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NZ Herald
15-07-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Napier City Rovers aim for top four as Island Bay fight relegation
'At the bottom of the table, it's really tight,' Napier City Rovers coach Bill Robertson said. Napier City Rovers players celebrate during their 6-1 win over Island Bay in Wellington earlier in the 2025 Central League. Photo / Neil Reid 'Any of those five teams in the bottom half could still get relegated. 'Obviously, Island Bay have moved quite aggressively and changed their coaches and have got a little bounce with their result against Waterside Karori. I'm sure they'll come to Bluewater Stadium with confidence. 'It won't be an easy game and they're all obviously fighting for their lives down there. 'It will be another difficult game, but we're confident of getting a result and if we perform well again.' Napier City Rovers earlier toppled Island Bay 6-1 on the road in Wellington in round five of the Central League in April. The side's win over Upper Hutt last Saturday was one of their best in front of goal all season. It came six days after Napier City Rovers' 2025 Chatham Cup campaign was halted by a gutting 3-2 loss to 2024 champions Wellington Olympic. Goalscorers against Upper Hutt included Sam Lack, slotting home his 11th goal of the season. Sam Lack was amongst the goals again for Napier City Rovers in their win over Upper Hutt City Football last weekend. Photo / Neil Reid Just as importantly as Napier City Rovers' attack, the side's defence also held firm, with goalkeeper Harry Townsend keeping a clean sheet. 'I was pleased with the performance, the result and it was great to score a few goals,' Robertson said. 'I said to the players beforehand that someone at some stage is going to get a battering really, in terms of goals scored against them ... we've been threatening to do that all season. 'We've been dominant in most games without ... scoring the goals, but on the weekend ... we were good. We were clinical, we finished our opportunities. 'Now we need to repeat that.' Wins are what are needed from Robertson's team as they chase their pre-season goal of qualifying for the National League for a fourth successive season. To qualify, they need a top-four finish. They are currently in fifth place, two points behind fourth-placed Western Suburbs. The run home includes clashes against the second-placed Miramar Rangers and the league leaders, Wellington Olympic. Both of those clashes will entail road trips to Wellington. The final stretch of the Central League campaign will also require some juggling from Robertson, selection-wise. Both midfielder Cameron Emerson and striker Eric Kostandini Ziu have received four yellow cards. A fifth will lead to a one-match suspension. Emerson has consistently been one of Napier City Rovers' best players throughout 2025. Cameron Emerson – who bought up his 100th first-team appearance for Napier City Rovers earlier this year – has been a consistent standout for his side all year. Photo / Neil Reid Ziu has impressed up front since coming into the squad in June after a stint playing in Australia. Three further players are set to miss some of the remaining matches because of overseas travel, including inspirational captain Jim Hoyle, who is heading to Europe for his honeymoon. Another factor to juggle is just who Robertson selects for the four foreign import spots he is allowed in match-day squads; he currently has five English players, meaning one must miss out each week. Some selections in the 2025 Central League run home will be a balancing act for Napier City Rovers head coach Bill Robertson. Photo / Neil Reid Finally, like all other clubs in the Northern, Central and Southern leagues, he has to ensure a minimum of 10% of playing time is given to under-20 players (aged under 20 on January 1 of that season) on the roster. 'Balancing the selection of the squad is tricky at the moment,' Robertson said. 'There are a few players that are going to be unavailable through life basically: personal trips away and family stuff. 'That's just the nature of balancing the squad throughout the season. 'Making sure we're our strongest each game to pick up wins is important and something that I'm considering each game.' Inside the Rovers video series: Episode 1: Match Fit Episode 2: Teen's Dream Episode 3: New Beginnings Episode 4: For Keeps Episode 5: Kiwi Steve Episode 6: Capital Punishment Episode 7: Bouncing Back Episode 8: The Centurion Episode 9: The Running Man Episode 10: Family Pride Episode 11: On Target Episode 12: Road Trip Blues Episode 13: A-League Bound Neil Reid is a Napier-based senior reporter who covers general news, features and sport. He joined the Herald in 2014 and has 33 years of newsroom experience. Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
21-05-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
On The Up: Footballer's courage and determination to break 100-game barrier in domestic top-flight
Given the all-in style of play from the athletic and strong player, he's spilt plenty of blood, been concussed and had a wrist left in a plaster cast after on-field tangles. He also suffered a transient ischaemic attack – known as a mini-stroke – during an aftermatch function in 2021, which temporarily left the right side of his body 'paralysed'. But it was both his love for football and the mates he plays alongside that helped him with his recovery and binned any thoughts of walking away from playing at the top-level of domestic football. 'There were moments where I thought, 'Oh, maybe for my health and thinking the future, maybe I should maybe take a step back',' Emerson said. 'But I guess just the love of football and just missing the trainings and being around the boys, getting back into that environment kind of helped me push it aside. 'I haven't really had any other issues since then. But it does make you sit back and reflect a little bit. And when you push through those barriers, the benefits are on the other side are great.' Napier City Rovers finish round one of the 2025 Central League against table-topping Wellington Olympic at Bluewater Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Last weekend's eventual 3-3 draw against Wellington-based team Petone FC – Emerson's 100th appearance – mean Emerson and his teammates go into the match in fourth spot on the points table, a one-point lead over fifth-placed Western Suburbs. This season, Emerson has formed an outstanding combination in the midfield with Liam Schofield – who is closing in on 150 appearances. They again impressed in the draw, including Emerson unleashing on a 60m run, dribbling upfield to feed Adam Hewson for his second-half goal. Post-match, though, it was impossible to miss the sense of disappointment after Napier City Rovers conceded two late goals after leading 3-1 in the dying minutes. Earlier in the day, Emerson had fielded phone calls from his proud parents and sister congratulating him on reaching the 100-game milestone, an achievement he described as 'very special' to him. 'I was playing for reserves [for the club] in high school and then went away for a few years and then came back and settled back in the Bay and to be around family a bit more. 'I got back into Napier City Rovers and have just enjoyed every minute of it since and stuck around. It's a great club. 'There are cool memories in there, like certain games and goals, and being around the boys. It kind of blends into one. I can't really say a bad word about all my years and experiences here.' He's never seriously considered playing for another Kiwi club since returning to Napier City Rovers in 2020 after finishing his university studies in America, saying the culture successive teams had generated was infectious. 'It makes it enjoyable to show up,' Emerson said. 'Whether it's around football, doing team events, 10 of us getting together and doing a pizza night, or whether it's just a few of us catching up for a coffee every now and then ... you want to be involved in a team where the environment is infectious. 'You want to go there, you want to show up, and you want to do your best for the brothers around you.' Aged 29, Emerson says there's still plenty of football left in him after reaching the 100-game milestone. He has joined captain Jim Hoyle (who recently played his 200th match), Fergus Neil (another member of the 200-game club), Kaeden Atkins and Schofield as 2025 squad members who have reached triple figures. 'I have got to catch up to Jim,' he said with a smile. 'We've got a group of mates from high school, and I think I seem to be the only one that's still kicking about. Yeah, I've got a few more years in the tank I'd say.' >> Inside the Rovers video series: Episode 1: Match Fit Episode 2: Teen's Dream Episode 3: New Beginnings Advertisement Advertise with NZME. Episode 4: For Keeps Episode 5: Kiwi Steve Episode 6: Capital Punishment
