Football: Ngongotaha set to clinch title

CHALLENGE: Ngongotaha's Luke Barker (right) was a goalscorer in last weekend's 6-1 win over Matamata Swifts. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER

Ngongotaha AFC probably couldn't have a harder game in which to try and clinch the WaiBOP Premiership title.

Needing just one point for an unassailable lead, Ngongotaha travel to Cambridge tomorrow to take on last year's champions and their nearest challengers for this year's title and the place in the NRFL play-offs that comes with it.

The reality is, barring a disaster of monumental proportions, Ngongotaha will win the title, as they still have three more games after tomorrow, but there will be extra satisfaction if it's all wrapped up in the Waikato this weekend.

Skipper Dave Haua said tomorrow wouldn't see anything different in the team's approach.

"I know the hype's probably going to be a bit more this weekend, and I can imagine the boys will play extra hard to try and seal it," he said.

"But I definitely think (Cambridge) will take it to the top level as well to make sure we don't do that because it's a bit of salt in the wound if we do it there. There's always been quite a rivalry between the two teams."

Haua said there are no injury worries going into the game.

"Last week we had everyone back. We still had a couple who weren't quite at 100 per cent, but the hype of it all means they will get up for it this weekend."

Cambridge did themselves no favours last weekend, dropping points after a drab goal-less draw at fourth placed Otumoetai. That result means the champions now trail the Villagers by 11 points.

After a tricky start last weekend, Ngongotaha were relentless in putting the third placed Swifts to the sword. Jordane Lambert whipped home a free kick to give the Swifts the early advantage then Ben Vogt struck to seemingly double the lead for Ngongotaha's bogey team, only to have his goal ruled out so that Matamata could be awarded a free kick on half way for an earlier foul.

That stroke of luck was enough to kick Ngongotaha into gear. Haua pushed his side forward and grabbed the equaliser before leading scorer Mitch Miller struck twice from the penalty spot in the lead up to half time. Miller completed his hat trick moments after the re-start and Luke Barker, midway through the second half, and Alan Ferguson, late on, completed the rout.

Rotorua United have a trip to the coast tomorrow to take on Papamoa. The teams sit sixth and seventh on the table, Rotorua having the advantage by two points.

When the sides met earlier in the season, it was Papamoa who prevailed 2-1.

"They are evenly matched teams," said Rotorua manager Ian Walker. "I am expecting another tough one. That game probably could have gone either way. We didn't put our chances away, they did."

Papamoa have only lost once in their last seven games, although they could only manage a 1-1 draw against lowly Tauranga Boys' College last weekend.

"We know them from the past, they are a good team and they are coming off a good run," said Walker. "We are going there hoping to pick up the three points, but it could be one of those games that could be hard fought."

Rotorua bounced back from a run of defeats against the top four sides with a 3-1 win over Waikato Unicol at Neil Hunt Park last Saturday.

Both game kick off at 2.45pm.