Cooks Hill United and Weston Bears will represent northern NSW in the Hahn Australia Cup national round of 32.
The NPL Men’s NNSW clubs won their respective seventh preliminary round matches on Wednesday night to book their spots in the final rounds of the 2025 competition for the first time in each club’s history.
Cooks Hill downed Broadmeadow Magic 2-1 at Magic Park on Wednesday night, with substitute Xavier Williams tapping home the winner for Cooks Hill in the final 10 minutes of the match.
Josh Benson had given Cooks Hill the lead in the first half after he sliced the ball past goalkeeper Lewis Alvarez. Magic struck back in the 70th minute with a strike from Ezra Palombini but Williams secured the win for Cooks Hill in the 83rd minute.
Weston and Edgeworth played out a thrilling contest on Wednesday night that went to extra time and penalties.
Edgeworth opened the scoring in the 20th minute after Ryan Fuetz beat goalkeeper George Stephens and tapped the ball into the empty goal. Weston responded in the 51st minute through a classy strike from Aaron Niyonkuru.
The score remained locked at 1-1 at full-time which saw the match move to extra-time. The sides could still not be separated after 120 minutes and were forced to go to a penalty shootout.
Stephens was the hero after he pulled off three penalty saves to deny Edgeworth and secure Weston’s ticket to the round of 32, with the Bears winning 3-1 on penalties.
It is the first time that Weston and Cooks Hill have qualified for the national round of 32.
Weston and Cooks Hill will also face each other in the NNSWF Men’s State Cup Final at a venue to be announcec on Saturday 26 July. The day will also see community clubs Croudace Bay United and Northern Storm go head-to-head in the Men’s Community Plate Final.
NNSWF General Manager Football Operations Liam Bentley congratulated the clubs on their achievement.
“Weston and Cooks Hill are strong clubs in our region and we are delighted that they will have the opportunity to showcase that on the national stage for the first time,” Bentley said.
“The Men’s State Cup Final and Community Plate Final will also be a great chance for two premier clubs and two community teams to be showcased to the region.
“We wish them all the best in the next stages of the competition as they represent northern NSW with the whole nation watching on.”
The Hahn Australia Cup 2025 round of 32 will be played over two weeks in mid to late July.
Hahn Australia Cup 2025 Round of 32 Live Draw
Date: Wednesday 25 June 2025
How to watch: LIVE on 10 Play, Hahn Australia Cup Facebook & Football Australia YouTube
How to follow: Follow Hahn Australia Cup Facebook and Instagram
How to interact: #AustraliaCup #MagicOfTheCup
