Ōtūmoetai's Harawira Smith (green no2) goes up for a goalmouth header in his side's 2-0 over Matamata Swifts in the final game of the season at Fergusson Park. Photo / Stuart Whitaker
It came down to the last match of the season but Ōtūmoetai have done enough to finish in second place in the WaiBOP Premiership.
A second half brace from Jordi Langton was enough to give them a 2-0 victory over Comag Matamata Swifts on Saturday and finish as runners-up to
Flying Mullet Pāpāmoa who clinched their maiden Premiership title the week prior.
The Swifts began well, with the aid of a stiff sea breeze, but couldn't find the first half opening they needed to put their hosts on the back foot. At the start of the second half, Ōtūmoetai was able to turn the screws and twice forced mistakes from which Langton, one of the league's leading goal scorers, could pounce.
While not quite having enough consistency over the course of the season to mount a sustained title challenge, Ōtūmoetai showed they are likely to be among the favourites next season.
2018 champions ninetyblack Taupō finished their season on a relative high as they moved up to third following their 3-1 win at West Hamilton United. A Jordan Lamb double inside the first 10 minutes settled things for the Lakesiders, who seemed to be coasting to victory until DJ Latham halved the deficit inside the final 20 minutes.
