Draws conducted for opening rounds of cups

The first steps on the path to glory in the ISPS Handa Chatham Cup and NZ Football Foundation Kate Sheppard Cup have been confirmed after the official draws were conducted for the opening rounds of both competitions.

A total of 137 teams have thrown their respective hats into the ring to claim the illustrious honours in the 91^st edition of the Chatham Cup, one of the oldest competitions in New Zealand sport, while 35 clubs will compete in the rebranded Kate Sheppard Cup, formerly known as the Women’s Knockout Cup.

Over 50 of the Chatham Cup entrants will take to the field early on as the action gets underway with the preliminary round, which is set to take place across Anzac Day on April 25 and the weekend of April 28-29. The inaugural Kate Sheppard Cup will kick off soon after on May 12-13, when six matches will take place in round one.

The exact dates and kick off times for each game will be confirmed by the clubs and federations shortly.

The official draws for both competitions were conducted today at New Zealand Football headquarters in Auckland with the Chatham Cup draw being adjudicated by Northern Football Competitions Manager Terry Hobin while the Kate Sheppard Cup draw was overseen by Northern Football Women’s Development Officer Hayley Stirling.

The final of both competitions will be held on September 9 at QBE Stadium in Auckland.

The draws for the opening rounds are as follows.

ISPS Handa Chatham Cup Preliminary Round
April 25, 28-29

Northern Region

Glen Eden United vs Clendon United

Papamoa vs Tuakau

Bohemian Celtic vs Onerahi

University-Mt Wellington vs Kawerau

Ranui Swanson vs Internationale

Auckland Wanderers vs Te Awamutu

West Hamilton United vs Papatoetoe United

Lynn-Avon United vs Kaeo-Inter

Navy vs Auckland Volcanoes

Kiwi True Blues vs Otumoetai

Plains Rangers vs HNK Auckland

University of Auckland vs West Auckland

Northern Wairoa vs Waiuku

Kerikeri vs Greenhithe

Airforce vs Warkworth

Waikato Unicol vs Mercury Tokoroa

Matamata Swifts vs Ngaruawahia United

Taupo vs Otorohanga

(Byes: All NRFL teams)

Central/Capital Region

Wanganui Athletic vs New Plymouth Rangers

North End vs Gisborne Thistle

(Byes: Palmerston North Marist, Napier City Rovers, Havelock North Wanderers, all Capital teams)

Mainland Region

Richmond Athletic vs FC Nelson

St Albans Shirley vs Western

Parklands United vs Christchurch United

Burnham vs Waimakariri United

(Byes: Nelson Suburbs, Tahuna, Rangers, Cashmere Technical, Coastal Spirit, Ferrymead Bays, Selwyn United, FC Twenty 11, Nomads United, Universities, Burwood, Halswell United)
 

Southern Region

Mornington vs Gore Wanderers

Thistle (Invercargill) vs Melchester Rovers 
 

(Byes: Dunedin Technical, Queenstown Rovers, Green Island, Caversham, Mosgiel, Northern, Otago University, Roslyn Wakari, Grant Braes, Geraldine, Thistle (Timaru), West End, Queens Park, Old Boys)

Kate Sheppard Cup Round One

May 12-13 
 

Northern Region

(All NRFL teams receive a bye)

Central/Capital Region
Petone vs Waterside Karori

Victoria University vs Brooklyn Northern United

Kapiti Coast United vs Stop Out
 

(Byes: Palmerston North Marist, Wairarapa United, Wellington United, Seatoun, Upper Hutt City)

Mainland Region

Cashmere Technical vs Waimakariri United

(Byes: Universities, Halswell United, Coastal Spirit)

Southern Region
Queenstown Rovers vs Green Island

Roslyn Wakari vs Mosgiel

(Byes: Dunedin Technical, Otago University)