Rovers start tourney with a howling win

Rovers 3 Ferrymead 0, Federation soccer

Central League champions Napier City Rovers are not done with adding silverware to their clubrooms this winter.

The Grant Hastings-coached Blues weathered a howling gale at Wakefield Park, Wellington, to stay in the running for the inaugural Federation Cup Tournament.

The Bluewater Hotel-sponsored Rovers beat Ferrymead Bays, of Christchurch, 3-0, last night on an artificial turf after the sides were locked nil-all in the first half.

Striker Jarrod Smith drew first blood in the 63rd minute when he finished off a David Gearey free kick.

Fellow striker and English import Stephen Hoyle made it 2-0 in the 72nd minute and put the Mainland champions out of their misery three minutes from fulltime.

"They [Ferrymead ] are a good team but we were playing into a howling gale in the first half and on a plastic surface," Hastings said.

The Blues are without the services of captain Bill Roberston, nursing an injury and Matt Hastings who couldn't get time off work but will play for the Promtem Napier City Rovers today in the HB Knockout Cup at Petane Domain, Eskview, from 2pm.

The inaugural tourney in Wellington involves the champions from Mainland, Capital Football (Petone), Northern League (Hamilton Wanderers) and Central Football (Rovers).

Petone are not the champions this year but top Wellington qualifers from the Central League - Miramar Rangers and Wellington Olympic - have declined the invitation.

The Rovers play Hamilton at 2pm today before locking horns with Petone tomorrow at the same time.

"We knocked the ball around well to create chances but so did Ferrymead," Hastings said.