WaiBOP Premiership and Championship titles decided
The trophies are heading to Waikato, but there were positive results for Tauranga City, Otūmoetai, Pāpāmoa, Te Puke, Ngongotaha and Lakes FC.
The exciting race for the WaiBOP Championship title reached its conclusion at the weekend, with the crown heading back to the Waikato on this occasion.
Cambridge FC, who just missed out on the title last season, secured top spot for 2022 with a thumping 10-0 win over Pāpāmoa U-19s - Dylan Blair scoring an eye-watering eight goals.
Otūmoetai had hopes of claiming the title in their final game of the season and came from a goal down to beat Matamata Swifts, Mitchell Evans scoring twice. However, despite finishing level on points with the new champions, Cambridge have a superior goal difference.
Tauranga City could have delayed the title celebrations with a win over Tokoroa AFC, as they were still in touching distance and close in the GD column. However, they suffered a second 1-0 loss of the season to the South Waikato side.
Te Puke United, whose own title challenge came to an end recently, overcame a plucky Claudelands Rovers at Litt Park, Harry Hall scoring twice in a 3-2 win to ensure they remain in the driving seat to finish in the top four.
Otūmoetai, therefore, finish as WaiBOP Championship runners-up while Tauranga City and Te Puke still have games in hand to confirm their final position. Pāpāmoa’s youth team finish ninth.
There was success all around for the Bay of Plenty teams in the WaiBOP Premiership, but the title has again headed inland after unbeaten Waikato Unicol defeated their nearest challengers Taupo 3-1 on Saturday.
Otūmoetai’s Premiership side remain third after a Caelan Fraher goal proved the difference in a 2-1 win over Melville’s Fed side.
Pāpāmoa are just behind them in fourth after a comfortable 4-0 victory over Te Awamutu. Ngongotaha completed a clean sweep for BOP teams in the Prem, a hat-trick for Cook Islands international Harlem Simiona helping the Villagers to a 3-2 win which takes them above their opponents West Hamilton in the table.
Tauranga City AFC’s first-team got back to winning ways in the NRFL Men’s Division 1 this weekend and did so in style by thrashing Ellerslie AFC 6-2 in a thriller at Links Avenue.
It was a special occasion for young striker Jonty Bidois, who scored his first hat-trick for the first-team.
City were 4-1 up at half-time after a double from Bidois and goals from Braxton Fisher-Vanderveen and Liam Molloy. Colby Brennan added to the scoring in the second period before Bidois completed his hat-trick to make it six.
City remain fourth in the table.
The Tauranga City AFC women’s team lost a tight game 2-0 against Western Springs in the NRFL Women’s Premier League, in which Northern Rovers secured the title this weekend.
In the WaiBOP W-League, Otūmoetai United celebrated their championship win from last weekend with a 2-0 triumph over Claudelands Rovers at Fergusson Park.
Paul Thomas, OFC president, has spoken of his pride in the women’s team’s achievement on the club’s official Facebook page.
"One Thursday night at our summer 5 aside league I approached Carl (Newby) and said ‘would you be interested in coaching our ladies team?’
“He said yes immediately and we haven't looked back!".
Their sister club Otūmoetai FC lost 5-2 to Waikato Unicol later in the afternoon while Lakes FC beat Melville 1-0.
