Soccer: United out of the drop zone

After having the cloud of relegation hanging over their head for most of the season Rotorua United are now safe for another season in Waibop Federation League one.

Without having to lace up the boots the Neil Rush-coached side cleared out of the relegation zone after Tauranga Boys' College defaulted their match on Saturday because of a lack of players.

The win means United have escaped the indignity of battling it out with their number two team in federation two division next season.

It has been a poor season for the side who last year looked like title contenders. United have a five wins, seven draws and nine loss record and sit ninth on the table.

On the other side of the coin Ngongotaha can be reasonably pleased with their progress after moving up a division. The villagers have a nine wins, four draws and an eight loss record, and sit fourth behind leaders Taupo, Claudelands and Melville United.

Ngongotaha and Rotorua United face each other next weekend. The two sides finished all square the last time they met but pride is on the line and it should be a colossal clash on Saturday.

Ngongotaha will be ruing the fact they let a place in the top three slip them by, narrowly losing 3-2 to Taupo at home at the weekend. The win confirms Taupo as this year's champions.

In other clashes in the division Melville United were too strong for Whakatane, winning 5-2 at home. Sitting in second on the points table Claudelands could manage only a 3-3 draw against last year's title holders Tauranga Old Blues, while Waikato Unicol cemented their mid-table position with a 2-1 win over Otumoetai.