David Unwin / Things
Massey University will host Palmerston North Marist on Saturday.
AMERICAN FOOTBALL: Will North End take over Massey University this year and brag as Palmerston North’s second best men’s team?
That is the question in the last few games in the Federation League of this season.
Third-placed Massey will host – weather permitting – Palmerston North Marist on Saturday as North End heads to Gisborne Thistle.
At the moment, North End is two points behind the students, but with a game in hand, the matter is still undecided.
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Massey was on the wrong side of a high-scoring encounter with Marist in the league the first time they played this season, trailing 5-3.
And before that, Marist beat the students in the Chinese Cup and Chatham Cup.
Then there was last weekend, when Marist put eight past Napier City Rovers reserves, while Massey had to concede six against the North End.
So Marist should be a favorite against Massey on Saturday, even if the game is played on a heavy grass pitch and not their preferred artificial turf.
Student coach Donald Piper agreed that the squad would need to improve significantly if they got close to Marist on Saturday.
“My message this week is that there is still plenty to play for and it would be disappointing if the efforts they have put in throughout the season are not rewarded.”
Piper, like other clubs, said illness and weather had devastated the players.
“It’s been a difficult week.”
Massey will miss Matt Hilson and Kurtis Medcalf but should otherwise be at full strength for the match.
Marist coach Juliano Schmeling said playing on Massey’s grass would be a “challenge”.
“We just have to keep the momentum going and do what we’ve done.”
He said it was gratifying to see Marist score goals last weekend. “We’ve been creating all year, but we haven’t always scored.”
David Unwin / Things
Marist player Luke Palfreyman will still be absent from the squad this weekend.
The squad is boosted by the return from suspension of midfielder Luke Minshull, but still misses Luke Palfreyman.
North End ran comfortable 4-0 winners at Thistle in the first round of the competition this season.
But coach Scott Robson is wary of players coming to the home side on Saturday who were unable to travel for that game.
However, North End were “pretty confident” after their run of six goals last weekend.
“More of the same” at Gisborne would be ideal, he added.
“This is only the second time this year that we are playing with the same team.
“Last week we showed that we could keep possession and control the game.”
That was the plan again this weekend against Gisborne, he added.
Thistle is at the bottom of the league ladder with Levin, with both sides having only won one game so far this season.