Football: Confidence high at United

Rotorua United are yet to register a win this season. However there is no better time to start than tomorrow.

Seven clubs who play in the WaiBop Federation League division one competition are amongst the 121 clubs from North Cape to the Bluff who entered this year's 85th Chatham Cup competition.

Wairarapa United who were surprise winners last season will be keen to show they are not a one-trick pony.

Six of the seven WaiBop League clubs have been drawn against Northern Regional League clubs, while it's into the unknown for Rotorua United who travel to West Auckland, to play Ranui Swanson from the Northern Federation League.

United have struggled this season to put any points in the win column - the signs have been positive however, with the team securing draws in their last two matches. Confidence is high in the camp with striker Gary Hamilton-Irvine finding form at the right time (three goals in two matches).

The same can be said about mid-fielder Lawrie Scott, the only left footer in the team. Scott has been pivotal to the team, suppling his strikers with good quality ball.

United can't be written off and it will take a determined Ranui Swanson side to come away with the win.

Other clubs that are drawn away are Taupo who meet Papakura, Claudelands Rovers who take on Papatoetoe, Otumoetai who play Albany and Old Blues who play Manukau.

Whakatane Town, unbeaten at Rex Morpeth Park this season, host previous WaiBop Federation League winners Matamata Swifts in what should be a cracker of a game. Swifts have struggled in the Northern League and are currently seventh in division two. They will have the edge in experience on the young Whakatane team but the home side will give 100 per cent in this one.

Ngongotaha play Western Springs who are fourth in the NRL division two league. In the past few seasons the Villagers have been eliminated in round one of the Cup, but they have run higher ranked opposition close.

The home supporters will be hoping their young team can come out with a win to progress to the second round.

Ngongotaha have shown this season they are at home in the Federation One league with two wins, two draws and two loses. The last two weeks Ngongotaha have let two wins slip from their grasp and ended up sharing the points with their opponents.

However, Cup competitions are renowned for upset results and the extra drama of extra time and penalty shootouts makes picking winners difficult, but for what they are worth here are my predictions of which WaiBop Federation clubs will progress. Whakatane, Ngongotaha, Taupo and Rotorua United (after extra time).

WaiBop Federation Leagues

At Links Ave, NRL clubs Tauranga City from division 2, and Metro from division 1 will do battle. All Cup games kick off at 2.30pm.

Meanwhile in the Waibop Federation league division one; Melville host Tauranga Boys' College, while AFC Fury are at home against Otorohanga.

In division two; Tauranga City v Matamata, Katikati v West Hamilton, Clube Alegria v Rotorua United.

Division One points: Taupo 18, Claudelands 15, Whakatane, AFC Fury, Melville 10, Tauranga Boys' 9, Ngongotaha 8, Otumoetai, Unicol 6, Old Blues Otorohanga 4, Rotorua United 2.