PHOENIX NOW HAS CLAWS
Both men's and women's senior Phoenix professional football teams from Wellington whose training base is at the Heretaunga sports institute, won their matches today at Auckland's Mt Smart. And both defeated teams at or near the top of their A-League competitions prior to today.
This would have been unheard of in the last two seasons when our women's team was formed and the men had been struggling prior to that of the 2022-23 season.
It is as if the imminent formation of Auckland-based teams to rival the Phoenix club as NZ's representatives in the Australian leagues, is a spur to go so much better this season than ever before. I think the women Phoenix had not won as many games in the league in both past seasons combined as this season which is only in its sixth round.
Meanwhile Phoenix men have never done as well as early as in this season's comp since it was formed 15 years or so ago.
No longer are these teams regarded as walk-overs and they have gained the respect of the Australians including their referees who largely though not completely now treat Phoenix evenhandedly.
The coaching has a lot to do with the new found success of both Phoenix teams - as well as the world class facilities in Upper Hutt. Something by the way that the Auckland Black Knights football teams will lack.
I was at the Tuki Cafe at the sports institute last Friday and this little gem of a cafe is just another reason for the plaudits given to this amenity.
Funny enough, a few weeks ago I had a brief conversation with former economist whizz Gareth Morgan. One of the owners of the Phoenix club, Morgan has some excellent ideas about cats in restricting their opportunities to kill birds. Morgan also wanted Phoenix to loosen its defensive shackles and play an entertaining, attacking style all those years ago. Happy to say that Morgan's ambitions for Phoenix and its supporters came to fruition and these days they play crowd pleasing, goal scoring football.
Poll: Is it still rude to wear a hat inside?
Times have changed and perhaps so has our societal rules around taking off hats when indoors. What are your thoughts?
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75.1% Yes, take them off indoors
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23.9% No, it's not anymore
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1% Other - I'll share below
Time for a clear-out?
Delve back into that garage or wardrobe! It's time to sell your gently-loved goods at The Neighbourly Winter (online!) Garage Sale
On Saturday 6th July, members will be online checking out the goods on offer so it's a great time to get rid of your winter clutter.
Maybe it's time to realise that you're never going to use that snowboard or ski jacket, and that you really do have one too many heaters. Whatever it is, take a picture and put it on Neighbourly for locals to see.
Upper Hutt On The Up
Blue Mountains Campus in Wallaceville has finally a third tenant.
Silicon - a prominent IT security and management company has joined MBIE and KiwiRail in the Buddle Building which is part of this large commercial complex.
It is expected that TransDec will move part of its operation to the Campus before the end of the year.
The Lane Street (movie and tv) Studios is now at full throttle in multiple productions.
Hitting the news tonight is the world class NZCIS in Heretaunga. The first All Blacks squad under Scott Robertson are training there as well as being accommodated within the complex which can house 400 stay-at guests.
TV One noted that the All Blacks plan to utilise the facility as often as needed and that 3 NRL clubs based in Australia have booked to use the facility for their squads (most likely for pre-season purposes) and that the Australian women's football team, the Matildas has also made a booking. It won't be long and this facility will be in great demand and by a host of different sports codes not only within NZ. Basketball and netball facilities are to be added.
At present the most notable regular users are the Hurricanes rugby teams, the Phoenix football teams and the senior Wellington Rugby Union rep teams.
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