Chatham Cup draw: Otūmoetai to take on seven-time winners while Waipuna face tough test
Otūmoetai FC will face the most successful club in Chatham Cup history, Waipuna Rangers have a tough away draw, Te Puke United will be quietly optimistic while Tauranga City go into the unknown.
The four Bay of Plenty teams remaining in the Chatham Cup now know their next opponents in the competition following the draw for the first round earlier this week.
The eye-catching tie of the round is NRFL Southern Conference side Otūmoetai welcoming Uni-Mount Bohemian AFC to Fergusson Park.
Unimount Bohs lay claim to a competition record seven cup victories (1973, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1990, 2001 and 2003) but are not the force they once were, having last won the competition 20 years ago.
However, it is still significant for Oats, considering their novice levels in this tournament, to be facing off against the club who have lifted the ‘Old Tin’ more than any other in 100 years of New Zealand domestic cup football.
The Bohs currently play in the NRF League One and reached the First Round with a 2-1 Preliminary Round win over FC Whangarei.
Waipuna will face a tough challenge if they are to continue their Cinderella story after being drawn to play Bucklands Beach AFC.
Once again, the Rangers will be on the road, just as they were for their 2-1 win over Pukekohe AFC in the prelims.
But Bucklands Beach play several levels higher in the NRFL Northern Conference and smashed Warkworth 8-0 to advance from the previous round.
Te Puke will head over the Kaimais to face Claudelands Rovers, who like the competition are celebrating a centenary this year.
The Hamilton-based side have won two and lost two of their Southern Conference games this season and Te Puke will no doubt be confident they can give a good account of themselves in pursuit of a Chatham Cup run.
The region’s top seeds, Tauranga City, will be expecting to advance from their First Round fixture but face an unknown quantity in the shape of Auckland Sunday League side AFC Bohemian Celtic.
Celtic defeated Otorohanga 3-1 to reach this point and will have hopes of a big scalp against the NRFL Championship promotion hopefuls.
City, who exited the Chatham Cup in Round Two to East Coast Bays last season, will need to keep their wits about them to ensure they meet the same standard.
Fixtures are scheduled to take place on the weekend of May 13-14.
The full draw is below:
Northern Rovers FC v Colo Boys FC
AFC Bohemian Celtic v Tauranga City AFC
Otumoetai FC v Uni-Mount Bohemian AFC
South Auckland Rangers AFC v Oratia United FC
East Coast Bays AFC v Rapa Nui FC
Mt Albert-Ponsonby AFC v Ngaruawahia Utd AFC Inc
Northern United SC v Metro FC
Beachlands Maraetai AFC v Albany United FC
Royal NZ Navy FC v Fencibles United AFC
Bucklands Beach AFC v Waipuna FC Inc
Cambridge FC v Franklin United FC
Ellerslie AFC v Northland FC
West Auckland AFC v Papakura City FC
Papatoetoe AFC v Waikato Unicol AFC
Hibiscus Coast AFC v Waitemata FC
North Shore United AFC v Te Atatu AFC
Te Awamutu AFC v Taupo AFC
Claudelands Rovers v Te Puke Utd FC Inc
Kapiti Coast Utd v Lower Hutt City AFC
Wainuiomata AFC v Seatoun AFC
Paekakariki SC v Island Bay United AFC
Upper Hutt City Football v Tawa AFC
Massey University - Manawatu Campus v Napier Marist Football Club
New Plymouth Boys' High School v Moturoa AFC
FC Western Inc v Palmerston North Marist FC
Central SC v Nelson Suburbs FC
Motueka AFC v FC Nelson
Cashmere Technical FC v Selwyn United FC
Christchurch Utd v Parklands United
Coastal Spirit v Burwood AFC
Nomads United AFC v Ferrymead Bays FC
Universities of Canterbury Association Football Club v Waimakariri Utd
Halswell United v FC Twenty 11
Thistle FC v Grants Braes AFC
Queenstown AFC v Wanaka AFC
Mosgiel AFC v Northern Hearts AFC
Northern AFC v Roslyn Wakari AFC
The following teams have a bye to Round 2 in the Chatham Cup:
Auckland City FC (holders); Auckland United FC;Bay Olympic FC;Birkenhead United AFC; Eastern Suburbs AFC; Hamilton Wanderers; Manukau United FC; Melville Utd AFC; Manurewa AFC Takapuna FC; West Coast Rangers FC; Western Springs AFC; Onehunga Mangere United AFC; Waiheke United AFC; Stop Out SC; Miramar Rangers AFC; Napier City Rovers AFC; North Wellington FC; Petone FC; Whanganui Athletic; Waterside Karori; Wellington Olympic; Western Suburbs; Otago University AFC; Queens Park AFC; Green Island AFC; Dunedin City Royals FC.