Football: Cambridge win extends lead at top

Ngongotaha celebrate another goal this season but have slipped behind Cambridge. Photo / File

The WaiBOP Premiership title race took another twist at the weekend as Cambridge slipped home with a narrow win over Melville United while Ngongotaha dropped their first points since June 13 after being held to a draw at the Matamata Domain.

Cambridge have extended their lead to seven points at the top. Ngongotaha have two games in hand but it is now Cambridge that holds the advantage.

In other games, fourth placed SGS Papamoa beat Rotorua United 3-2 at home. Papamoa led 2-1 at the break and the sides traded goals in the second half to leave Papamoa with their sixth win, to go with seven draws, from 17 games in their first season at this level. Brad Hill and George Watson scored what would ultimately be consolation goals for the visitors.

Tauranga Boys' College grabbed their second win in a row to haul themselves off the bottom of the table. They led 3-0 at the break at Katikati thanks to goals from Sam Haywood, Andrew Robinson and Wilson Fisher but the hosts fought back in the second half. Dane Stollery and Josh Boyes struck for Katikati but it wasn't enough to stop the students from doing a league double over them.

Otumoetai eased their relegation fears with a comfortable 3-0 win over a rapidly sinking Waikato Unicol. Daniel Miller, Dave Williams and Mo Funfeild all hit the back of the net to move Otumoetai up two spots to eighth. They sit in the middle of a group of five teams separated by only a point, all of which are at least five points clear of relegation.

In the other game, Old Blues stayed in fifth with a 3-0 win at Tauranga City United. City United now prop up the table.

The WaiBOP Championship promotion race is getting just as interesting.

Leaders Claudelands Rovers now only sit in first on goals scored after a surprise 0-0 draw at lowly Te Awamutu. Second placed West Hamilton made hard work of their 2-1 win at Old Blues reserves but the precious three points have them level with Rovers and, crucially, they have a game in hand. Rory Kerr-Bell and Lee Massey struck for West Hamilton after a goalless first half. Brendan Baker replied for the hosts.

Kawerau Sports also won 2-1, at home to fifth placed Te Puke United, and sit in third, three points behind both the teams above them. In the other games, Adam Brady's hat trick led Cambridge reserves to a 4-2 win over Whakatane Town in the early game at John Kerkhof Park. At the Matamata Domain, Richardson Racing Stables Matamata reserves beat Ngongotaha reserves 2-1.