Tauranga City United AFC's premier team ended up in a 1-1 stalemate against Western Springs in Auckland on Saturday in an action packed encounter.

The opposition gave the Blues a lot to do throughout the game, and finally managed to score in the 81st minute.

The Blues in action. Watch a video of the game below.

Two minutes later the Blues equalised thanks to a free kick, awarded after Sam O'Regan was pulled down near the penalty box. From some 30 metres away from the goal line, Sam equalised for Tauranga.

'We were facing a really fast team full of young players,” says Blues coach Duncan Lowry.

'It was a great game to watch. We could have scored a few more times after that, but the goalkeeper was good. We had a few one on ones with him.”

A free kick to Western Springs, just outside the Blues' penalty box touched a Blues player and the referee counted that as a handball, awarding a penalty to Western Springs.

'Thomas [Pamment] saved the kick and Cameron Grieve kicked away the bouncing ball to avoid Western Springs scoring on the rebound.”

The Tauranga club's premier division team face Bay Olympic from New Lynn in Auckland at home on Sunday.

Again there is much that is unknown about this team. They finished last year in the top half of the premier division and have been playing in that division for a few years now.

They were losing finalists of the 2010 Chatham Cup and won the NRFL Premier division in 2011. They are currently top of the ladder.

So it will be a tough game for Tauranga.

'We're all on a learning curve,” says Duncan. 'From players, to coaching staff to club committee. We are competing with big clubs.”

Duncan says he's happy with the way his boys are playing. 'Everyone is stepping up and do what needs to be done.”

The game against Bay Olympic kicks off at 2.45 pm Sunday at Links Ave Reserve in Mount Maunganui.