Football: Perfect start continues for Rotorua teams

Ngongotaha AFC celebrate scoring against Papamoa. Photo / Stephen Parker

Rotorua United and Ngongotaha AFC are off to a perfect start this season - with the two clubs sitting atop the ladder after two rounds in the WaiBOP Premiership.

United and Ngongotaha both picked up back-to-back wins on Saturday against Melville United (2-1) and Papamoa (5-0).

United shot out to an early lead against Melville thanks to a brace from new signing Dayne Willemsen. Melville then pulled one back through a Terry Blunt free kick in the second half, but United managed to hold on and record an important victory with their young side.

"It was a tight game," United coach Ian Walker said. "We went 2-0 up early and our pace got in behind their backs - we could have been 4-0 up early on."

He said Melville played better as the match wore on and his makeshift team managed to get the three points.

"It's a good result, it's good for the club. We are trying to build a new culture where everyone is committed to the team and the club."

Ngongotaha and United are the only teams in the 12-team competition to have won both of their matches this season.

"It's great for Rotorua football and I wish Ngongotaha all the best as well," Walker said. "And for us we will just take each game as it comes."

Ngongotaha, who finished second last year behind Cambridge, were at their goal-scoring best winning 5-0. The goals were shared between Conor Hinz, Luke Barker, Josh O'Sullivan, Mitch Miller and Yamill Cuba.

Meanwhile, the Rotorua United women's team won 2-0, beating Hamilton Wanderers 5-1. The United women's team have also picked up two wins from two.

WaiBOP Premiership results this weekend (round two):

Premiership: Otumoetai 4-0 Tauranga Old Blues, Cambridge FC 14-0 Tauranga City, Matamata Swifts 2-2 Waikato Unicol, Rotorua Utd 2-1 Melville Utd, Tauranga Boys' College 1-2 Katikati FC, Ngongotaha 5-0 SGS Papamoa.

Table: Ngongotaha 6, Rotorua Utd 6, Matamata 4, Waikato Unicol 4, Cambridge 3, Tauranga Boys' College 3, Melville Utd 3, Katikati 3, Otumoetai 3, Old Blues 0, Papamoa 0, Tauranga City 0.

Championship: Otumoetai 3-1 Tauranga Old Blues, Cambridge 0-4 Taupo, Matamata 1-3 Waikato Unicol, Ngongotaha 1-1 West Hamilton, Hamilton Wanderers 7-1 Whakatane Town, Te Awamutu 5-1 Tokoroa.

Women's premier: Rotorua Utd 5-1 Hamilton Wanderers. Other scores not submitted.