Football: Fury blast Old Blues, nab shield

AFC Fury ended Old Blues' 11-game winning streak in the WaiBop Federation League with a 3-2 win at Waipuna Park. They also lifted the Challenge Shield.
Fury took control from the start and stunned the home supporters with three first-half goals. Old Blues coach Andy Legget delivered some stern words at halftime which resulted in a much improved performance in the second spell. The home team piled on the pressure and goals to Josh Taylor and Andy Cooper narrowed the gap but Fury hung on for an upset win.
A cheer went up at Fergusson Park when the crowd heard of Old Blues' loss which meant Otumoetai, who had beaten Whakatane Town 3-1, are now just two points adrift of the leaders. Craig Newlands scored to give Otumoetai a 1-0 lead at the break. He scored again early in the second half but Whakatane pulled a goal back before Matt Fisher restored the two-goal lead for the home side.
"It was a good competitive game and the score was a fair reflection of the performance of both sides," Otumoetai coach Ross Johnson said.
"Whakatane are a better side than their standing on the points table suggests."
For 70 minutes Taupo were in control of their game against Otorohanga but had only a 1-0 lead from a goal by 15-year-old Joshua Nottage.
After Otorohanga equalised, Taupo were under pressure for the last 20 minutes but they hung on to draw 1-1.
At Neil Hunt Park it was a 90-minute bore-fest with Rotorua United beating Ngaruawahia 1-0. The visitors were denied a goal when the ball hit the crossbar and went close on another occasion, but United went ahead when Kieran Vandergoot followed up and took advantage of a goalkeeper error to score from close range. The rest of the game was a ho-hum affair and although United striker Steve Rogers had several opportunities, his best effort hit the crossbar.
Claudelands Rovers defeated Tauranga Boys' College 4-2 at Galloway Park to retain third place.
In the top-of-the-table clash in division two, Ngongotaha avenged their first-round loss to Tauranga City with a convincing 5-0 win at Links Ave while Waikato Unicol stayed in the title race with a 4-2 win over Matamata. Te Awamutu beat Rotorua United 2-1 and Cambridge recorded their first win when they beat West Hamilton 1-0.