AUCKLAND – Auckland City’s charge to the New Zealand Football Championship minor premiership suffered a blow at the hands of Hawke’s Bay United on Sunday, while Canterbury notched their first win of the season with victory in the Southern derby.

Goals to David Geary in the 15th minute and Leon Birnie in injury time, propelled Hawke’s Bay to a 2-0 win – their first over Auckland in 11 matches – and allowed Waitakere United and team Wellington to close the gap on the leaders with wins over Waikato and Manawatu respectively.

Auckland still head the table on 41 points but Waitakere (38) and Wellington (35) each have a game in hand and a match against City to come.

Canterbury United’s 2-0 victory over Otago United in Sunday’s southern derby in Christchurch was their first win in 16 attempts this season and ensures Canterbury avoid becoming the first team to go through an entire NZFC season without a win.

Rhodri Payne was the chief destroyer for Canterbury firing a freekick in each half – although Gareth Turnbull got enough of a touch on the first to claim it as his own.

In Palmerston North, Team Wellington enjoyed another fruitful weekend, patiently wearing down 10-man YoungHeart Manawatu before eventually running out 4-0 winners.

Graham Little converted a first half penalty for his eleventh goal of the season while Luis Corrales grabbed a double and Rupert Ryan nodded in his first since re-joining the club as Wellington sent YoungHeart crashed to a fourth straight defeat.

In Saturday’s only game, Waitakere were again ruthlessly effective in seeing off a positive but ultimately toothless Waikato FC 2-0 at North Harbour Stadium.

A late first half burst featuring a Chris Bale bullet and a Jeff Sole own goal sealed a game in which each side were reduced to ten men in the second half.

Round 16

Saturday

Waitakere United 2 (Chris Bale 42, own goal 45+1)

Waikato FC 0

Halftime: 2-0

Sunday

YoungHeart Manawatu 0

Team Wellington 4 (Graham Little 43-pen, Rupert Ryan 63, Luis Corrales 67/90)

Halftime: 0-1

CanterburyUnited 2 (Gareth Turnbull 34, Rhodri Payne 47)

Otago United 0

Halftime: 1-0

Hawke’s Bay United 2 (David Gearey 15, Leon Birnie 90+2)

Auckland City 0

Halftime:1-0