Football: Cambridge wins clash of titans

Ngongotaha have lost a close match to fellow heavyweights Cambridge 2-1 at Stembridge Rd. Pictured is Ngongotaha's Dominic Smith (right) in action on Saturday.

Two heavyweights in the WaiBOP Premiership have clashed at Stembridge Rd, with visiting Cambridge squeezing out a 2-1 victory over Ngongotaha.

The victory returned Cambridge to the top of the Premiership table after previous leaders, Melville United, had their match against Rotorua United called off due to poor weather on Saturday.

A tight encounter was always likely at Stembridge Rd in Ngongotaha but, in what is something of a happy hunting ground for Cambridge, they scored twice inside the opening half hour to secure a lead they would not relinquish.

WaiBOP United's Robbie Greenhalgh opened the scoring on 18 minutes before their top scorer, Tom Woutersen, doubled his side's lead just eight minutes later.

Ngongotaha pulled one back in the final 20 minutes through Luke Barker and could have drawn level near the end after they were awarded a penalty.

But, as Cambridge had done the week before against Tauranga Old Blues, Ngongotaha missed from 12 yards and were consigned to their first defeat of the season.

Elsewhere, the goals rained in at venues that weren't affected by the weather.

Matamata Swifts, helped by a Jamie Baxter hat-trick, returned from Tauranga City United with all three points after a 5-2 victory.

Otumoetai sneaked past Old Blues 3-2 at Wharepai Domain " to claim their first win of the season and also got their hands on the Federation Challenge Shield.

Daniel Miller's 66th minute goal ultimately proved decisive for Otumoetai, to give the club a boost ahead of this coming weekend's opening round of the ASB Chatham Cup.

Papamoa grabbed their first WaiBOP Premiership win in fine style with a 4-1 victory at Southey Field over Tauranga Boys' College.

Waikato Unicol's match at home to Katikati was the other Premiership match rained off on Saturday.

Claudelands Rovers reserves continued their perfect start to the WaiBOP Championship season with a 6-3 win away at Whakatane Town.

Haydn Roil and Meshake Ngungambili both scored twice, while Paul Ruddell and Rob Sonntag also found the back of the net for a Rovers side that led 5-2 at half time.

Shem Clarke, Ricky Owen and Joseph Cairns replied for the home side.

Kawerau Sports and Tokoroa couldn't be separated as they shared six goals in a 3-all draw.

The game was on a knife edge with the two sides level at one apiece at half time and that's how it continued right to the end.

Cameron Wills, Scott Mitchell and Sean Henderson found the back of the net for Kawerau, while a Des Phillips double and a goal from Connor Wood ensured Tokoroa left with a point.

In the other matches, Old Blues reserves bet Matamata Swifts reserves 2-0, while Cambridge reserves dealt to Ngongotaha reserves 4-1.

Saturday results:

Premiership: Ngongotaha 1-2 Cambridge, Tauranga Old Blues 2-3 Otumoetai, Tauranga City United 2-5 Matamata Swifts, Tauranga Boys' College 1-4 Papamoa, Waikato Unicol v Katikati and Melville United v Rotorua United - postponed.

Championship: Ngongotaha 1-4 Cambridge, Tauranga Old Blues 2-0 Matamata Swifts, Whakatane Town 3-6 Claudelands, Kawerau Sports 3-3 Tokoroa, West Hamilton v Te Puke United - postponed, Te Awamutu bye.