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Steve Upfold posted on April 16, 2007 10:03
Pukekohe's senior teams made a strong start to their respective 2007 campaigns over the weekend as four players, two new to the club, found the back of the net three times.
Men's first team midfielder Dave Allen, reserve team striker Tony Wisnewski and third team player Nick Rowe each grabbed three goals to open their accounts for the season at Bledisloe Park on Saturday while women's first team striker Rose Kraakman completed the hat-trick foursome at Waikaraka Park on Sunday.
In all, Maroon sides scored 28 goals as they took five wins and a draw from the six senior matches.
Allen and his men's first team counterparts roared out of the blocks in the Super Division as they rang up a 6-0 win over Lynn Avon.
The side were quickly on top after making most of the early running with some slick play in wide areas as they looked likely to open the scoring at any stage. Maroon legend Mark McCarrick struck the first two blows from close range before Allen got his first goal for the club in his senior debut.
The right midfielder hit home from outside area as he expertly lobbed a stranded Lynn Avon keeper to give his side a 3-0 lead at the break.
It didn't get any better for the visitors in the second spell as Allen grabbed his second of the afternoon with a jinking run that left four Lynn Avon defenders trailing in his wake before he tucked the ball into the bottom left corner.
Man-of-the-match Allen completed his hat-trick with a close range header while Jason Paranihi opened his 2007 account with an instinctive volley from eight yards.
After winning promotion from division three last year, the ladies' first team claimed their first win in division two on Sunday with Kraakman making a fine start to her Pukekohe season with a first half hat-trick.
The speedy Kraakman, whose daughter Nicole plays behind her in midfield, used her pace to her advantage as she got beyond the Onehunga Sports defence twice in the opening half hour to ram the ball past the home side's keeper (who was marking her 400th league appearance for her side).
Then, as all good strikers should, Kraakman followed up Sarah Holmes' effort that crashed back off the cross-bar to give her team a 3-0 halftime lead they would eventually be thankful for.
The home side made all the running in the second period as they pulled two goals back and, if not for the calm play of player-of-the-day Karla Shearer - who cleared a goal-bound effort off the line in the first half - and a wonderful one-handed diving stop by goalkeeper Sonja Abbott, the ladies may not have taken anything from their division two bow.
Before the men's first team match on Saturday, Wisnewski cracked in three goals as his division three side opened up a 3-1 lead before the visiting Bay Olympic side fought back late in the match to level at 4-4.
The ladies reserves made a great start to their season at Mangere Domain on Sunday with a 5-1 win over Onehunga-Mangere as Jo Wolochaty scored twice in her first league match for the club. Donna Withers also grabbed her first senior goal - in just her fourth ever match - while captain Nicky Smith and Catriona Bennett rounded out the scoring.
Meanwhile, the men's third team took a 4-1 victory over Clevedon at Bledisloe Park where Nick Rowe completed the fourth hat-trick of the weekend. Neil Kraakman scored the other.
And last, but definitely not least, the Over-35s cruised to a 6-1 win over local rivals Tuakau at Lightbody Reserve. Steve Fabrello picked up where he left off last year with a brace. Dave Bernard also scored twice while Graham Spinks also got his first of the year.
Senior Results:
Saturday:
Super Division: Pukekohe 6 (Dave Allen 3, Mark McCarrick 2, Jason Paranihi) - 0 Lynn Avon
Division three: Pukekohe 4 (Tony Wisnewski 3, Aydhan Liefting) - 4 Bay Olympic
Open white: Pukekohe 4 (Nick Rowe 3, Neil Kraakman) - 1 Clevedon
Over 35s division four: Pukekohe 6 (Steve Fabrello 2, Dave Bernard 2, Graham Spinks, OG) - 1 Tuakau
Sunday:
Ladies' division two: Pukekohe 3 (Rose Kraakman 3) - 2 Onehunga-Sports
Ladies' division four: Pukekohe 5 (Jo Wolochaty 2, Donna Withers, Nicky Smith, Catriona Bennett) - 1 Onehunga Mangere