Football: Ngongotaha, Taupo in bore draw

Ngongotaha battled out a goalless draw at the weekend against Taupo. Pictured is Ngongotaha player Josh O'Sullivan (right), in action earlier this year. Photo / Stephen Parker

Two proud football clubs Ngongotaha and Taupo fought out a scoreless draw in Rotorua.

Both teams are safe from relegation this season, and look destined to finish middle of the table, which probably had some part to play in the goalless draw on Saturday at Stembridge Rd.

On a positive note for Ngongotaha, the club currently boast the best defence in the Waibop Federation One competition.

They have only conceded 22 goals from 19 starts and recorded another clean sheet on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the relegation battle heated up on Saturday. Melville needed to get a result against Hukanui Rototuna to get out of the relegation zone.

They managed a 2-2 draw which has put them one point outside the drop zone.

But Melville have already played all 22 matches this season and are far from safe.

Matamata are only one point behind them with two games left to play, both against Cambridge, and they have better points differential.

A draw in either game would almost certainly get Matamata out of relegation and see Melville drop down.

Tauranga Boys' College are the other club being relegated, after finishing bottom, while Rotorua United and Katikati are the two clubs coming up next season.

Waikato Bay of Plenty Football results on Saturday:

• Federation One: Ngongotaha 0 Taupo 0, Otumoetai 4 Cambridge 2, Melville 2 Hukanui Rototuna 2, Tauranga City 1 AFC Fury 2, Tauranga Boys' College 0 Waikato Unicol 3.

• Federation One table (games played): AFC Fury 58 (22), Tauranga City United 40 (22), Cambridge 38 (19), Tauranga Old Blues 30 (21), Ngongotaha 27 (19), Otumoetai 27 (19), Taupo 25 (20), Waikato Unicol 22 (20), Hukanui Rototuna 20 (19), Melville 19 (22), Matamata 18 (20), Tauranga Boys' College 10 (21).