Rovers striker looking razor sharp for elite winter league

By Anendra Singh, Hawkes Bay Today

Blues Boy: Angus Kilkolly is Back (Photo NCR)

Striker Angus Kilkolly scored twice and made the crucial pass for the third goal as Napier City Rovers drew with Lower Hutt City in their opening Central League match at the weekend.

"He looks very sharp," Blues team co-manager Malcolm Wilson said last night after Kilkolly did the hard yards down the right flank before making the crucial pass for new English import midfielder Fahad Rwakarambe to score in the 3-all affair of the premier league of Capital and Central Football regions.

Wilson said Rovers coach Bill Robinson, who captained Team Wellington to back-to-back Stirling Premiership crowns yesterday, was surprised with Lower Hutt's composition, including imports, and how well organised they were on artificial Fraser Park turf on Saturday.

The Fergus Neil-captained Rovers have lost half of their squad from last season, including seven starting XI players.

The hosts scored in just the second minute after going up for a freekick before pushing it past talented goalkeeper Joshua Hill, who played for Wairarapa United last year.

Kilkolly's equaliser came in the 11th minute from a penalty kick before he spun more wizardry to beat the Lower Hutt goalkeeper from an acute angle to put the visitors 2-1 ahead.

Lower Hutt equalised 2-all on the stroke of halftime after Blues rightback Charlie Yexley conceded an own goal, when he hung his foot out to defend a cross.

It was Kilkolly again, exploiting the right flank space in the 57th to find Rwakarambe to rocket it high from 8m out.
​
Some lethargic defence allowed Lower Hutt to equalise.