Waikato FC and Team Wellington reversed recent ASB Premiership form to bank welcome victories in the White Ribbon Cup on Saturday.
Hosting Hawke's Bay United at Taupo's Crown Park, Waikato earned a 2-0 win thanks to first-half goals from Tyler Lissette and Jason Hicks, while a first-half hat-trick from Junior All White Dakota Lucas led Wellington to a 3-0 win over Canterbury United in the capital.
Without a point in the ASB Premiership after four straight losses, Waikato FC's victory in the new competition is a timely confidence boost for Declan Edge's young team.
"We're very happy with the win and also with the way we achieved it," Edge said. "We didn't make any compromises to the style of football we're trying to play.
"Our oldest starting player was 21 and, although people say we're too young to play at this level, we've just beaten a very good Hawke's Bay side - a team that just two weeks ago beat Canterbury 3-0."