Football: Rotorua clubs kick season off with wins

Ngongotaha's Eamon O'Donoghue (No8) celebrates with his teammates after scoring against Tauranga Old Blues on Saturday. Photo / Stephen Parker

Ngongotaha and Rotorua United have both got off to a winning start this season in the WaiBOP Premiership.

Round one of the competition on Saturday with Rotorua's two senior football clubs both in action. Ngongotaha defeated Tauranga Old Blues 5-3 in a goalfest at Stembridge Rd, while United also picked up three competition points in beating Katikati 2-0 away from home.

Striker Mitch Miller picked up a hat-trick for Ngongotaha, while Eamon O'Donoghue and Luke Barker also got their names on the score sheet for the Villagers. Rotorua United's goals were scored by Dayne Willemsen and Eddy Tamuno.

The shock result of the weekend was defending champs Cambridge being beaten 2-1 by Waikato Unicol in Hamilton.

In the WaiBOP women's premier league, played yesterday, Rotorua United posted a first-up win beating Northern United (Hamilton) 2-0.

WaiBOP Football results from round one:

Saturday (men):

Premiership: Katikati 0-2 Rotorua United, Ngongotaha 5-3 Tauranga Old Blues, Papamoa 2-4 Matamata, Melville 4-0 Otumoetai, Tauranga Boys' College 5-1 Tauranga City, Waikato Unicol 2-1 Cambridge.

Championship: Waikato Unicol 2-1 Cambridge, Ngongotaha 2-1 Tauranga Old Blues, Otumoetai 0-2 Whakatane Town, West Hamilton 2-0 Matamata, Tokoroa 1-1 Hamilton Wanderers, Taupo v Te Awamutu - postponed.

Sunday (women):

Premier League: Rotorua United 2-0 Northern United, Melville United 4-1 Waikato Unicol, Hamilton Wanderers v Claudelands Rovers - score not submitted, Otumoetai bye.