Football: Rotorua teams secure fourth straight victory

Ngongotaha's Mitch Miller scored twice in a 3-1 win over Katikati on Saturday.

The Rotorua duopoly strengthened their grip at the top of the 2016 WaiBOP Premiership after both Rotorua United and Ngongotaha surged to their fourth straight victories.

Closest challengers Waikato Unicol and Matamata Swifts slumped to defeat during another goal laden weekend.

United, who up until the visit of Tauranga City United, had been on the right end of three narrow victories, cut loose against the league's wooden spooners. Rotorua smashed in five unanswered goals before the break before closing the game out 7-1, giving their goal difference a timely, and healthy, boost. Josh Cave scored United's first hat-trick of the season, while Ash Gower-Rudman helped himself to a brace. Nathan Tina and a Tauranga own goal completed the scoring for the hosts, while Kieran Kite's second goal of the season was of little consolation to the visitors.

Small mercy for Tauranga comes next week when, after letting in 29 goals in four games on the road, they finally get to run out at Links Ave for the first time this season.

Ngongotaha continued their relentless start to the Premiership with a 3-1 win at Katikati Ambria. The Villagers were forced to fight a bit harder than many observers would have expected by a Katikati side that, on their day, can be pretty useful. Mitch Miller, one of Ngongotaha's many potent attacking weapons, got a brace that played a big part in wearing down Katikati's resistance, while Josh O'Sullivan scored Ngongotaha's third. Dane Stollery hit the net in reply for the hosts.

The gap between the top two and third is now five points. Waikato Unicol were upset 4-3 at SGS Papamoa, while Waikato Stud Matamata Swifts were turned over 3-0 by a Melville United side that looks like a different side at home.

Melville now sit just a point behind Unicol, Matamata and Otumoetai First Credit Union, who moved level on seven points after a 1-all draw at Tauranga Boys' College.

The match between Old Blues and Cambridge was postponed.

Taupo surged to the top of the WaiBOP Championship after a 2-1 victory at previous leaders, Hamilton Wanderers. The Hamiltonians were held to a 2-all draw at home by Unicol reserves in what was a somewhat bittersweet result.

It maintained their unbeaten record but denied them the opportunity to go top.

Te Awamutu Edmond Judd eased their way to a comfortable 3-0 home win over Otumoetai reserves and both Cambridge reserves and Richardson Racing Stables Matamata reserves secured their first wins of the season. Cambridge won 4-2 at Old Blues reserves, who now sit bottom, while Matamata had a 2-1 victory at Whakatane Town.

There were no games played in the WaiBOP Women's Premier League.