Taupo coach Paul Drake was happy with his team's performance.
"I thought we played well but all credit to Rovers who never gave up."
Melville United hung on to third place with a closer-than-expected 1-0 win over bottom team Otorohanga.
Old Blues and Tauranga Boys' College, both teams with the threat of relegation hanging over them, met at Waipuna Park. Old Blues coach Andy Legget must have thought the football gods were against him when his side failed to score from a penalty early in the first half and with no score at the break, it was tense in both dressing rooms.
Old Blues striker Franz Marko made it 1-0 with a good strike, but the home team had to play out the last 20 minutes with 10 men after they had a player red carded and had to hang on before collecting three valuable points.
Whakatane Town kept their hopes of a top-three finish alive with a 4-1 home win over Waikato Unicol. Wayde Maloney had Whakatane on the board first but it was 1-1 at the break. The home side dominated the second half with goals to Brendan Mitchell, Mike Ward and Shaun Henderson giving them a convincing win.
Ngongotaha, with a goal from Dayne Willemsen, deservedly led AFC Fury 1-0 at the break, but they lost concentration allowing Fury to score twice early in the second spell.
The Villagers had an opportunity to get a draw when they were awarded a penalty, but the usually reliable Isaac Haua could not capitalise and Fury hung on for a 2-1 win.
At Fergusson Park, Otumoetai striker Matt Collins scored a first-half double to give them a 2-0 win over Rotorua United, who failed to make the most of their second-half chances.
"We didn't play well and I am disappointed," United coach Neil Rush said after the game.
"We are now in deep doo-doo and will have to fight hard in our last three games."
Goalkeeper Graeme Blissett, Matt Collins and Matt Fisher took the eye for the home side, who are sixth with five games to play.
