Football: United set to step up: Coach

Rotorua United's Shadley Petersen, left, celebrates with Brad Hill after scoring last season Photo / Stephen Parker

Rotorua United will make their return to the WaiBOP Premiership when round one gets under way in Rotorua.

Both United and Ngongotaha AFC had home matches scheduled for tomorrow, but Ngongotaha's opponents Tauranga Boys' College have pulled out of the opening round clash.

Ngongotaha said they were looking to re-schedule the game but might take the win by default.

Meanwhile, United were promoted to the league at the end of last year and are in good shape going into this season, according to coach Rich Barter.

Barter said they wanted to play a good brand of football this season in the WaiBOP Premiership, formally known as the WaiBOP Federation One competition.

"Fed One is a tough league compared to Fed Two. It is very physical and it is important that we don't get drawn into physical, combative football.

"We want to play quick, fast-moving football," he said.

"I think we will be a bit different to other teams in Fed One. The speed in which we play will catch a few teams out."

United's opening game will be played against Tauranga Old Blues at Neil Hunt Park in Rotorua tomorrow.

Barter said they had kept most of their players from last year plus added a few extras.

"Yeah (I'm) really pleased," he said. "We only lost two players and have added six or seven really good players."

United played three matches in the pre-season winning all three.

Ngongotaha coach Shane Davis said it would have been good to have played this weekend, but they would have a friendly game against their second team.

"It has been a pretty good [pre-season]. We have only lost a couple of players, and they were mainly bench players, and we have gained a couple," he said.

Three teams have left the competition this year with last year's champions AFC Fury (Tauranga) promoted to the Auckland-based Northern League while Taupo and Hukanui Rototuna (Hamilton) have withdrawn.

Melville United and Tauranga Boys' College have stayed in the competition while Katikati, United and Papamoa have been promoted from Federation Two.

*WaiBOP Football draw tomorrow:
Premiership (all games 2.45pm): Otumoetai v Papamoa, Melville v Waikato Unicol, Matamata Swifts v Cambridge, Katikati v Tauranga City United, Rotorua United v Tauranga Old Blues (Neil Hunt Park), Ngongotaha v Tauranga Boys' College - not being played this weekend.

Championship: Matamata Swifts v Cambridge, Te Puke v Te Awamutu, Whakatane Town v Kawerau, Tokoroa v Tauranga Old Blues, West Hamilton v Claudelands, Ngongotaha bye.