Dare to dream: Napier City Rovers remain in the hunt for National League glory
Big second half secures Napier City Rovers joint third spot in the National League with three rounds to go. Neil Reid reports.
Their budget pales in comparison with most opponents in New Zealand Football’s National League – but you wouldn’t know it by the points table.
With only three rounds to go in the country’s top-tier football league, Napier City Rovers are very much in the hunt for a grand final spot.
Under previous National League structures in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s, the club was no stranger to being contenders – including winning four titles.
The latest incarnation of the tournament – and the changing face of New Zealand society – has city clubs having a numerical advantage in terms of player depth and finances.
But in one of the feel-good domestic sports stories of 2024, Napier City Rovers have punched well above their financial size this season; firmly in the hunt for a grand final spot with only three rounds remaining.
Last weekend’s 2-1 win over Cashmere Technical has had them hold joint third spot with Coastal Spirit, a side they will now face in Christchurch on Sunday.
Though a growing number of the club’s fanbase are asking how far they can go, coach Bill Robertson said he was blocking out such talk.
“I try not to think about it. I’m trying to focus on day to day,” he said.
“The next thing I focus on now is analysing this game [the win over Cashmere Technical] and planning the training week. We just go week to week.
“Look, I’m really proud of where we are at as a club. We are in the top three of teams in the country, which is incredible given our resources compared to some of the teams we’re playing against.
“We’re really proud of the players and let’s just see what happens.”
Under New Zealand Football’s competition rules, the teams competing in their domestic leagues – the Northern, Central and Southern League, which supply the 10 sides in the National League – can pay players a maximum of only $150 a match.
But numerous players from the big city clubs are paid five-figure sums for the domestic season by being signed on as club coaches.
Some of those deals for an individual player exceed the total budget Napier City Rovers have for their entire season’s campaign.
Saturday’s win was a crucial one.
Given the tightness of the points table, a loss for either team would realistically end their hopes of making the National League final.
The first half was a tough watch for Napier City Rovers fans.
Despite the pre-match call from Robertson to start with intensity and urgency, it was Cashmere Technical who looked the better team. They went into halftime 1-0 after a penalty to dangerman Garbhan Coughlan.
The intensity absent from some of Napier City Rovers’ play in the first half wasn’t missing from Robertson’s firm message to his team in the dressing room at the break.
The words, and his players’ pride in their performance levels, lifted Napier City Rovers immeasurably in the second half.
The restart brought a side with much more urgency – the quality of their play when they had the ball lifted; so, too, did the side’s work ethic when they didn’t have possession.
Goals to Oscar Faulds in the 68th minute and then to Adam Hewson 10 minutes later secured a massive three points.
The winner was the fourth goal in the National League from Hewson, a player who has been outstanding all season for Napier City Rovers.
“He’s a player with great attributes in an attacking sense and obviously very direct,” Robertson said.
“He’s got good energy and pace and can cause opposition problems. We like to utilise him the best we can and get him in attacking positions.
“Behind the scenes, we work on things on the training ground. And one of the things we spoke about in the week was getting him in attacking positions. And obviously, that’s come to fruition.”
As he soaked up Saturday’s win, Robertson also paid tribute to stand-in goalkeeper Louie Caunter.
The Auckland real estate agent – and former Auckland City goalie – answered an SOS for Napier City Rovers for the Cashmere Technical clash.
With regular No 1 William Tonning suspended after receiving a contentious red card in the previous weekend’s 4-2 win over Western Suburbs, and with back-up Kyle Baxter injured, Napier City Rovers were allowed to call in a temporary replacement.
Caunter flew into Napier only a couple of hours before kickoff. His return flight was in the late afternoon, boarding his plane with the man of the match award and a new-found respect from his teammates for the day and Napier City Rovers fans.
“He’s come in and done a good job for us today,” Robertson said. “I think he’s enjoyed his day and we thank him for filling in for us.”
Watch the Inside the Rovers video series:
Episode One: Back to Work
Episode Two: The Darkest Days
Episode Three: Skin Deep
Episode Four: Good As Gould
Episode Five: The Hard Yards
Episode Six: Leaving a Legacy
Episode Seven: Fun and Games
Episode Eight: Game Day
Episode Nine: The Great Dane
Episode 10: Back to Back
Episode 11: Long Road Back
Episode 12: Total Commitment
Episode 13: The Bravest Boy
Episode 14: Love of the Game
Episode 15: A Rapid Rise
Episode 16: Mixed Emotions
Episode 17: Cup Fever
Episode 18: 50-Year Love Affair
Episode 19: The Music Man
Episode 20: Sammy’s On Fire
Episode 21: A Burning Desire
Episode 22: Cup Heroics
Episode 23: The Captain
Episode 24: On The Road
Episode 25: A Heartbreaker
Episode 26: Oscar’s Big Chance
Episode 27: Fabulous Ferg
Episode 28: Bill and Ben’s Big Day
Episode 29: Better Than Before
Episode 30: The Ice Man
Episode 31: Sharpshooter’s Return
Episode 32: Statement of Intent
Episode 33: Fronting Up
Episode 34: Video Nasty
Episode 35: To the Max
Episode 36: Blues Brothers
Neil Reid is a Napier-based senior reporter who covers general news, features and sport. He joined the Herald in 2014 and has 30 years of newsroom experience.
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