Football: WaiBOP Premier League review - Papamoa reclaims top spot

Tauranga Blue Rovers and Papamoa (red) were both in action in the WaiBOP Premier league on Saturday. Photo / File

There was a slight power shift at the top of the Loaded WaiBOP Premiership table on Saturday as Flying Mullet Papamoa edged past previous leaders West Hamilton United to reclaim the top spot they held for several weeks at the start of the season.

Former All White Cole Peverley's 25th minute penalty proved the difference in a tight encounter at Papamoa's Gordon Spratt Reserve. While the hosts did enough to record a 1-0 victory, coach Duncan Lowry wasn't overly impressed with his team's performance, labelling it their worst of the season.

Equally, though, Lowry was more than happy to take another important three points ahead of this weekend's glamour ISPS Handa Chatham Cup 3rd round tie at Birkenhead United.

West Hamilton's fourth defeat of the season saw them drop just one spot on the table, but with teams like Taupo and Waikato Unicol circling just below with games in hand, they can't afford too many more slip ups.

Taupo ran away with their match against Comag Matamata Swifts during the second half to record an ultimately dominant 4-0 victory as Fin Smith was again the goal scoring star.

Melville United edged their way past Otumoetai at Gower Park as goals from Josh Nooijen and Harry Coulson gave United a 2-1 victory that saw them move level on points with West Hamilton, while Waikato Unicol did enough to secure three points at Tauranga Blue Rovers.

Tauranga Boys' College snapped their winless run as Hamilton Wanderers defaulted in a move that is hopefully not a sign of things to come.

Ngaruawahia United made it eight wins from eight in the WaiBOP Championship after a 2-0 win over Waikato Unicol's reserves and they now sit six points clear at the top. Taupo's reserves moved into second as Nick Field's goal saw them squeeze past Otumoetai's reserves 1-0, while Te Puke United grabbed their fourth win of the season — 2-1 at Cambridge.

In the most entertaining match of the round, Tauranga Blue Rovers reserves beat Waharoa Transport Matamata Reserves 4-3 at Pemberton Park. At one point Rovers held a 4-1 lead thanks to goals from Kris Pennock 2, Wesley Green and James Wormull but a late Radge Avergonzado double saw Matamata come close.

Only two matches were played on Sunday in the WaiBOP Women's Premier League. Whakatane Town eased to a 3-0 win at home to McKay Tokoroa to maintain top spot, while Papamoa bounced back from last week's narrow defeat to win 2-1 at Melville United.

The match between Tauranga City and Northern United was postponed.