10 Minute Sports

Draw a surprise
Tauranga City United will be hoping the big game goes better than the dress rehearsal after being held to a surprise deadlock by Northern League division two strugglers Western Springs on Saturday.
CNS Clinic-sponsored Tauranga were tipped to easily topple the Auckland side, who languish 11th in the 12-team league, but could only manage a 1-1 draw, with Tom Crawford's goal for City matching Cory Pearce's second half strike for the home team.
Tauranga face their biggest game of the season this Saturday at Mt Maunganui's Links Ave when they host division two high flyers Mt Albert Ponsonby.
Mt Albert had a roller-coaster ride against Ngaruawahia United at Anderson Park on Saturday before maintain their perfect record, grabbing a 5-4 win to stay seven points clear of the chasing pack.
Mt Albert were aided not only by Tauranga's deadlock but also Warkworth and Hibiscus Coast drawing 1-1.
Mangere United got up 1-0 over Papakura City, Waiuku saw off Cambridge 4-2 while Fencibles United's Michael Poulopoulos scored to give his side a 1-0 win at North Shore United.
Just three points cover six teams below Mt Albert, down to seventh.
NORTHERN SECOND DIVISION
North Shore 0 Fencibles 1 (Michael Poulopoulos). HT: 0-0.
Mt Albert Ponsonby 5 (Michael Loftus, Dean Delaney, Chris Gage, Jared Colligan, Craig Taylor) Ngaruawahia 4 (Tim Kautai 2, Matt Rose, Rory Kerr-Bell). HT: 3-2.
Cambridge 2 (Dan Podjursky, Denis Commins pen) Waiuku 4 (Jamie Pegg 2, Daniel Baldwin, Luke Sutton). HT: 0-1.
Papakura City 0 Mangere United 1 (Vishal Lal). HT: 0-1.
Western Springs 1 (Cory Pearce) Tauranga City 1 (Tom Crawford). HT: 0-0.
Warkworth 1 (Rob Carty) Hibiscus Coast 1 (Michael Cyra). HT: 0-1.
Hepi on rampage
Rising hockey star Oriwa Hepi has gone on a goal rampage, netting four times as Otumoetai maintained their strangehold on the women's premier Intercity standings with a 9-1 away thrashing of Taupo.
Newcomers Mount Maunganui were out-played by a lively Fraser Tech team, losing 4-1. Mount was lucky to be only one goal behind at the interval, but Fraser Tech's superior teamwork resulted in three further goals in the second half. Centre-forward Natasha Cotton scored a hat-trick for the visitors, while Emma Jackson got a consolation goal for Mt Maunganui late in the match.
In the premier men's competition Mount Maunganui kept pace with a 5-1 defeat of Pukekohe Indians at the Tauranga Hockey Centre.
In a fast-paced match with plenty of quality hockey by both teams, the only successful scoring opportunity in the first half was by the Mount when Cory Bruin fed a perfect pass up the right flank to Logan Thompson who dribbled into the circle, had his first shot blocked by Indians' goalie but flicked the ball into the net.
Both teams had further opportunities to score but it was not until the 17th minute of the second spell that Matthew Taylor received the ball in space in the circle and made no mistake in firing it into the Indians' goal.
Taylor repeated this a few minutes later, then Craig Te Paki completed CMS Mt Maunganui's scoresheet with a brace when the width and pace of Mount's passing opened holes in the fence. Indians' Kieran Daji had a couple of excellent opportunities in front of goal but Hamish McGregor's goalkeeping kept them scoreless.
Otumoetai men were thumped 7-0 by Waikato University. The visitors scored in the second minute and at regular intervals throughout the game with experienced Jeff Rosemergy finishing with two slick drag-flick conversions in the closing stages of a rather one-sided game.
Weekend Intercity scores:
Premier men:
Mt Maunganui 5 (Matthew Taylor 2, Craig Te Paki 2, Logan Thompson) Pukekohe Indians 0, HT 1-0.
Waikato University 7 (L McLaughlin 2, J Rosemergy 2, C Hayde, N Trebilcock, M Snodgrass) Otumoetai 0, HT 4-0.
Thames Valley 4 (Todd Bell 2, Ricky Clark, Trent Summers) Kohekohe 3, HT 2-1.
Rotorua Aces 4 (Connor Herewini 2, Michael Atkin 2) Onewhero 0, HT 1-0.
Fraser Tech 12 Rotorua Indians 5, HT 7-1.
Hamilton Old Boys 3 Suburbs-Piako 2.
Premier women:
Otumoetai 9 (Oriwa Hepi 4, Tracey Lewis 3, Jol McGarvey, Raelene Miller) Taupo 1.
Fraser Tech 4 (Natasha Cotton 3, Bronwyn Nicholson) Mt Maunganui 1 (Emma Jackson), HT 1-0.
Onewhero 3 Waikato University 2, HT 2-1.
Te Awamutu 3 Hamilton Old Girls 2.
Rotorua Aces, bye.
Waikato in charge
Tauranga City's women's team played second fiddle to Waikato but the men's team grabbed third as Tauranga's QEII Youth Centre hosted the Basketball New Zealand under-19 zone 2 premiership tournament over the weekend.
Tauranga women played off against Waikato three times over the weekend, losing all three games - the first by 21 points, the second by 25 and Sunday's clash by 50 points.
On the boys side of the competition it was far tighter, with the top three teams - Waikato, Counties-Manukau A and Tauranga City - having to be separated by a countback after pool play after each recording two wins and one loss.
Tauranga City were unlucky not to make the final. After losing first up to Counties Manukau A 69 -87, they came back and beat Counties Manukau B 76-63 on Saturday afternoon. They then produced a great performance on Sunday morning to down Waikato 74-65. However , the points difference from the first up loss cost them a spot in the championship final.
Playing for third against Counties-Manukau B, they dominated to take it out 73-50. In the men's final, Counties downed Waikato 67-53.
Teams now will prepare for the national under-19 champs which will be held in Tauranga on Queens Birthday weekend (June 3-6).
Weekend scores:
Under-19 women: Waikato 68 Tauranga City 47, Waikato 60 Tauranga City 35, Waikato 88 Tauranga City 38.
Under-19 men: Waikato 68 Counties Manukau B 44, Counties Manukau A 87 Tauranga City 69, Waikato 74 Counties Manukau A 70, Tauranga City 76 Counties Manukau B 63, Counties Manukau A 102 Counties Manukau B 78, Tauranga City 65 Waikato 59.
Playoffs: For third: Tauranga City 73 Counties Manukau B 50. Championship: Counties Manukau A 67 Waikato 53.
Omanu on direct path
Barring a disaster of cataclysmic proportions Omanu looked to have sealed direct entry, and with it hosting rights, for Bay of Plenty Golf's championship pennant final.
Omanu thumped Springfield 8 to 3 in the penultimate round at Whakatane on Sunday to consolidate their lead in the round-robin race.
They now lead Tauranga by 2 points and Mt Maunganui by 6 heading into the final round-robin this weekend at Tauranga.It takes on a slightly anti-climactic tone as the top three are already decided.
Omanu play lowly Whakatane and anything but an upset loss will see them advance direct to the May 29 final.
Tauranga can't advance beyond their 70 1/2 points, which they achieved with a 10 1/2 to 1 1/2 thrashing of Otumoetai. They sit out the final round bye and should be overhauled for second by Mt Maunganui, who play wooden spooners Taupo in Sunday's last round of matches. If that eventuates Mount would host Tauranga in the sudden-death semifinal on May 22.
Reigning champions Rotorua are 15 points behind Mount and won't feature in the playoffs this season, nobbled by their hideously slow start to the series, although they predictably got past Taupo 9-3 at Whakatane.
Mount won three of their foursomes clashes with Omokoroa and, despite a hiccup when No 8 and 7 Bailey Smith and Marcus Grey went down in their lead-out singles, finished strongly, with none of the other six singles clashes going beyond the 17th.
Tauranga were even more dominant against Otumoetai, taking 3 1/2 points in the foursomes and winning all but one of the singles - former Bay rep George Kinghorn toppled 4 and 3 by in-form schoolboy Cameron Neal.
Omanu were given an early shake-up in the alternate shots format by Springfield, taking a 2 1/2-1 1/2 advantage into the singles, but finished strong, with only Bay rep Craig Hamilton losing, 4 and 2 to Gareth Upton in the clash of the No 2s.
Sunday's round 8 scores from Whakatane:
Rotorua 9 Taupo 3, Mt Maunganui 9 Omokoroa 3, Tauranga 10 1/2 Otumoetai 1 1/2, Omanu 8 1/2 Springfield 3 1/2.
Points after eight of nine rounds (Tauranga has final round bye):
Omanu 73, Tauranga 70 1/2, Mt Maunganui 66 1/2, Rotorua 51 1/2, Springfield 51, Otumoetai 46, Omokoroa 40, Whakatane 31 1/2, Taupo 18.
Perfect records
Old Blues and Claudelands Rovers, the two unbeaten sides in Waikato-Bay of Plenty's Federation division one after four rounds, maintained their perfect records when they beat Melville and Otorohanga on the weekend, but Waikato Unicol are now the only unbeaten side in division two after the bubble burst for Ngongotaha against Tauranga City United.
At Galloway Park, Claudelands were made to work for their 2-0 win over a spirited Otorohanga side.
Old Blues continued on their winning way with a 4-1 away win over Melville United. A goal from Jack McNab gave Old Blues the lead at the break but after Dan Benson made it 2-0, some of the intensity went out of Old Blues' game and with 15 minutes left Melville pulled a goal back.
That spurred the visitors into life and Gary Broad scored twice as Old Blues dominated the final stages. "It's hard not to be pleased after a 4-1 win but I told the boys after the game that I'm hard to please and I'm still looking for a consistent 90-minute performance," Old Blues coach Andy Legget said.
Otumoetai coach Ross Johnson was happy to finally have a win away over Taupo, the first time they had won at Crown Park.
An individual goal from Matt Collins gave Otumoetai the lead but Finn Smith equalised for Taupo early in the second half. Phil Wakely scored from a free kick to restore the lead for Otumoetai but the home team were back on level terms when Tim de Roo found the net.
With a draw looking likely, Otumoetai player of the day Tim Miller was fouled in the penalty area and Collins made no mistake with the spot kick. Taupo pushed forward in search of the equaliser but the visitors hung on to win 3-2.
Rotorua United continued their move up the table with a 2-1 win over Whakatane Town at Rex Morpeth Park. It was a bizarre game, with referee Neil Walker showing eight yellows and a red card before walking off with 15 minutes remaining. The players were bemused, but after some delay Walker returned.
United led 1-0 at the break with Kerin Vandegoot the scorer, and when they were awarded a penalty Paul Mullen had the chance to finish the game off but he missed. Brendan Mitchell looked to have earned Whakatane a share of the points when he equalised late in the game. Then, with coaches and players not sure what referee's time was being played, Vandegoot netted the winner.
In other games, Tauranga Boys' College and Te Puke drew 3-3 while AFC Fury beat Ngaruawahia 3-1.
Rest well-deserved
Brookfield New World Otumoetai Eels have given themselves a well-earned rest midway through the Waicoa Bay Premier club rugby league competition.
The Eels sit out the bye this weekend after a 56-24 away hammering of Taupo Phoenix.
Tauranga Whalers slumped to a 36-20 defeat by Waikato champions Hamilton City Tigers, with the job of getting back up a tough one when they face competition leaders and title favourites Ngaruawahia this weekend.
Ngaruawahia out-muscled Rotorua side Central 34-6, despite having just 11 players at one stage - hooker Raynard Haggie was sinbinned for answering back and Ryan Laurenson followed for a dangerous tackle.
In the other games at the weekend Turangawaewae beat Hukanui 46-16, Pikiao came back from an 6-8 down to beat College Old Boys 30-8 and Pacific beat Ngongotaha 34-20.
Close contest
With just three points separating the top three teams in the Seeka KI Western Bay of Plenty club rugby championship the race is on to see who will lift the Combined Cup.
Mount Maunganui has made full use of bonus points in the local competition to sit just a solitary point behind Matakana Island. While Mount's second stringers have suffered one defeat, they continue to stay in touch with the unbeaten leaders.
On Saturday they survived a good test of their courage against arch rivals Tauranga Sports at Blake Park. With the home side holding a narrow 12-10 lead at the break, Mount asserted pressure after the break and ran away with it 31-15.
Matakana Island were always in control of their encounter with Rangiuru at Jamieson Oval. Leading 52-0 at halftime break, Matakana ran away with the lop-sided romp 79-7.
Arataki cemented their place in the top three, just two points behind Matakana, with a solid 59-3 win over Te Puke Sports.
The real improver of the competition is Judea. While they lost their first three matches of the season, a draw and two victories - the latest 22-7 against Papamoa on Saturday - has seen them rise steadily up the standings.
Eastern Districts were too strong for Greerton at home, winning 36-3.
Saturday's Seeka KI results:
Judea 22 Papamoa 7, Arataki 59 Te Puke Sports 3, Eastern Districts 36 Greerton Marist 3, Matakana Island 79 Rangiuru 7, Mount Maunganui 31 Tauranga Sports 15.
Points: Matakana Island 27, Mount Maunganui 26, Arataki 25, Katikati 20, Papamoa 18, Te Puke Sports 15, Tauranga Sports 13, Eastern Districts 13, Judea 11, Greerton Marist 6, Rangiuru 5.