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MELVILLE MAGIC 9 APRIL 2022

2022 | 02

Helping fuel women’s football

The W-League gets back underway for 2022 this weekend with Tarena Ranui the new Head of Women's Football at Melville United at the helm of the women's first team. This year Tarena will drive a Hyundai Sonata sponsored by a combination of Soccer United Football Supplies (137 Alexandra St, Hamilton), Research Motors, RFM Rentals and Lotto Sportswear. In a recent blog, Soccer United co-owner Brooke Macdonald said they chose to sponsor Tarena out of respect for her history of work with female player development. “Her contribution to football, especially in the junior girls area, has been quite remarkable and selfless. As a result we have a nucleus of football-playing girls (my daughter Iona included) who just now assume that there has always been this energy and sophisticated planning around the girls game. “Tarena’s drive and vision has created immense possibilities for the girls who have come within her orbit. Indeed, her impact has been so obvious it has left many of us wondering what sort of state the game would be in if Tarena HADN’T stepped up.” Macdonald emphasised the significance of her now driving the only female football academy in the Waikato. “This has never been done before and is so important for the whole province.” But he finished with a challenge for others. “The sad fact is we can’t do everything ourselves. If there is somebody out there who is similarly appreciative of the role Tarena is playing within our football community and could maybe help with a business fuel card, please get in touch. The good news is we have left space on the car signwriting for a logo.”

Soccer United Football Supplies, Research Motors and RFM Rental Cars are proud to support Melville United Head of Women's Football Tarena Ranui as she continues to ensure the growth of girls football in the Waikato.

Girl's and women's month at Gower Gower Park played host to a football festival for girls aged 5 - 13 during Girl's and Women's Month in March. The event was jointly organised by Melville United, Northern United and Glenview United, in conjunction with NZ Football.

Gower Park will be one of three Official Training Grounds for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 which is now not so far away. So it is the right time for dreams to begin – and for girls and women to fall in love with the beautiful game. Last weekend the NRFL girls leagues kicked off, with the U16 girls losing 7-1 to Auckland United. While the U14 girls lost 3-2 away to Western Springs. Meanwhile, Charlotte Eagle, Manaia Elliott, and Ella McMillan have all been selected for the New Zealand Football U17 women's ID Camp to be held at St Peters, Cambridge from 18 - 24 April.

Women's Fixtures Saturday, 9 April 2022

Sunday, 10 April 2022

LOTTO NRFL Under 14 Girls | Round 02 Melville United v Birkenhead United 11.00AM | Gower Park | Hamilton

Waikato Women's Division 1 | Round 01 Melville United v Matamata Swifts 11.00AM | Gower Park | Hamilton

LOTTO NRFL Under 16 Girls | Round 02 Western Springs v Melville United 11.30AM | Seddon Fields | Auckland

WaiBOP W-League | Round 01 Waikato Unicol v Melville United 1.00PM | Jansen Park | Hamilton

Home loss for Melville

Oliver Colloty converting the first of his two penalties against Bay Olympic PHOTO: Cordwainer Bull

Melville slumped to a 3-2 home loss to Bay Olympic in the northern premier league despite earning and converting two penalties. Melville made a horror start in their first home match of the season and were 2-0 down after just seven minutes. They conceded in the very first minute in what turned out to be an unfortunate day for keeper Max Tommy, who had been Melville’s best a week earlier in making his 100th appearance. Tommy made an uncharacteristic error mistake which gifted Roussin Nkoy a goal right on the line and six minutes later Campbell McIntyre went through on goal to make it 2-0. Melville responded with a number of attacks and Bay keeper Oliver Pocock made a number of good saves as Harry Rose, Sean Liddicoat, Stafford Dowling and Josh Galletly were unable to convert. In the 57th minute Melville won a penalty when Bay captain Tom Boss handled in the area and Olliver Colloty converted. However thoughts of a Melville comeback were thwarted when Bay substitute Darren White nabbed a third for Bay Olympic. Colloty converted his second penalty – this time to the opposite corner – after Jerson Lagos was tripped in the penalty area in the 86th minute, but there was to be no grandstand finish. The win sent Bay Olympic to the top of the league on goal difference over Auckland City.

U-23s score win Meanwhile there was better news from the Reserves, who beat Bay Olympic 5-2. Aston Hurd scored a hat trick, with all goals coming within an 8-minute spell from the 76th minute. The goalscorers also includes Luke Searle – on the comeback trail from 12 months out with an ACL injury – who opened the scoring with a cross-come-shot, playing at centre back. The other goal came from Thomas Cave, who is also known as the son of former Melville first team striker Nikolai Helwig. The U23s drew their opening match with Auckland City 2-2 with goals to Leslie Kivolyn and Sean Leadley from the penalty spot.

Duo called up to U17 training camp Congratulations to Matthew d'Hotman and Carlos Ranui who have been selected in the New Zealand Football men’s U-17 ID Camp to be held at St Peters, Cambridge from 25 – 28 April.

Secondary schools recap Earlier in the year, Melville United was represented on and off the pitch in the New Zealand Secondary Schools representative teams selected to play in an exchange with Nga Whanapoikiri Maori o Aotearoa in Auckland recently. Lemuel Le Hane turned out for the under 19 side, the latest in a long line of Melville players to represent New Zealand Secondary Schools. Le Hane will push to make his first team debut in 2022 in his first year out of Hamilton Boys’ High school and will attend the University of Waikato to study a bachelor of business. The 18-year-old defender was joined by his Hamilton Boys’ coach and Melville first team stalwart Aaron Scott who acted as the teams’ assistant coach. In the younger age group Isaac Bates featured, continuing to raise his stocks at national level. Last season the promising midfielder was named in a New Zealand under 17 selection to take on the Football Ferns before their Olympic campaign together with Academy team mates Thomas Cave, Matthew d’Hotman, Lucca Lim, and Carlos Ranui.

Academy Update The Academy began their NRFL season with an away trip over the Kaimais to federation rivals Tauranga City.

Academy Results Sunday, 3 April 2022 LOTTO NRFL Under 14 Mixed | Round 01 Tauranga City 2-2 Melville United LOTTO NRFL Under 15 Mixed | Round 01 Tauranga City 4-1 Melville United LOTTO NRFL Under 17 Mixed | Round 01 Tauranga City 3-1 Melville United This weekend Melville United plays host to Auckland United, with an amended kickoff time for the under 15s of 11.30am.

Waikato leagues underway Melville United make a return to Waikato premiership ranks on Saturday when they host near neighbours West Hamilton at Gower Park. Elsewhere, Friday night football kicks off the Nobs and Old Boys seasons with both sides facing Te Awamutu home and away respectively. The B's are at home to Northern United, while Corinthians - playing under the Melville United banner for the 2022 season - get underway at Galloway Park against Claudelands Rovers.

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