Rotorua Daily Post
  • Rotorua Daily Post home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Residential property listings
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Rural
  • Sport

Locations

  • Tauranga
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales

Weather

  • Rotorua
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Rotorua Daily Post

Ngongotaha AFC pass test of character against Northland

David Beck
By David Beck
Multimedia sports journalist·Rotorua Daily Post·
15 Apr, 2018 03:18 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Ngongotaha's Luke Barker, pictured in action against Cambridge, scored against Northland at the weekend. Photo / Stephen Parker

Ngongotaha's Luke Barker, pictured in action against Cambridge, scored against Northland at the weekend. Photo / Stephen Parker

When Ngongotaha AFC travelled to Northland with just 12 players, coach Ron Cane told them the match would be a test of character which would define them as players and as people.

His players responded in a big way yesterday,fighting for a 1-all draw and their first competition point of the season.

Northland opened the scoring through Scott Burgess in the 43rd minute, a tough blow for Ngongotaha minutes before halftime. However, the away side backed themselves and in the 61st minute, after a goal mouth scramble, Luke Barker poked the ball home to equalise.

Cane said his side were "terrific".

"Their goal came from a counter-attack after we had been on the attack, so we went into the break 1-0 down. But the mood wasn't down at halftime, the boys knew they had played some really good football and I was really pleased with the effort.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"With only one substitute, there were players on the field struggling badly but I couldn't do anything. But, we kept attacking and creating chances, their goalkeeper made a couple of great saves.

"Rather than settling for a point after the equaliser, we kept attacking, which was good to see," Cane said.

He said drawing away at Northland would be a "massive confidence booster" for the Ngongotaha players.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"It was a true test and now we're looking forward to the next game. We've been close in the other games, it's not as though we've been playing badly, in fact we've played quite well in patches this season. But we haven't scored the goals which reflect that and of course when you're not scoring, it only takes a mistake or two at the back and the other team capitalise.

"All we're lacking really are the goals to reflect how well the guys are playing at times."

Man of the match for Ngongotaha was Josh Haua who Cane said was one of the unsung heroes in the side.

"He plods away in midfield and does his job. While there are other guys who catch the eye with the flashy stuff, they wouldn't be able to without him providing that stability. Every team needs two or three players like that, he does a great job for us."

Discover more

Ngongotaha ready for fresh campaign

22 Mar 04:30 PM

Ngongotaha AFC outplayed by Cambridge

24 Mar 10:13 PM

Football: Ngongotaha lose to Te Atatu

31 Mar 09:43 PM

Football: Ngongotaha concede six

08 Apr 03:09 AM

Next week Ngongotaha play Claudelands Rovers at home.

NRFL Division Two results
Saturday, April 14

Northland 1-1 Ngongotaha (HT: 1-0)
NOR: Scott Burgess 43'
NGO: Luke Barker 61'

Metro FC 2-2 Franklin United (HT: 1-2)
MET: Jonathan Workman 20', Isaac Deans 91'
FRA: Daniel Billot 3' 40'

Albany United 1-3 Bucklands Beach (HT: 0-1)
ALB: Lee Robinson 85'
BUC: Daniel Culpan 22', Keegan Bishop 55', Josh Kingston Smith 72'

Onehunga Mangere 2-4 Cambridge FC (HT: 1-3)
ONE: Stefan Van Der Heijden 15' Own Goal 88'
CAM: Daniel Clarkin 8', Josh Clarkin 42', Dylan Blair 45' Jason Walker 86'

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Takapuna 3-1 Claudelands Rovers (HT: 0-0)
TAK: Tommy Miller 54' 76', Matther Chant 56',
CLA: Dan Finlay 58'

Papakura City 1-4 Te Atatu (HT: 0-2)

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Sport

Rotorua Daily Post

'It’s a big deal': Young gamers chase international esports glory

30 Jun 06:00 PM
Rotorua Daily Post

'Biggest summer of cricket' shapes up for Bay Oval

25 Jun 07:00 PM
Rotorua Daily Post

Small but mighty: Kyro gets set for Tai Mitchell challenge

24 Jun 09:26 PM

There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Sport

'It’s a big deal': Young gamers chase international esports glory

'It’s a big deal': Young gamers chase international esports glory

30 Jun 06:00 PM

Primary school Rocket League players qualify for major tournament finals in Australia.

'Biggest summer of cricket' shapes up for Bay Oval

'Biggest summer of cricket' shapes up for Bay Oval

25 Jun 07:00 PM
Small but mighty: Kyro gets set for Tai Mitchell challenge

Small but mighty: Kyro gets set for Tai Mitchell challenge

24 Jun 09:26 PM
Three tests, surplus of Twenty20s as Black Caps summer fixtures announced

Three tests, surplus of Twenty20s as Black Caps summer fixtures announced

24 Jun 06:00 PM
From early mornings to easy living
sponsored

From early mornings to easy living

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Rotorua Daily Post e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Rotorua Daily Post
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP