Football: Minor sides poised for derby action

While Rotorua United and Ngongataha AFC's first teams are battling it out with clubs across the Waikato/Bay of Plenty region, at a more grassroots level the clubs' Bay 2 and women's Bay 1 teams will enjoy derby action this weekend.

Rotorua United play Ngongotaha in the Bay 2 men's league at 12.30pm tomorrow at Neil Hunt Park, and on Sunday the two clubs' Bay 1 women's teams face off at the same venue at the same time.

"The Bay 2 men's teams played each other twice last year. Both games finished 4-3, with one win each, so we expect it might be another close game on Saturday," said Ngongotaha AFC secretary Paul Skinner who plays for the club's Bay 2 side.

The team has started the season with a win over Tauranga City and a loss to Papamoa.

"They were a couple of strong teams, so we feel happy having won one."

The Ngongotaha team is a mixture of young and old.

"There are a couple of players in their 50s right down to 16-year-old players. And there are some who in their younger days have played in the Northern League - but mostly it's just a fun way to enjoy a game really."

Rotorua United president Daniel Gibbs expects tomorrow's clash to be similar to the two of last season.

"Definitely at that level of football it's a lot more open and there tends to be a lot more goals scored," he said.

"Ours is quite a young side and we lost 3-2 [to Kawerau] and then 2-0 to [Plains Rangers], a team that had won 8-0 in the first week so that's not too bad. I think Saturday's game will be similar to last year's encounter."

Ngongotaha's women's side has only been together this season.

"We haven't had a women's team for a number of years, so we got one together this year. It's a new team completely with a mixture of ages. Some are 15 or 16 right up to a couple of ladies in their 30s. They are having a taste this year and getting back into playing a sport."

Rotorua's Bay 1 women's side is its second women's team.

"It's very much a women's introduction to football - a team of people who are still learning the real basics of football and other players keen to play at a more social level.

"They love it - they don't look at the result, they are a team that just has a great time," said Gibbs.