"We know Taupo's game is based on keeping possession, and we were happy to let them play ball in the middle of the park. We were patient and while they dominated possession we were able to nullify their attacking players."
Both teams had players missing, with Taupo having a 15- and 18-year-old on the bench along with Drake, while Otumoetai had to field players from their second and third teams. Daniel Miller scored for Otumoetai.
After watching Rotorua United score eight goals last week, their supporters were optimistic they could register their second win of the season against Melville United at Neil Hunt Park, but from the kick-off there was little to enthuse supporters of either team.
Rotorua was the first team to apply any sustained pressure with a series of corners, and in the 37th minute a deep corner was headed back across the goal with Josh O'Sullivan scoring to give the home side the lead. Melville made it 1-1 with a late first-half goal and then a good save from the Melville keeper meant the scores were tied at the break.
United were caught napping from the restart, but keeper Andrew Gibbs was awake and made an excellent save to deny Melville. The strong wind that United played into in the first half died away, as did the intensity of the game as neither side could take control. United were reduced to 10 men for the last five minutes when O'Sullivan was given an early shower, but it was 1-1 when full time was blown.
At Gower Park, Ngongotaha scored early in the second half to make it 2-2 against Claudelands Rovers, but any threat of an upset win was quickly snuffed out as Rovers went on a scoring spree to run out 7-2 victors.
"It was a tough day at the office for the team today," Ngongotaha manager Ben Pragnell said.
"The score didn't reflect the competitiveness of our effort, and we lost our composure and heads went down as Rovers capitalised on their opportunities."
Isaac Haua and Dane Willemsen scored for Ngongotaha.
Old Blues bounced back from last week's 8-1 loss to share the points with Whakatane Town in a 2-2 draw. Both coaches agreed it was a game that could have gone either way, but Old Blues coach Andy Legget was probably the happier with the result.
"We had to have a good look at ourselves this week and for us it was all about personal, team and club pride."
In goal for Old Blues, Kane McGregor played well, while Andy Cooper and Hayden Fowke were their goal scorers.
Waikato Unicol beat AFC Fury 4-2 to move into the top half of the points table.
In Division two, Tauranga City had a convincing 4-1 win over Cambridge in the top of the table clash at Links Ave, while the third and fourth placed teams, Clube Alegria and Katikati, fought out a 3-3 draw.
In other games, Tokoroa beat Rotorua United 3-1 and bottom-of-the-table Matamata drew 1-1 with West Hamilton.
