PREVIEW: Early pressure goes on champions Olympic in Men's National League

By Harrison Ryburn, Max Fletcher and Jack Sharp

Defending champions Wellington Olympic face early pressure as they go into Round 3 of the Men’s National League still needing to find their first win.

Olympic are in 7th place on the 10-team table, having dropped five points in their opening games.

After drawing 0-0 with league newcomers Coastal Spirit in their opening fixture, Olympic lost 1-0 last weekend to arch-rivals Auckland City.

Olympic will host Eastern Suburbs at Martin Luckie Park on Saturday, knowing another slip-up could be fatal in a mad-dash nine-round competition.

Suburbs will arrive in the capital buoyant after a decent start to the league, with a 2-0 win against the Wellington Phoenix and last weekend’s 2-2 draw with high-flying Napier City Rovers.

Suburbs have adjusted to the sudden departure of head coach Kane Wintersgill, who has headed overseas for a professional coaching opportunity.

Assistant coaches Brian Shelley and Brock Radich took over in the dugout last weekend.

*Teenager Stipe Ukich (white strip) … scored Auckland City’s winner against Wellington Olympic in Round 2. Photo: Brett Phibbs / Phototek.*

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Auckland City lead the competition with a two-point buffer, and they will be tested by the visit of Southern League champions Cashmere Technical.

The Aucklanders have been tight at the back so far but if any side has forwards with the ability to cash in on mistakes, it’s Technical.

For entertainment, the game of the round could be Western Springs’ derby with Birkenhead United.

Springs have hit the net six times in their two games, while Birkenhead United shared a 3-3 draw with Western Suburbs last time out.

Both sides need to chance their arm to force their way into the title race and the need to take risks often opens up the game.

… and one more thing

Not much has been made of the rule change but the winner of this year’s Grand Final will automatically become New Zealand’s representative in next season’s OFC Men’s Champions League.

For the past two seasons, the two finalists were required to later play in a home-and-away play-off series to determine which club would qualify.

Last year, National League winners Olympic lost the qualifying series to Auckland City, who went on to win the OFC Champions League.

Player to watch

With three goals in two games, left winger Adam Hewson (25) has been integral to Napier City Rovers’ strong start to the National League campaign.

Scoring just four goals during the Central League season, he leads prolific striker Oscar Faulds as the team’s top scorer in the National League thus far, having formerly played most of his football in the South Island, before joining Rovers at the start of the season.

Hewson is running hot at the moment, and has the chance to back up his goal against the Phoenix Rovers during their last meeting in the Central League, with another at Bluewater Stadium on Sunday.

— Harrison Ryburn

Bold predictions

Auckland City are alone at the top of the table and the only team not to drop a point in the first two games. I think Cashmere will put a stop to City’s winning streak.

Although they have just come off a heavy defeat 4-0 to the Phoenix with players Garbhan Coughlan and Yuya Taguchi in their dangerous frontline I see this game finishing 2-2.

— Max Fletcher

One of only three unbeaten clubs left in the competition after two rounds, Napier City Rovers will start as favourites against the Phoenix Reserves at Bluewater Stadium on Sunday.

Rovers have also beaten their opponents by a combined scoreline of 8-1 over the course of their two matches during the Central League this season.

I’m expecting this to be a rejuvenated Phoenix side following their 4-0 victory away at Cashmere Technical last weekend though, and I’ll tip a 2-2 draw between the sides.

— Harrison Ryburn