Anti-climax as football showdown postponed

Papamoa in action during one of their games in June. Photo: Bob Ricketts.

The game Loaded WaiBOP Premiership fans had been looking forward to for weeks ended before it began on Saturday when the weather, combined with a heavy schedule of matches, left the main field at Gordon Spratt Reserve unplayable.

Several matches were played on the field prior to the main game and that, along with the lack of suitable options at the venue, meant the Premiership's feature match between Flying Mullet Papamoa and Taupo was forced to be postponed.

Such an outcome was not ideal for either team, or the league, as the match will now add to a weighty fixture backlog that looks like heading well into September.

These matches, along with potential NRFL play-offs, mean one of these sides could be in for a very long season.

The rest of the scheduled Premiership matches went ahead. Current league leaders, Tauranga Boys' College, took advantage of their nearest rivals' inactivity by claiming their eleventh win of the season.

They defeated West Hamilton United 3-1 at Southey Field to stretch their lead at the top to four points, with a brace from Alex Elliot brace and Lewis Reid contributing the goals. Points on the board are, of course, crucial, but the students have played three more games than both Papamoa and Taupo, so still have a lot of work to do if they're to finish the job.

Interestingly, they're set to play Taupo then Papamoa twice in their final three matches, so have a major opportunity to influence the destination of the title in their favour.

Further down the table, 4-0 away victories to both Waikato Unicol and Comag Matamata Swifts helped move both sides up the table. Unicol defeated Melville United in their local derby, with Riku Soejima, Reuben Henderson, Mahmood Alfarraji, and Kieran Payton amongst the goals.
Unicol has been one of the most entertaining sides to watch this year, but crucial defeats in important matches, most recently against both Taupo and Papamoa, seem to have put paid to their title chances for another year.

The Swifts left it until late in the first half to break Tokoroa down, but Brad West's goal right on half time, followed by second half strikes from Andrew Clothier, Brayden Lissington and a Jamie Baxter penalty moved Matamata up a couple of spots.

Tokoroa still sit in the second relegation spot.

Tauranga Blue Rovers, currently battling with Tokoroa to avoid the drop, had a great opportunity to jump five points clear of their rivals after goals from Thomas Crane and Marcus Bathan saw them in front at half time of their home game against Te Awamutu. Tawhiri Ball's goal had kept the visitors in the match, but it was a Joel Roil double after the break that left Rovers with nothing to show for their efforts and gave Te Awamutu another three points.

Otumoetai's match against Hamilton Wanderers was played earlier in the season.

The WaiBOP Championship is now in its death throes, with a full round of games on Saturday bringing the season to an end for most teams.

The only matter of business to be concluded is finalising the destination of the title. Both Ngaruawahia United and Kawerau Sports won at the weekend, allowing the Green Machine to maintain their one point gap at the top of the table.

Ngaruawahia beat Tauranga Blue Rovers reserves 4-0 away from home, with a Noor Mire hat trick the outstanding individual performance, while Kawerau eased past Te Puke 3-2 on the road at Litt Park.

The two sides meet in Kawerau this weekend in what is the hosts' final match of the season, while Ngaruawahia have a further game, against Cambridge, to play. This all means that if Ngaruawahia can avoid defeat on Saturday they'll claim the silverware, while a Kawerau win will mean Ngaruawahia must then beat Cambridge to secure the title.

If the reverse fixture at Centennial Park, won 5-4 by Kawerau, is anything to go then fans could be in for a treat this weekend.

In the other Championship games at the weekend, Taupo reserves underlined a top four finish with a 2-1 win at Cambridge, while Otumoetai's reserves were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Waharoa Transport Matamata reserves.

The WaiBOP Women's Premier League title determiner, between Bay SportsMed Tauranga City and Whakatane Town was postponed due to the weather, meaning the Waikato derby between McKay Tokoroa and Melville United was the only match that went ahead. Daniela Masurat's goal for Tokoroa was the difference between the two sides in a 1-0 home win.

Full details here: http://www.waibopfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/66039

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