Feast of football at Neil Hunt Park

Club Soccer by BRIAN SMITH
As the sale adverts say "buy one and get one free."

Tomorrow at Neil Hunt Park, it's two games of soccer for the price of one - and the're both free.

Rotorua Suburbs take on Otumoetai in a vital Bay One game while Rotorua United meet Taupo in the Federation Three league.

BAY LEAGUE

Unbeaten in their last three games, scoring 10 goals and conceding just three, Kawerau town are now clear leaders of the competition while Rotorua Suburbs, who have secured just one point from their last three games now trail by three points.

They have also played one more game than Kawerau, and with the leaders likely to continue their winning run against Whakatane tomorrow, Suburbs will be desperate for maximum points against third placed Otumoetai.

Both teams have five wins from 10 games and although Otumoetai are a point behind, they have the advantage of having beaten Suburbs 2-0 in the first round.

Dave Geraets has scored 13 of Suburbs' 17 goals this season and he could be the difference between the teams.

But it is not just the top of the league that the teams need to keep an eye on.

Only a few points cover the seven team competition, and should bottom placed Te Puke win their home game against Edgecumbe and last year's champions Whakatane prevail against Kawerau, there would be just six points from first to last place, and there are plenty of games left.

However, if Suburbs are to keep their championship aspirations alive they need to get back on the winning track, another loss would turn a mid season hic-up into a major slump from which they may have trouble escaping.

FEDERATION LEAGUE

It will be a big ask for Rotorua United when they take on Taupo, also at Neil Hunt, but with a win against Otorohanga and a draw against Huntly in their last two games, Taupo, who had the bye last week, will not be taking the home side lightly.

United coach Eamon McGinty will need to find a midfield replacement for Paul Mullen who is serving a suspension, and although he has moved Sean Ladd to striker, scoring goals is still a major problem.

Taupo have had a stop-start season, and although only two points behind the leaders Te Awamutu, they have played two less games.

With several key players retiring after last year, Taupo, initially decided not to play in the Federation competition this year, but the players wanted the chance to defend the title they won in 2004.

After a strong start, a series of postponed games were followed by a spate of injuries but, despite all their problems, I still favour them to take the title for the second time.

Tomorrow United have the chance to prove me wrong.

Ngongotaha paid a high price for their win against Hamilton North last week and will be with out Matt Laird and Guy Winiata, (injured) and George Thompson (suspended) when they travel to Te Awamutu, who went to the top of the table after a 7-1 win over Cambridge last week.

The Villagers went down 2-0 in the first round encounter and they could struggle to get a result in this one.

Second placed Ngaruawahia will start favourites against Huntly while Hamilton North meet Otorohanga who have dropped from first to fourth after two successive losses.

WOMEN

On Sunday Ngongotaha are at home to second placed Otumoetai, who were 6-0 winners in the first round.

In the other match Kahakura have the daunting task of trying to turn round an earlier 10-0 hiding at the hands of Whakatane Town.