Napier City Rovers eye Central League lead and Chatham Cup progress

Captain Jim Hoyle is set to lead his Napier City Rovers side into battle twice this weekend. Photo / Neil Reid

Hoyle said the duo of matches would be approached “one game at a time”. And his side had very clear ambitions in both of them.

“The Chatham Cup’s always important,” Hoyle said.

“It’s a knockout competition so the goal is to win those games and get through to the next round.

“Then we also need to maximise points in the league because the other teams that are in and around us, Wellington Olympic, Western Suburbs and Miramar, are doing the same thing.

“We’ll be talking about how crucial three points [against Island Bay] are. If we finish the first round by beating Island Bay, I think anyone would have taken seven wins, a draw and a loss from our first nine matches.”

Napier City Rovers player Benjamin Stanley is about to go to turf against FC Western. Photo / Neil Reid

In terms of being a Central League title contender, victory in Saturday’s game is crucial.

After the Island Bay United match, their next two Central League matches are against third-placed Western Suburbs and league leaders Wellington Olympic. Both those sides have completed their first half of the Central League season.

A win on Saturday would see them rise to at least second spot.

If they were able to win by five goals, they would leapfrog Wellington Olympic at the top of the table on goals for and against.

Jacob Fenton is left frustrated after a shout for a penalty was ignored by match officials. Photo / Neil Reid

Hoyle’s side goes into this weekend’s double-header off the back of a five-goal win achieved in a true game of two very different halves.

The side trailed 1-0 at halftime against New Plymouth’s bottom-placed FC Western.

There was no lack of frustration at Bluewater Stadium – including on the pitch, the coaching staff sideline and among spectators – about what was dished up in a flat opening 45 minutes by Napier City Rovers.

But the second half saw the side at their explosive best, levelling the score within 30 seconds of the second half starting, via Luca Barclay.

Josh Capstick (left) and Jacob Fenton congratulate Callum Cooke on his hat-trick post match. Photo / Neil Reid

Hoyle said the start was “a bit sluggish”. But some honest talking at halftime – and a tactical reshuffle – had sparked the side into life.

“We spoke about how important the three points are to us striving for National League and striving to win the league as well,” he said.

“We started on the back foot, we weren’t taking control of the game, we were waiting for others to do so.

“We spoke about our quality on the ball, all being available and then just a slight tweak [tactically]. It worked in the end, and we were a lot better with our decision-making and quality.”

Napier City Rovers forward Jacob Fenton scored one of his side’s goals in their 6-1 Central League win over FC Western. Photo / Neil Reid

In what turned out to be a 45-minute footballing demolition job, Hoyle’s side scored four goals within the first 15 minutes of the second half.

Barclay’s opener was followed by Jacob Fenton, who had an outsanding game leading, expertly curling in a goal.

Fellow English import Callum Cooke scored a hat-trick, while fan favourite and former Northern Ireland age-group international Leo Brown scored the sixth and final goal.

Callum Cooke was a hat-trick hero for Napier City Rovers in their come from behind 6-1 Central League win over FC Western at Bluewater Stadium. New Zealand Herald composite photo

“After the first goal, we just went up a gear,” Hoyle said.

“Everyone was confident, we started stroking the ball around and scored some good goals.”

Brown’s goal sent both the Napier City Rovers squad and fans into rapture.

He has been immense on attack all season for his new club – being a great target man and setting up goals for others – but had been yet to score himself.

Leo Brown is upended in his side’s 6-1 Central League win over FC Western at Bluewater Stadium. Photo / Neil Reid

His late goal sparked wild celebrations among his teammates, including close friend Fenton who later admitted he had a tear in his eye that his buddy had scored his first goal for Napier City Rovers.

“Leo’s been an amazing target and an amazing role player for us,” Hoyle said afterwards.

“You saw how together the lads were with the reaction because we were all around him. We are all dying for him to score a lot of goals for this club because he’s working hard.”

Napier City Rovers forward Leo Brown looks to secure the ball. Photo / Neil Reid

Hoyle himself put in another mighty performance at the back for his beloved club on Sunday.

The Barnsley-born player has called Bluewater Stadium home for the past 12 seasons, last year becoming the 15th player to pass the 200-game mark for Napier City Rovers.

A difference in 2026 though, is Hoyle is finally able to be classified as a local player, recently securing New Zealand citizenship.

Napier City Rovers captain Jim Hoyle is officially now a proud Kiwi after securing New Zealand citizenship. Photo / Neil Reid

It was something he said he was “absolutely proud” of.

“I love living here and I love this club,” the inspirational captain said.

“Since I became a resident a couple of years ago, the goal has always been to finally tick off that citizenship and get the New Zealand passport.

“I’m planning on being here forever and I’m a proud Kiwi the same as everyone else now.”

Neil Reid is a Napier-based senior reporter who covers general news, features and sport. He joined the Herald in 2014, has 34 years of newsroom experience and has covered Napier City Rovers since 2022.