Thirsty Whale Napier City Rovers crowned 2018 Central League champions at Bluewater Stadium

The blue-and-white champions banner was already made, the medals strung and stacked and the trophy had pride of place on the table at the tunnel well before the season-ending final whistle in Napier today - such was the belief in the host.
The Thirsty Whale-sponsored Napier City Rovers didn't disappoint their legion of singing-and-chanting fans when they beat Wairarapa United 2-1 in the final round 18 Ultra Football Central League match at the Bluewater Stadium in Park Island.
It was a match befitting a league-crowning moment as the jubilant players warmed the cockles of the hearts of Rovers faithful who had erupted into celebrations that carried on well into the changing rooms and, no doubt, late into the night into the clubrooms.
For the full match report click here to go to Hawke's Bay Today.