League: Katua scores hattrick in win (+ video)

The Ngongotaha Chiefs have picked up their first win of the season in the new Wai-Coa-Bay Premiership - but the club still has a long way to go according to coach Joe Taute.

Ngongotaha defeated United (Hamilton) 32-22 at Rotorua's Puketawhero Park on Saturday, in round two of the competition, with Ngongotaha hooker Tai Katua scoring a hattrick.

Coach Taute has taken the reigns at the local club this season and has plenty of experience in the role, having coached the club to a title in the old Waicoa Bay Championship in 2004.

Taute said he was happy to get their first win of the season against United.

"Where we stand at the moment is we have a lot of new players and we are just trying to rebuild," he said. "It was not a pretty win against United, but a win's a win."

He said Ngongotaha had a great crop of young players coming up, who had been coached by Paul Nahu in recent years, but they still had plenty of work to do as a club to get back to where they used to be.

"We have a good crop of players at Ngongotaha but I think we will just be in a rebuilding stage for the next couple of years."

Meanwhile, Pikiao had a rough start to their season on Saturday, travelling to Huntly to play Taniwharau. The Rotorua club went down 54-18 after having the bye in round one.

Results (round two):

Premiership: Taniwharau 54-18 Pikiao Warriors, Ngongotaha Chiefs 32-22 United, Hamilton City Tigers 33-24 Otumoetai Eels, Taupo Phoenix 24-40 Pacific Sharks, Turangawaewae bye.

Reserve grade: Taniwharau 90-4 Pikiao, Central Lions 78-0 United, Hamilton City Tigers 34-36 Otumoetai Eels, Reporoa Razorbacks 34-32 Pacific Sharks, Turangawaewae bye.

Division One: Tauhara Te Maunga 16-44 Mangakino Hawks, Putuaki Stags win by default against Papamoa Bulldogs, Taneatua Warriors the bye.