Royals return from Nelson trip with point
They drew 1-1 against Nelson Suburbs in the Men's South Island League yesterday, moving to 14 points and remaining seventh on the table.
Ryan Christie and Tom Milton kept Nelson's danger men Trevin Myers and Lennon Whewell very quiet.
There were few clear-cut chances throughout and as the match entered its last 10 minutes, it looked like Tom Milton's well-taken free kick on 26 minutes, when his inswinging left-footed strike deceived keeper Corey Wilson, would give the Royals all three points.
The Royals nearly sealed the win in the 84th minute when Max Davidson's header from a corner cannoned off the crossbar.
But despite Royals goalkeeper Jonathan Tucker twice denying Suburbs, they squeezed in an equaliser in the last minute, when Ben Polak's shot looped up off Tucker and into the back of the net.
In other games the top three teams all won — Christchurch United beat Selwyn 4-1, Coastal Spirit were too strong for Wānaka in Central Otago winning 4-0, and Cashmere Tech overcame a fight back from Nomads scoring in the third minute of stoppage time to secure a 3-2 win.
In the women's South Island league Otago University continued to keep the pressure on the unbeaten Dunedin City Royals — who had the bye — with a 2-0 win over Roslyn Wakari.
The opening goal was scored by Ashley Geusebroek in the 14th minute — following up on a corner and with Roslyn at times causing the students trouble around possession the second goal, did not come until the 93rd minute when Charlotte Grey chipped the keeper from 30 yards out.
Coach Hamish Phillip said he was "happy with the performance and being solid across the park allowed us freedom of possession when we wanted".
The win leaves University in second place — two points behind the Royals and seven points ahead of third place Cashmere Tech who beat NW United 7-0.
Coastal Spirit beat Universities of Canterbury 4-1.
— Neville Watson
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Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
University still in hunt for title
Two second-half goals from Otago University have kept the title race alive — just — in the women's South Island league. They beat Coastal Spirit 2-0 at Logan Park on Saturday, moving to 31 points and remaining a comfortable second on the table behind the Dunedin City Royals, who have a perfect 39 after 13 games. Jemma McCormick and Georgina McEwan scored goals as University gained ascendancy in the second half. After a tight opening half with few chances, University changed their formation after the break. That yielded the first goal just two minutes into the second half, when McCormick scored from a well-rehearsed corner move. The game ebbed and flowed, Laney Whiston in particular having a strong defensive performance to keep Coastal at bay. It took until injury time for the students to guarantee their three points, when McEwan tapped the ball home in just her second appearance. Roslyn Wakari claimed their fourth win of the season, beating Halswell 5-0 in Christchurch. Amelie East-Giles opened the scoring on 40 minutes and got her second on 78 minutes, making it 4-0 after Zara Pratley and Harriet Park had also scored. Park finished off the win in injury time. Yesterday the Dunedin City Royals claimed a 2-0 win over Universities of Canterbury at Tahuna Park, Hannah Mackay-Wright and Amy Hislop scoring first-half goals. In the men's Southern League, the Dunedin City Royals continued their run of not being able to hold on to a lead, when they drew 2-2 with Ferrymead Bays at Logan Park. Bays had a goal disallowed after 15 minutes, before the Royals' Ben Campbell, playing an advanced midfield role, got on the end of a free kick to head home in the 27th minute. Tom Milton doubled the lead on 53 minutes, before Bays pulled one back three minutes later through a Jacob Killick penalty. Luke Pritchard equalised on 65 minutes, and things began looking ominous for the Royals when Connor Neil was sent off on 70 minutes. However, Anhel Toro Perez missed a 94th minute injury time penalty, which would have given Bays a comeback win. Wānaka claimed their fifth win of the season with an emphatic 6-1 victory in Selwyn. Conceding an early goal woke Wānaka, who scored three goals in the last 15 minutes of the first half. The first was to Michael Johnson who scored from the edge of the box. Johnson then turned provider — with a defence splitting pass for Anthony Sprowson to run on to. The pace of Sprowson was causing Selwyn problems and he benefited by scoring his second right on halftime. Ed Belingher rifled in the fourth on the hour mark when he was left unmarked in the penalty box and he smashed his shot into the far corner of the net. Sprowson claimed his hat-trick in the 69th minute — running into another through ball and skipper Jake Thompson finished off the scoring heading home from close range on 73 minutes. In the ODT Women's Southern Premiership Green Island reclaimed top spot from University with a 2-0 victory over the students, thanks to a goal in each half from Hannah Post and Charli Elliott. Dunedin City Royals Reserves are two points off the pace, following a 1-1 draw with Roslyn. Maggie Burgess' second half equaliser cancelled out Aimee Kay's first half opener for Roslyn. The Royals do have games in hand over Green Island and University however. Queens Park beat Northern 3-0. Northern continued their 100% winning streak in the ODT Men's Southern Premiership with a 6-1 victory over Dunedin City Royals. Nick Treadwell opened the scoring after only three minutes. Goals to Rory Hibbert and Jonas Gorman midway through the second half made the game safe. However when Kenny Nagata pulled one back for the Royals with eight minutes to go, it awakened Northern. Hibbert scored a further three goals in the last four minutes. Mosgiel remain second with a 2-0 win over Roslyn Wakari, University beat Northern Hearts 4-0 and Queens Park ran out 6-2 victors over Green Island. — Neville Watson
Otago Daily Times
27-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Royals beaten as Spirit go top
The Dunedin City Royals suffered a 4-0 loss to the high-flying Coastal Spirit in the South Island League at Tahuna Park on Saturday. Despite having players missing through suspension and injury, the Royals matched Coastal in the early stages with Will Turner, Brady Jacobs and Jack Julian keeping the Spirit defence on their toes. Julian got in a strong shot that stung the palms of the keeper in the 16th minute. Moments later, a well-worked corner routine caught the Spirit napping. But with the goal at their mercy, the Royals' shot was straight at the keeper. The home side were made to pay for their missed opportunities when Joe Hoole slid a shot past the outstretched arms of keeper Jonathan Tucker. The Royals had an opportunity to equalise when Turner's pace left the defence trailing. But Caleb Osborne opted to cut inside rather than shoot first-time and the opportunity was lost. The Spirit doubled their lead just before halftime when a low inswinging corner bounced in the box and was knocked home from close range by Kaleb De Groot-Green. Two further goals in the second half from Riku Ichimura and Roque Fuentes Salinas saw Spirit clear out and go top of the standings. The Royals were denied a consolation goal when Connor Neil missed a late penalty. In the women's South Island League Roslyn Wakari copped a heavy 9-0 loss to Cashmere Technical at Logan Park yesterday. Meanwhile the Dunedin City Royals stayed perfect with a 1-0 win over Coastal Spirit in Christchurch. — Northern continued their unbeaten run in the Southern Premiership with a 7–0 win over Green Island at the Caledonian. Green Island was competitive early. But once Sam Cosgrove opened the scoring from the penalty spot, the floodgates opened. Nick Treadwell knocked in a couple more to establish a 3-0 lead at halftime. In the second half, Nicholas Brett banged in two, Matt Fraser got on the score sheet and Treadwell claimed his hat-trick in the 87th minute goal. Northern are now 12 points clear at the top of the standings with five games remaining. Mosgiel moved into second place with a 3-0 win against University at Logan Park. Harvey Stephens smashed home a penalty in the opening minute. Luke Clissold doubled the lead and Reece Burtenshaw made sure of the win with a late header from close range. Queens Park and Roslyn drew 3-3 in Invercargill. Roslyn was always chasing the game and grabbed a share of the points when Hamish Mairs scored the equalizer in the 74th minute. He received the ball on the edge of the box with four defenders around him. But he turned his low shot deceived keeper Mitchell Fowler. Northern Hearts overcame Old Boys 6-3 in Timaru 6-3 in the clash of the cellar dwellers. In the Women's Southern Premiership, the Royals beat Green Island 4-2, University beat Queens Park 3-0 and Roslyn Wakari dispatched Northern 4-0. University (29 points) lead the standings by two points from Green Island (27) and the Royals (27). — Neville Watson
Otago Daily Times
20-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Royals return from Nelson trip with point
A very solid defensive showing secured a point for the Dunedin City Royals on their long trip to Nelson. They drew 1-1 against Nelson Suburbs in the Men's South Island League yesterday, moving to 14 points and remaining seventh on the table. Ryan Christie and Tom Milton kept Nelson's danger men Trevin Myers and Lennon Whewell very quiet. There were few clear-cut chances throughout and as the match entered its last 10 minutes, it looked like Tom Milton's well-taken free kick on 26 minutes, when his inswinging left-footed strike deceived keeper Corey Wilson, would give the Royals all three points. The Royals nearly sealed the win in the 84th minute when Max Davidson's header from a corner cannoned off the crossbar. But despite Royals goalkeeper Jonathan Tucker twice denying Suburbs, they squeezed in an equaliser in the last minute, when Ben Polak's shot looped up off Tucker and into the back of the net. In other games the top three teams all won — Christchurch United beat Selwyn 4-1, Coastal Spirit were too strong for Wānaka in Central Otago winning 4-0, and Cashmere Tech overcame a fight back from Nomads scoring in the third minute of stoppage time to secure a 3-2 win. In the women's South Island league Otago University continued to keep the pressure on the unbeaten Dunedin City Royals — who had the bye — with a 2-0 win over Roslyn Wakari. The opening goal was scored by Ashley Geusebroek in the 14th minute — following up on a corner and with Roslyn at times causing the students trouble around possession the second goal, did not come until the 93rd minute when Charlotte Grey chipped the keeper from 30 yards out. Coach Hamish Phillip said he was "happy with the performance and being solid across the park allowed us freedom of possession when we wanted". The win leaves University in second place — two points behind the Royals and seven points ahead of third place Cashmere Tech who beat NW United 7-0. Coastal Spirit beat Universities of Canterbury 4-1. — Neville Watson
