26 July 2025

bountymouse88
Jul 29
8 min read

Updated: Jul 29

Division 1: Sprig + Fern Tahuna 1st XI Division 2: Sprig + Fern Tahuna 2nd XI

Division 3: Sprig + Fern Tahuna 3rd XI Division 4:

Sprig + Fern Tahuna 4th XI

Women's Premiership: Sprig + Fern Tahuna Breakers Masters Football: Sprig + Fern Tahuna Masters

1st XI 1-1 Suburbs Reserves

Location: Ngawatu Reserve

Goals: Ethan

Match MVP: Jamie With a patched-up squad held together by grit, tape, and good blokes stepping up (cheers lads), Tahuna Firsts lined up against the ever-tidy Suburbs Reserves. Rumour has it some of their players are one step from the Southern League… but we had something better: passion, a few cold beers and Jamie “the fire breathing hamster” Floyd.

We struck first blood — Ethan spotted their keeper off his line and casually lobbed him with the confidence of a man who’s been watching Euro highlights all week. One-nil and scenes.

At the back, Jamie and James Munday (on loan from the seconds and already eyeing a permanent transfer) were putting in tackles like they were being paid per crunch. Luc thought he’d doubled the lead with an absolute thunderbolt, but the ref decided Nelson wasn’t ready for that level of beauty and ruled it out for... reasons? No one’s sure. Just smash two next time, Luc.

Half-time: 1-0 up and playing some of the smartest football we’ve played since... well, ever.

The second half started much the same — dogged defending, crafty play, and the occasional heart-in-mouth moment. The game turned when Danny Ross introduced their winger to the ground in the box — penalty given, converted, and Joe left rooted as the ball rolled past. Unlucky, maybe next time.

. Redacted .

The ref called it there, 1-1 draw. Still unbeaten against Suburbs sides this year, and we roll into the bye week with heads held high and knees iced.

Cup match in two weeks. Rest up. Recharge. And remember:

UP UP TAHUNA.

Match report by Joe Robertson.

2nd XI 1-0 FC Nelson 2nd XI

Location: Ngawatu Reserve

Goals: Will Mathews

Match MVP: Isaac

A return to our home away from home this week saw the 2nds take on the 2nds.

Right from the start the boys looked comfortable on the ball, but a bit slow off it. Some good early play lead to a couple of chances, and 15 minutes in Will Mathews did what he does and nodded home for 1-0.

That was about the end of the good stuff. 70 minutes of going through the motions gave us a few attempts on goal while never really being troubled at the back.

We never really got out of 1st gear, and 1 nil was a fair result.

We leave happy with the 3 points, and the knowledge that somehow that wasn't the worst game of football at Ngawhatu this week.

Still alive in the league we will need to sharpen up next week going back to Tahuna to face Motueka

Match report by Munday.

3rd XI 1-2 Mapua

Location: Mapua Domain Goals: Binh, Diego

Match MVP: Dong/Tom After a week of reflection/ feeling sorry for themselves at not getting a result against the Stags, the 3rds went for a drive out to Mapua, where, legend had it Mapua's pitch was actually in a pretty good shape!

With Sobi out due to suspension (still a lower card count than James Owen). Thorsten came into the midfield with Dong cementing himself at RB after last week's escapades.

Tahuna lining up in their favored 4-4-2 diamond. The game kicked off with blue sky's and the smell of Sprig Mapua's food lingering in the air.

Straight from the off it was going to be a tight contest. Diego pulling the strings and setting Sayha off but unfortunately no venom in the shot meant the Mapua GK had an easy catch. Both teams spent the majority of the first half in a back and forth trying desperately to get a cheeky goal. Tom Dunn going full stretch to tip a shot onto the crossbar. At the other end, Stu, Sayha and Diego trying their best to get a sniff of goal. Binh then lifted a peach of a ball into the on running Sayha but he couldn't get a foot onto it. Stu also coming close as the half wore on.

Then Mapua caught Tahuna on the counter after so awesome play between Fraser, Thorsten and Diego. The Mapua striker making no mistake as Tom Dunn raced out to him. Tom managing to get finger tips to it as the ball settled in the bottom left of the net.

Mapua 1 Tahuna 0. The home fans going ballistic.

Undeterred Tahuna picked themselves up and pressed on with 5mins to go until halftime. Substitutions made with Ralph coming on for Matty as the ref blew for halftime.

A quick teamtalk and some positive reinforcement as well as some more substitutions with Thorsten coming off and Bernie coming on as well as Stu coming off for Will and a shuffle in the middle of the park.

As soon as the whistle went for the start of the half Tahuna went berserk in the first 5mins with Diego, Sayha, Binh, Dong all having shots close or on target. Sayha the was unfortunate Then with 10mins gone Dong decided to float a fantastic ball in to Binh who took a touch and let fly from the edge of the box...

Limbs everywhere as Tahuna equalized. The home support silent, Sobi screaming on the sidelines like a teenage girl going to a Westlife concert for the first time!

Bernie pulled up with a suspected hamstring injury with Thorsten coming back on into RB

Binh then made an unreal goal line save after Tom had made the initial save.

Not to be stopped Tahuna smelt blood in the water as Mapua kicked off. And 8 mins later Dong again the architect after a fantastic tackle by Will, found Diego on the edge of the box, the Brazilian making no mistake as he hammered the ball into the back of the net.

Tahuna 2-1 Mapua with about 25mins on the clock to go. Some more substitutions as Stu came on for an absolutely knackered Dong as Tahuna looked to calm the game and see it off.

Tahuna threatened as did Mapua with Tom making some incredible saves to keep he score 2-1. And that's how it stayed as Tahuna recorded a brilliant comeback win.

And with results going their way they see themselves 5 points clear with 3 games to go.....

Match report by Stuart Mountain.

4th XI 2-3 FC Nelson 4th XI

Location: Tahunanui S2

Goals: ?

Match MVP: ? ????!

Match report by Justin.

TFC Breakers 2-4 Mapua

Location: Mapua Domain

Goals: new Hannah, Ruby

Match MVP: new Hannah

It was a lovely sunny day. The promise of free food was looming. The knowledge that Mapua had lost just 2-0 to Foxes was niggling in our minds... but Breakers went out and had a great game. Mapua struck first. Then new Hannah tapped it in after a beautiful cross from Ruby. It was on. Mapua put another away and the ladies went into oranges 2-1 down. The team battled on with being let down by phantom player Abbi not being able to make the trip, Hannah Bibby was the only player kitted up on the sideline waiting for her physio approved last 20mins of fame. 2nd half saw Mapua score yet another. Tahuna feeling tired but still battling, new Hannah went down in what could only be described as a cougar sandwich. Ruby stepped up to take the free kick and her personal videographer captured her tidily put the ball up and over everyone into the net. Too cool to celebrate and probably too tired Ruby got back into Tahunas half to get on with it. Mapua's speed up front unfortunately saw the game play out with another Mapua goal and ending with 4-2.

The curry at the Sprig was worth the drive. And the sun continued to shine. A big “shout out” to Miho on picking up the coaching duties on the day. Bon voyage to new Hannah for this season - was a pleasure to have you join the ranks and we look forward to your return for Masters in October!

Match report by team effort.

TFC Masters 2-1 Richmond FC Masters

Location: Tahunanui S3

Goals: Gaz, Kev

Match MVP: Ollie

As the flood waters of Tahuna fields have now drained, Tahuna masters were able to host a sunny game of football on a pitch normally reserved for rugger a bush edge away from Natureland. The sound of lemurs squawking and scrapping over the road was an omen for what was about to be played. Like a lemur’s tail there was confusing black and white striped lines to contend with on our make do pitch. But we sure needed everyone for the battle. So it was a relief to see Cole arrive over the mud fields, sun lighting up the bandana on his head and the wind rustling his biblical technicolour dream coat. Would we see another miracle hat trick today?

From the off, Tahuna pressed the Richmond Meadows. There was plenty of Paddy action on the right and the Meadows struggled to even leave their half – goal kicks coming straight back in their direction. An innocuous throw in from Paddy came to Gaz. He grunted and dribbled, monster that he is, through the Meadows brittle back line. “Lay it off,” shouted Kev. Gaz ignored him and flew a beauty from the edge of the box into the left net side of the goal. “Or you can do that,” everyone duly conceded. 1-0 Tahuna. The rest of the half continued in this manner. Although time and time again we managed to let promising shots and positions, peter out to nothing. Yep Peter was responsible at times, “back yourself to run down the line Batty!” Our profligacy was eventually punished. A hopeful punt towards our goal was cleared in venom by Ollie’s strongest kick of the season. Unfortunately he chose the back of a Meadows player as a rebound board. The ball floated back over Ollie’s head and the Meadows were unfairly equal moments from the half time whistle, 1-1.

Richmond Meadows knew they had to tighten things up to hold us back in the second half. They practically hammered in their tent pegs as soon as the game restarted. 11 players well and truly camped in their half for a draw or a cheeky break away steal. We pushed and pushed. I was switched on the right for the second half and must have took 6 or 7 corners as we tried to get past the static defiant 11 of Richmond. Paddy had a chance to lob the goalie and missed. He had another good chance in the box later too. There were shots a plenty from the edge of 18 yards. Kev struck a fierce shot into the bottom right corner of their goal (only for Richmond’s keeper to pull out a tidy stretched save). At one point a cross breezed through everyone in the box and I stuck a leg out as the cross curled away. I was gutted to see my right footed shot shake the top right corner frame of their goal. It felt like it wasn’t to be. Frustrations were boiling over and the Richmond ref grew tired of the moaning and whining. Anymore and he’s leaving. Checking out the meerkats and bird enclosure at Natureland instead looked more and more appealing. It was the fight that won it in the end however. Gaz was burled over as he tried to force his presence again, the whistle was blown – penalty Tahuna. No pressure Kev but you’d better score and he did, bottom left corner – take that! Our back line – Cameron, Pete, Irish, Guy, Ben, Skinner and Ollie did well to shut down any breaks into our half as the game pressed on. Pete rolled back the years and slid his way to defensive glory in one memorable moment. Ed’s snaking runs in the middle were appreciated also until he had to limp off late in the second half. Kev even had a chance to lob the keeper on an escape break later in the game, the wind curled the golfing punt shot just to the left of the post. It didn’t matter in the end. We made hard work of it but a win is a win and we were happy to grab the 2-1 victory.

Match Report by Peter.