Football: Leaders nail maximum points

Josh O'Sullivan (left) and Luke Barker (centre) of Ngongotaha,celebrate after their team found the net. PHOTO/ STEPHEN PARKER

The top three teams in the WaiBOP Premiership secured victories at the weekend to move the title race on for another week.

Second-placed Ngongotaha responded to last week's setback by demolishing last-placed Tauranga City United 4-0 at Stembridge Rd on Saturday.

The Villagers were back to their ruthless best in front of goal, hitting the target twice in each half.

Serial goal scorer Luke Barker bagged a brace and Josh O'Sullivan also hit the back of the net, while Jack Tombleson helped himself to a goal.

Competition leaders Cambridge responded to the threat of an in-form Tauranga Boys' College with a dominant first-half performance to win 5-2.

Cambridge still lead Ngongotaha, who have two games in hand, by seven points.

Points on the board are crucial for Cambridge, but they must guard against any more slip-ups as the title race enters the business end of the season. They have only five games left.

Melville United are still riding on Ngongotaha's coat-tails after a 1-0 win over Otumoetai FC at Gower Park on Saturday.

Tom Goodwin's goal 10 minutes into the second half was all that separated the sides in a game made all the more difficult by the challenging conditions.

Melville sit three points behind the Villagers but have played a game more.

Rotorua United snapped their losing streak with a good win over Katikati 2-1 at Neil Hunt Park. United needed to recover from a halftime deficit to beat Katikati.

Goals from Ash Gower-Rudman and Steffano Riley meant United won their sixth game of the season, moving them up the ladder into seventh.

In the other games, Waikato Unicol snapped a three-game losing streak with a 2-0 victory over Matamata Swifts on a muddy pitch at Waikato University.

Tauranga Old Blues moved into fourth after a 3-1 home victory over Papamoa.

In the championship, three teams are in a tight race for the two promotion spots. Previous leaders Claudelands Rovers dropped to third at the weekend after leading the league for so long this season.

Their two pursuers, West Hamilton United and Kawerau Sports, picked up big wins while Claudelands had their game postponed.

-Premiership ladder: Cambridge 43, Ngongotaha 36, Melville 33, Tauranga Old Blues 28, Papamoa 25, Waikato Unicol 20, Rotorua United 19, Matamata 17, Otumoetai 16, Katikati 16, Tauranga Boys' College 11, Tauranga City United 10.