The top three teams in The Soccer Shop WaiBOP Premiership all had productive Queen’s Birthday weekends. Leaders ninetyblack Taupo recovered from Saturday’s ISPS Handa Chatham Cup defeat to Albany United to win comfortably on Monday, while Flying Mullet Papamoa had a solid victory two days earlier. Otumoetai doubled up, with games on both Saturday and Monday, and snaffled six points that drew them level with Taupo but took them top on goal difference.

Saturday’s four Premiership matches proceeded largely as the standings would suggest. Papamoa went ahead early against Tauranga Blue Rovers, through Alex Wilson, before Olly Tilley levelled for Rovers in a tight opening. Liam Molloy gave Papamoa a half time lead, before Colm Kenny and Andrew Cooper put the match beyond the visitors in the second half. Dan Kent scored in added time to see the match finish 4-2 to a Papamoa side that sits two points off top spot.

Gisler Architects Te Awamutu’s match at Comag Matamata Swifts ended goalless despite both teams creating plenty of decent openings. The woodwork was struck at both ends during the first half, while the visitors sent a spot kick over the cross bar just before the break. The chances came at went, predominantly for Matamata, during the second half, before Te Awamutu was granted the chance to take all three points when they were awarded a second penalty late on. This one was well saved by Seamus Casey.

The match between Ngaruawahia United and West Hamilton United also finished level. The final score was 1-1, with the Green Machine’s early goal from Liban Mire cancelled out in the final quarter hour by Jarred Tooley’s equaliser. 

Otumoetai’s Ben McLean and Ryan Peddle scored first half goals to give their team a comfortable enough 2-0 home victory over bottom side Safer Team Te Puke United on Saturday, then they blew Te Awamutu away after a fast start in Monday’s encounter. Mitch Evans, twice, and Scott Reid scored inside the first ten minutes to effectively seal the contest, before Trey Stewart made it four inside half an hour. Evans completed his hat trick late in the second half to give Otumoetai the 5-0 victory the needed to edge ahead of Taupo on goal difference.

Taupo did what Taupo seems to do in 2019 in hitting Tauranga Boys College for six on Monday. Two goals from Jordan Lamb and one from Joe O’Donoghue had them three up inside half an hour before O’Donoghue made it four five minutes after the break. Boys’ College halved the deficit through Alfie Cole and Stanley Rust but O’Donoghue completed his hat trick five minutes from time before Fin Smith rounded out the Lakesiders’ 6-2 victory in added time.

All that left Otumoetai and Taupo level on 22 points, with the Lakesiders having played nine games to Otumoetai’s ten, while Papamoa is tucked in two points behind. Waikato Unicol, who had their match against Melville United postponed to allow the students to prepare for Monday’s ISPS Handa Chatham Cup visit of North Shore, a match in which they were defeated, sit three points further back having played eight games.

The big result in this week’s round of The Soccer Shop WaiBOP Championship came at Jansen Park where the previously unbeaten league leaders, Waikato Unicol reserves, were hammered 8-0 by Bulk Lines Otorohanga. The goals were spread around for the visitors, with Mason Apperly grabbing a brace while Charlie Telfer, Thomas Downey, Jack Connor, Dallas Maguire, Jamie Walker and Jacob O'Brien all found the back of the net.

Unicol’s defeat cut their lead at the top of the table to five points over an Otumoetai reserves side that gave visitors Cambridge a two goal head start before storming home to win 3-2. Otorohanga moved into third, a couple of points further back, while Claudelands Rovers kept on pace following a 3-2 win at Hamilton Wanderers.

In the other games, Tokoroa scored twice in the second half to defeat Taupo’s reserves 2-0, Tauranga City won 5-1 at Waharoa Transport Matamata Swifts, thanks to a Trent Silcock hat trick and two one goals, while Tauranga Blue Rovers’ reserves won 3-0 at Flying Mullet Papamoa reserves.

There were no games scheduled in The Soccer Shop WaiBOP W-League over the long weekend.

Match details HERE.