Hammers top Capital Football Masters 1 league

The EFC masters teams have started the season with strong numbers and player quality with 90 registered players spread over four squads.

The club’s marquee team, the Hammers, have begun the season with two wins, notching up 10 goals in consecutive weekends with wins over Stokes Valley and Waterside Karori. The Hammers lead the Masters 1 competition and is the only unbeaten side in their league early in the season. Super striker Luis Corrales has scored four goals.

Not to be outdone, the Gs, EFC’s Over 45 team, have also started the season unbeaten after impressive 8-1 and 7-2 wins against Seatoun and Marist. Dave Groves and Andrew Wilkins bagged hattricks against Seatoun and Marist respectively.

New entrants to the Masters 4 grade, the Thirsties, have had a tough start to the season. The team has rocketed up the grades over the last few seasons on the back of a talent-laden squad. They started their Masters 4 foray with a narrow opening loss to North Wellington followed by a 3-nil loss to Petone.

EFC’s newest Masters team, the Toros, have also had a tough start to the season. The team is playing only their second season together, in the Masters 6 grade, but have high hopes that player combinations developed last season will start to pay dividends. The Toros had a narrow loss to Wainuiomata during the weekend, made worse by a season-ending knee injury to Tony Wolken. As a show of respect between the two clubs the Wainui team was quick to reach out to the Toros to wish Tony all the best in his recovery. Masters convener Mike Watkins is quick to point out that, while it's early in the season, it's apparent that all four masters squads have recruited well. The squads consist of regulars and new players which bodes well for what’s expected to be a challenging season ahead.

The EFC junior teams will begin their season in the last weekend of April.

- Mike Andrews, ERFC