Football: Ngongotaha side eyes title

Ngongotaha (pictured celebrating) will host Otumoetai tomorrow. Photo / Stephen Parker

Ngongotaha will be well aware they are now the team to beat in the WaiBOP Premiership.

Ngongotaha knocked off competition leaders Cambridge 2-0 last weekend to become real title contenders this season. In fact, as things currently stand, they are slight favourites to lift the premiership trophy when the competition wraps up in October.

Cambridge still lead the competition, but Ngongotaha are only five points behind with two games in hand.

Despite their strong position, the Rotorua side will know there is a lot of work to be done between now and then if they are to be crowned champions.

Their next task will be a home match against Otumoetai at Stembridge Rd tomorrow. Otumoetai had their match rained out last weekend and will be well rested ahead of the match.

The visiting Tauranga team currently sit near the bottom of the ladder, but will no doubt be up for their clash against Ngongotaha.

Meanwhile, despite a loss last weekend to Melville, Rotorua United have enjoyed some good form in the last couple of months.

They will be looking to climb higher up the table when they play lowly Tauranga Boys' College away tomorrow at Southey Park.

Table: Cambridge 34, Ngongotaha 29, Melville 27, Papamoa 21, Tauranga Old Blues 19, Waikato Unicol 17, Rotorua United 16, Matamata 16, Katikati 16, Otumoetai 13, Tauranga City 9, Tauranga Boys' College 5.

WaiBOP Football draw tomorrow
Premiership (2.45pm): Melville United v Katikati, Gower Park; Tauranga City v Papamoa, Links Ave; Tauranga Boys' College v Rotorua United, Southey Park; Ngongotaha v Otumoetai, Stembridge Rd; Waikato Unicol v Cambridge, Waikato Uni; Tauranga Old Blues v Matamata, Wharepai Domain.
Championship: 12.30pm: Ngongotaha v Te Puke, Stembridge Rd; Tauranga Old Blues v Te Awamutu, Wharepai Domain. 2.45pm: Whakatane Town v Tokoroa, Rex Morpeth Park; Kawerau Sports v Cambridge, Tarawera Park; West Hamilton v Matamata, Weka St; Claudelands bye.