WaiBOP football review

CLOSE TUSSLE: Otumoetai player Daniel Miller up against Rotorua United at Neil Hunt Park on Saturday. PHOTO/BEN FRASER

Ngongotaha moved one giant step closer to their first Loaded WaiBOP Premiership title, and the NRFL play-off spot that comes with it, with their result on Saturday.

The Villagers won comfortably enough, 6-1 at Tauranga Boys' College, but stretched their lead at the top of the Premiership table to nine points after Matamata Swifts slipped up at relegation threatened Katikati Ambria.

Ngongotaha had been held goalless at the break but Tauranga Boys' were unable to contain them as they ran wild after the break. Zak Aquino Phillips scored for TBC.

After being 1-1 at the break Katikati won 2-1 against Matamata Swifts. Alin Misescu and Silver Kelder struck the goals that moved Katikati four points clear of the relegation spots.

Cambridge moved level on 31 points with Matamata, but into second on goal difference, after their 6-0 win at Melville United. Otumoetai First Credit Union moved back into the top four after a narrow win at Rotorua United. The match finished 1-0 with Tom Livesey's first half goal proving the difference between two evenly matched sides.

In other games, SGS Papamoa romped to a 6-1 home victory over Tauranga City United. A Scott Higgins hat trick was complemented by a brace from Aubrey Yates and a Rikki Ringrose goal while Andrew Cooper replied for Tauranga. Goals from Geoff Rickard and Jarrod Bailey helped Old Blues to a 2-0 home win over Waikato Unicol in what was their fourth victory of 2016.

The WaiBOP Championship title is now within the grasp of West Hamilton United after their 3-2 win over Taupo. They are nine points clear of second placed Te Awamutu.

Fourth placed Tokoroa drew 0-0 at home with Matamata reserves, but held on to their position on goal difference over a Cambridge reserve side that won 4-0 at bottom team, Whakatane Town.

The match between Old Blues reserves and Waikato Unicol reserves finished 3-3. Lance Ranchood hit a brace for Old Blues.

Northern United made a big move towards claiming the WaiBOP Women's Premier League crown after a 3-0 win at Claudelands Rovers. Northern have 25 points with only a game against bottom side, Waikato Unicol, to come.

Rotorua United won 12-0 over Unicol and stay one point behind Northern. Rotorua have a return match against Otumoetai, a side they narrowly lost to a week ago, to look forward to in their next match.

In the most pivotal match of the round, Melville United recovered from a half time deficit to defeat Otumoetai Bay SportsMed 3-2 at Gower Park. Melville move into third on 22 points, three ahead of Otumoetai.