9-1 won: Tauranga City leave Waiheke calling for help
Tauranga City's men produced a stunning performance while the region's top women's teams at Otumoetai and City also won.
The last time Tauranga City welcomed Waiheke United to Links Ave the visitors were runaway leaders at the top of the 2021 NRFL Division 1. The South American-inspired supporters partied their way to victory under the bleeding sun that day as Tauranga’s own promotion hopes dissipated.
What a difference a couple of years make, as City inflicted a devastating performance to sweep their opponents away by nine goals to one and send a message to their NRFL Championship promotion rivals.
Lewis Reid got the party started for City while a Jonty Bidois brace and goals from Liam Molloy and an Adam Davidson penalty ensured a comfortable 5-0 half-time lead.
Molloy’s quickfire double after the break secured his hat-trick and Joel McMullan added another two late on following a consolation goal from Nicolas Vanina.
The result pushes City up to third ahead of next weekend’s clash at home to North Shore United.
The Bay of Plenty’s teams in the NRFL Southern Conference did not enjoy the same success as Tauranga, with all three suffering defeat.
Papamoa lost 3-1 at Cambridge, while Ngongotaha Lakes came out on the losing side of an eight-goal thriller at Taupo, losing 5-3. Meanwhile, Otumoetai lost their fifth game from five, going down 4-0 to Claudelands Rovers.
Otumoetai’s women however are faring much better, moving level on points with league leaders Fencibles United over the weekend. Grace Duncan and Miah Smith scored the goals in a 2-0 win over Manukau United to join Fencibles on 13 points after their draw with Franklin United.
Tauranga City enjoyed the same scoreline in their NRFL Women’s Championship clash with Onehunga Sports, Briana Osborne and Serena Murrihy the scorers.
The WaiBOP W-League saw the Bay of Plenty representatives face each other, with punishing results across the board.
Lakes thrashed Otumoetai 8-0, Sinead Doherty scoring five, and Tauranga City Reserves claimed a 5-0 win over Tauranga Blue Rovers
Meanwhile, in WaiBOP League One, Tauranga City drew yet another game, Julian Kohlhaas scoring in a 1-1 draw with Claudelands Rovers.
Baywide football returned this weekend with Otumoetai leading the way in Bay 1, Waipuna Rangers and Ngongotaha Lakes scoring nine each in Bay 3, Papamoa United winning a top-of-the-table clash with Tauranga New Blues in Bay 2 and Otumoetai winning their first game in Women’s Bay 1.
Men’s Bay 1
Te Puke Utd 2-1 Otumoetai OTT Reserves
Papamoa 5-2 Whakatane Town
Otumoetai 5-2 Kawerau Sports
Katikati 2-5 Tauranga City Relics
Women’s Bay 1
Tauranga City Bay Ladies 0-0 Papamoa FC Legends
Otumoetai FC Bay 1-0 Papamoa FC Icons
Waiariki FC TBC Whakatane Town
Plains Rangers 0-6 Te Puke
Men’s Bay 2
Otumoetai 2-1 Otumoetai Special Reserve
Papamoa United 4-3 Tauranga City New Blues
Omokoroa FC Fury 3-5 Te Puke Utd Reserves
Taupo Lakers 2-3 Waiariki FC
Plains Rangers 1-3 Tauranga City Juggernauts
Men’s Bay 3/O-35
Papamoa Rovers 3-0 Papamoa NOBs (played on Anzac day)
Papamoa Old Boys 7-2 Papamoa Rovers
Papamoa NOBs 3-9 Ngongotaha Lakes O-35
Waipuna Rangers 9-0 Tauranga City Les Bleus
Ngongotaha Lakes 2-3 Otumoetai Gunners