opportunities for the next generation of talent to come through. 

Goals will now fall to Riley Bidois, who finished second in the golden boot race after Ott. Another player to keep an eye on is South Sudan international midfielder Manny Achol who played last season with Hawke’s Bay United and scored 4 goals in 13 games during the winter season. 

The Nix face Central League Champions Wellington Olympic who, like Miramar Rangers, have a number of players from the 20/21 league winning Team Wellington side. 

The Greeks are strong across the park. In defence they have former All White Justin Gulley and captain Ben Mata. Previous Domestic Player of the Year Jack-Henry Sinclair is on the wing/wing-back. The can call on recent signing Jared Cunniff in attack, the forward scoring 15 goals for Wairarapa United before moving to Olympic. 

After beating a strong Miramar Rangers to the title, they will go into the South Central Series as one of the favourites. 
 

Article added: Saturday 06 November 2021