The Wright Stuff by Jeremy Ruane as published in Inside Soccer New Zealand soccer’s premier showman, Billy Wright, took centre-stage at the Basin Reserve, as he led his Miramar Rangers team-mates to a 3-1 victory over Waikato United in the Chatham Cup Final, scoring two goals in an impressive individual display. Miramar started promisingly, with the wind at their backs, and Gary Dillistone was forced into early saves from Malcolm Dunford and David Birnie. But Waikato’s response gave the match a tremendous early lift. Within seconds of Birnie’s effort, Graham Jones fed Darren Fellowes, who took off on a rambunctious run, culminating in his drilling a tenth minute opener inside Michael Utting’s near post, as Dunford challenged. After Wright and Birnie had gone close for Rangers, United sought a second, with Mark Cossey and Jones both unable to do justice to Brian Hayes’ right flank toiling. Fellowes then narrowly failed to get his head to an intelligent Paul Thompson chip, while Miramar laid siege to Dillistone’s goal, with Dunford, Paul Brydon, Vaughan Coveny and Stephen Corney all going close, without reward. Six minutes from half-time, Rangers equalised. Neal Cave, who was later awarded the Jack Batty Memorial Trophy as man-of-the-match, released Stu Jacobs down the right. Coveny drew the defence to the near post, leaving Wright free to drive home a downward header on the far upright, from Jacobs’ pinpoint cross. The second half saw Rangers in rampant mood. With Wright and Cave pulling the strings, and Coveny carving holes down the right flank, a second goal was inevitable, and, after several near-misses, the 68th minute brought the locals a penalty, which was well called by referee Allan McGregor, who picked up Gary Locke’s elbowing of Wright, as the All White striker leapt to head Coveny’s cross. Cometh the hour, cometh the man, as Wright beat Dillistone all ends up with a scintillating spot-kick. Five minutes later, and the goal of the game was scored by New Zealand’s Young Player of the Year, Coveny. Latching onto a loose ball on half-way, he proceeded to run four United defenders ragged, then drew the ‘keeper, before thumping home his farewell Miramar goal, Melbourne Croatia gaining his services later this week. At 3-1, the game was up for Waikato. Wright went hat-trick hunting in the last quarter-hour, but failed to achieve his target, though not for the want of trying. In one epic goalmouth melee, Dillistone parried one effort, while the striker, on loan from Morwell Falcons in place of the suspended John Murphy, hit the same post twice within seconds. But Wright had done enough already - the cup was Miramar’s. Miramar:     Utting; Jacobs, Dunford, Coleman; Corney, O’Meara, Cave, Brydon; Coveny, Birnie (Taylor), Wright Waikato:     Dillistone; Gemmell, Locke, Melville, Chisholm; Thompson, Hayes, Jones, Haworth (Jessup); Cossey, Fellowes Referee:     Allan McGregor (Otago)