The last time Rotorua United entered the women's league (then the Women's Premier) in 2016, they won the title. So, when the senior collaboration Waiariki was formed for 2020 and Rotorua United took guardianship of the women's teams, the club always expected to be competitive.
However, it was a bit of an unknown after a three-year hiatus so the league win in the first year back has been the icing on the cake while re-establishing women's football in Rotorua.
Waiariki's second women's team will look to secure third place in Bay 1 in their last game this Sunday after a much-changed lineup secured a 3-0 win at Plains Rangers yesterday.They were off to a flying start in that match, Chloe Vedder scoring after just 10 seconds, soon followed by Anna Armstrong and Anna Paul making it 3-0 at the break.
Waiariki has also established an under-13 girls teams in addition to the senior women's return and is working with Catherine Donovan (Eastlake JSC) to establish a full girls and women's pathway from first kicks through to senior women's.
Meanwhile, Waiariki's premier men lost 2-3 to Waikato Unicol in the WaiBop Premiership. Their Bay 1 team lost 3-4 to Kawerau Sports and in Bay 2 Waiariki lost 0-3 to Taupō.
- Football content supplied
RUGBY LEAGUE
Taupō Phoenix are back-to-back winners of the Bay of Plenty Premier Rugby League competition.
Taupō barely made the final this year, beating Reporoa 28-24 in a golden point thriller in the semifinals the week before.
Their opponent on Saturday was Pikiao which also went to golden point in the semifinals, beating Mangakino 21-20.
In the final on Saturday, Taupō Phoenix proved their class, cruising to a 46-20 victory to ensure they hold on to the trophy for another year.
RUGBY
While defending champions Central Bay of Plenty had the bye in the first round of the Stan Meads Cup, it was a chance to measure up their opposition.
The Tokoroa Showgrounds hosted the Section One match-up between hosts South Waikato and Hamilton. After leading 26-7 at the break, Hamilton cut loose in the second spell to post 43 unanswered points and take out the encounter 69-7.
The other Stan Meads Cup opener saw Piako at home at Campbell Park in Morrinsville against near-neighbours Cambridge, who were making their second-season entrance in the decade long regional competition.
In a battle which see-sawed throughout, Piako won 29-15 to take a big step towards a semifinal berth in three weeks' time.
This weekend, Central Bay of Plenty begin their campaign against Te Awamutu.
RESULTS
NETBALL
Rotorua Senior Netball
Prem 1:
Ngongotahā Recruits 45- 28 Whaka Red
Ngongotahā Thunder 51-37 Kahukura Red
Prem 2:
Pikiao Warriors 42- 32 Kahukura White
JPC Snr A 29- 26 Waikite Prems
Prem 3:
Whaka Black 52-32 Reporoa Rangers
Ngongotahā Whetu 36-24 Marist Rebels
Senior A:
Kahukura Blue 31-29 Rotoiti
Marist Storm 36-22 Ngongotahā Jacks
A Grade:
Waikite Flamez 23-21 Manawatahi
Pikiao Raiders 42-30 Tuhoe
A Reserve:
Kahukura Whero 38-16 Eastside Gurls
Ngongotahā Storm 48-25 Ngongotahā Vixens
Senior B:
Eastern Pirates v Tuis - Eastern Pirates won by default
Ngongotahā Mareikura 39-26 Ngongotahā Leag Chiefs
B Grade:
Ngongotahā Hapori 35-20 Marist Misfits
Vegas Lady Bugs 44-41 Kahukura Ma
B Reserve:
Kahukura Kahurangi 44-8 Marist Infernos
Ngongotahā Trojans v Minginui Te Whaiti - Ngongotahā Trojans
RUGBY LEAGUE
Bay of Plenty Rugby League
Premier Men's Grand Final:
Taupō Phoenix 46-20 Pikiao Warriors
FOOTBALL (Bay of Plenty teams only)
WaiBop Premiership:
Flying Mullet Pāpamoa 3-1 Bulk Lines Otorohanga
Ōtūmoetai 0-5 Ngaruawahia Utd
Waikato Unicol 3-2 Waiariki
WaiBop Championship:
Whakatāne Town 3-3 Flying Mullet Pāpāmoa
Ōtūmoetai 1-1 Taupō
Roundwood Tokoroa 1-2 Claudelands Rovers
WaiBop W-League:
Tauranga City 2-2 Whakatāne Town
Melville 0-2 Waiariki
Ōtūmoetai - Bye
Tilemax Pāpāmoa 11-0 Hamilton Wanderers
Bay 1:
Ōtūmoetai Legends 3-2 Whakatāne Town
Tauranga City 1-3 Katikati
Waiariki 3-4 Kawerau Sports
Bay 2:
Waiariki 0-3 Taupō Lakers
Tauranga Old Blues 3-2 Pāpāmoa Old Boys
Pāpāmoa DouBros 0-4 Ōtūmoetai
Plains Rangers 0-3 Tauranga City
Bay 1 Women:
Plains Rangers 0-3 Waiariki
Kawerau Sports 4-0 Blue Rovers Vintage
Tauranga City - Bye
