Rotorua United go to top of the WaiBop table

by Brian Smith | 22nd June 2010

Rotorua United have retained the Challenge Shield and now sit at the top of the WaiBop Federation League after a 3-0 win over Te Puke at the weekend.

Otorohanga were held to a 1-1 draw by Tauranga Boys' College to put Rotorua United at the top of the table.

At Neil Hunt Park, Rotorua United players and supporters were celebrating their seventh consecutive win when word came through that Otorohanga had dropped two points and they were now League leaders.

United Coach Neil Rush was a happy man but cautioned against complacency.

"Seven wins on the trot is a good effort but we haven't reached the halfway stage yet and we have five away games coming up."

United started confidently but after 20 minutes had not created any clearcut opportunities against a resolute Te Puke defence. When the referee awarded United a soft penalty the smart money was on Dave Geraets to open the scoring but keeper Stewart Russell guessed right and pulled off a good save.

In the 30th minute Josh O'Sullivan charged down a clearance to give Steve Rogers a good chance, but once again Russell saved the visitors, however he had no chance when Rogers found Mitch Miller with a pinpoint cross which the promising young striker netted to give United the lead.

It was 2-0 when O'Sullivan was fouled and Geraets made no mistake from the spot.

The second half started with end to end action and keepers Dave Cheater and Russell were in action with some good saves.

United had the ball in the net but the goal was disallowed for off side, until Paul Mullen put the result beyond doubt for United with a neat near-post header.

Meanwhile, Whakatane Town had a convincing 5-2 win over Finn MacCahuls Taupo to retain third place while Claudelands Rovers hang on to fourth after a 5-0 win over Te Awamutu.

In other games Melville United were held to a 1-1 draw by bottom-of-the-table Hamilton Wanderers and Otumoetai beat Ngaruawahia 1-0.

At Crown Park, Taupo suffered their fifth consecutive loss to slide to 10th place. Whakatane Town took advantage of some slack defending to take a 3-0 win into the break and although Taupo closed the gap, the visitors won 5-2.

Otumoetai Coach Ross Johnson was a relieved man when his team overcame a Ngaruawahia side that contained several NRL players.

"With their first team not playing they fielded a strong side but the boys fought hard in what was a physical game and deserved their win. Trent Hickman, Jack Farey, Daniel Miller and Russell Wakely were outstanding."

Federation Division 2 results:

AFC Fury 6 Hamilton North 1, Old Blues 3 Tauranga City 1, Matamata 1 Cambridge 0, Ngongotaha 1 Kawerau 1. Women: Papamoa 3, Rotorua United 2 (both scored by Shannon Hunter).