Otumoetai and Tauranga City advance in both Chatham Cup and Kate Sheppard Cup
There was widespread success for Tauranga City and Otumoetai in New Zealand's domestic cups this weekend while Lakes FC also have cause for celebration.
Bay of Plenty teams enjoyed unprecedented success in the Kate Sheppard Cup with Lakes FC, Tauranga City and Otumoetai all advancing with ease while Tauranga Blue Rovers nearly caused an upset but came up painfully short.
Lakes led the way with an 11-goal thriller, Sinead Doherty again in red-hot form, scoring four in an 8-3 victory over Beachlands Maraetai AFC.
Otumoetai also dealt out a thrashing, sweeping aside Bay Olympic to reach the next round while Tauranga City were also comfortable winners, 5-1 over Melville United.
WaiBOP W-League newcomers Blue Rovers pushed NRFL Women’s Championship side Central United all the way in their Round One tie. Mikaela Cornwell’s 22nd-minute opener looked for a long while to have been enough before Stephanie Trowill’s second-half strike sent the game to extra time where the Auckland side got the win.
Otumoetai FC’s men’s side beat the most successful side in Chatham Cup history to reach Round Two in the tournament’s 100th year this weekend. Two goals from Chaz Picton plus one apiece from Anton Picton and Parmveer Singh did the damage in a 4-1 win over Uni-Mount Bohemian, the spiritual claimants of a record seven ‘Old Tin’ triumphs.
They will be joined in the next round by Tauranga City. Barry Gardiner’s side scored nine in one game for the second time in three weeks as they comfortably dispatched Sunday league side AFC Bohemian Celtic. Liam Molloy and Jonty Bidois both scored twice with Colby Brennan, Lewis Reid, Morgan Wellsbury, Mario Ramos and Zachary Bryant also on the scoresheet.
However, the cup dream is over for the Preliminary Round heroes Waipuna Rangers. The WaiBOP Bay 3 side lost 9-0 to a Sander Waterland-inspired Bucklands Beach to bring to an end an exciting and memorable run.
Te Puke will also not be joining their Bay of Plenty brethren in the next round, following a 4-1 defeat to Claudelands Rovers.
Meanwhile, away from cup action, Tauranga City continued their winning ways in WaiBOP League One, beating Cambridge 3-1 thanks to a brace from Cameron Stewart and a goal from player-coach Joe Pamment. The result continues the side’s unbeaten start to the season.
In the WaiBOP W-League only Otumoetai and Waikato Unicol were in action, playing out a 0-0 draw.
It was a tough weekend for teams top of the league in Baywide football as Tauranga City Relics dropped off top spot in Bay 1 with a surprise loss to Kawerau Sports while Taupo Lakers continue their resurgence in Bay 2, beating league leaders Papamoa United 1-0. No such trouble for W-League leaders Whakatane Town who cantered to a 10-1 win over Otumoetai.
Meanwhile, back in Bay 2, Omokoroa Fury and Waiariki played out an 11-goal thriller at Western Ave. As these comments from the match notes detail it was certainly an entertaining affair:
Another yellow card was issued for disrespectful conduct by a player in Omokoroa team (claim by the opposition that he was drinking was unsubstantiated) - entered the field of play in inappropriate attire and ordered to dress properly, slow to respond so card issued for ungentlemanly conduct and disrespect towards official. This was a fast-paced game both sides with attacking mentality which was reflected in the scoreline.
Omokoroa won 7-4.
Full Baywide results below:
Men’s Bay 1
Papamoa FC 1-3 Otumoetai OTT Reserves
Otumoetai 3-0 Whakatane Town
Kawerau Sports 3-2 Tauranga City Relics
Women’s Bay 1
Papamoa Icons 1-5 Papamoa Legends
Tauranga City Bay Ladies 2-0 Plains Rangers
Otumoetai 1-10 Whakatane Town
Waiariki 2-4 Te Puke
Men’s Bay 2
Otumoetai 2-5 Tauranga City New Blues
Tauranga City Juggernauts 3-0 Te Puke Reserves (default by away team)
Omokoroa Fury 7-4 Waiariki
Taupo Lakers 1-0 Papamoa United
Plains Rangers 0-1 Otumoetai Special Reserve
Men’s Bay 3/Over-35s
Papamoa NOBs 0-1 Otumoetai Gunners
Tauranga City Les Bleus 0-4 Papamoa Rovers
Papamoa Old Boys 3-8 Ngongotaha Lakes O-35