Football: Taupo to meet Old Blues challenge

Taupo face their second defence of the WaiBop Challenge Shield tomorrow when they meet Old Blues at Crown Park.

The league leaders will be smarting after their first loss of the season last week and that won't make Old Blues task to take the shield any easier.

Old Blues were champions last season but after the loss of the bulk of their team, coach Andy Legget has said avoiding relegation is the priority, while veteran striker Alan Lamb is on record as saying last week's loss was a wake up call for Taupo.

Rotorua United will be without keeper Andrew Gibbs, who is overseas and Josh O'Sullivan who is suspended when they travel to Rex Morpeth Park to play Whakatane Town.

It is an important game for United who are battling to get out of the relegation zone, but it is equally important for Whakatane who are fourth from bottom.

Ngongotaha, after a run of poor results are another side whose focus is shifting to avoiding relegation.

Tomorrow, they are away to Waikato Unicol who finished a distant second to them in division two last season.

The Villagers conceded five goals in the last quarter in losing 7-2 to Claudelands last week while Unicol had a solid 4-2 win over AFC Fury so the smart money will be on Unicol.

Bottom side Otorohanga host Otumoetai who are now fifth after last week's win over Taupo.

It's a Waikato derby at Gower Park where Melville United play Claudelands Rovers.

In Division two, leaders Tauranga City are away to Tokoroa while the other title contenders Cambridge host Clube Alegria. Katikati have home advantage against bottom of the table Matamata and Rotorua United play Te Awamutu at Neil Hunt Park.

The first round of the Bay Sportsmed Cup, contested by Bay League division one and two teams will be played tomorrow, with all games kicking off at 2pm.

Division one points.

Taupo 30, Claudelands 27, Melville 21, Fury 18, Otumoetai 16, Unicol 15, Tauranga Boys' 13, Old Blues 12, Whakatane 11, Ngongotaha 9, Rotorua United 8, Otorohanga 5.

Division two points.

Tauranga 27, Cambridge 24, Alegria 21, Katikati 18, Te Awamutu, Tokoroa 12, West Hamilton 8, Rotorua United 7, Matamata 4.

Bay Sportsmed Cup draw (home teams first):

Papamoa v Old Blues, Plains Rangers v Otumoetai, Te Puke v Tauranga City, Tauranga City (B2) v Rotorua United (B2), Taupo v Ngongotaha (B2), Whakatane v Te Puke (B2), Ngongotaha v Kawerau (B2), Tauranga City v Taupo (B2).