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Game by game: Napier City Rovers' National League hopes rest on four key matches
Game by game: Napier City Rovers' National League hopes rest on four key matches

NZ Herald

time8 hours ago

  • Sport
  • NZ Herald

Game by game: Napier City Rovers' National League hopes rest on four key matches

Robertson said his message over the next month was to 'control what we can control', which meant the next game. 'It's very much a next game approach. So, let's win the next game of football and then at 5'o'clock on Sunday we'll see where we are in the league. 'Then we'll do the same the following week. 'We are very much process-driven around just a game at a time. We performed well the last couple of games and Sunday is another opportunity to pick up three points.' Napier City Rovers coach Bill Robertson says his team have to concentrate on the now as they look to keep the dream alive of qualifying for the National League for the fourth successive season. Photo / Neil Reid Napier City Rovers go into Sunday's key match after having a week off having not qualified for the quarter-finals of the Chatham Cup. Prior to the weekend away from the pitch, they had posted back-to-back wins over Upper Hutt City Football (5-0) and Island Bay (4-1). Robertson said he had 'mixed' feelings about having a full week off. 'Off the back of a good win, it would have been nice to have another game to get straight into. 'I think the players would have preferred to have kept playing. 'That being said, it was a good opportunity to have a mental refresh and give a few of the boys with niggles the weekend off. They've come back into training this week with a real focus.' That training group has been minus captain Jim Hoyle and striker Jordan Annear. Hoyle, who has again been consistently one of his side's best in 2025, will miss the next four matches while he is honeymooning in Europe. English striker Jordan Annear signed off his year-long stint at Napier City Rovers with a goal against Island Bay earlier two weeks ago. Photo / Neil Reid Annear ended his 12-month stint with Napier City Rovers in the 4-1 win over Island Bay, with the popular Englishman scoring in his final match before returning to the UK to live. Robertson said while their presence would be missed, the benefit of having a 'competitive squad' meant those who would take their places would do the job. 'It's been difficult for me to select teams every week, which is a good problem to have. 'I'm confident that those players that are coming in will perform well. They've had opportunities at certain times of the season and performed well. and throughout the year they've trained at a good level too.' Mid-season Napier City Rovers recruits Jake Williams (left) Eric Kostandini Ziu (second from left) have looked at home since joining the club. Photo / Neil Reid Two recent recruits will also be keen to continue their impressive form since being signed by Napier City Rovers in June. Italian-born Kiwi striker Eric Kostandini Ziu has been a regular goal scorer since arriving after a stint playing in Australia. Midfielder Jake Williams – a former New Zealand Under-17 international rep – joined the club after four years studying and playing in America. 'They've settled in well, added competition for places and they've got some good attributes,' Robertson said. Napier City Rovers players Sam Lack, centre, and Jake Williams prepare pre-match on Bluewater Stadium's grass. Photo / Neil Reid 'Eric has come in and scored a few goals. 'Jake has added competition for places in the midfield and I thought he had a really good performance against Island Bay. 'They're definitely two players that have come into the squad and added a lot of value.' 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.

Napier City Rovers aim for top four as Island Bay fight relegation
Napier City Rovers aim for top four as Island Bay fight relegation

NZ Herald

time15-07-2025

  • 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.

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