New signing Withers scores double on debut for leaders Ngaruawahia United

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Ngaruawahia United remain top of the Lotto NRFL second division after two goals from new signing Mark Withers earned them a 2-1 win over local rivals Cambridge.

Bucklands Beach and Claudelands Rovers both won to ensure they stay within reach of the table toppers.

Here’s our round-up from round five:

Double from new signing Withers keeps Ngaruawahia on top

Two goals from new signing Mark Withers gave Ngaruawahia United a 2-1 Waikato derby win Cambridge and kept the side top of the table.

Withers transferred from bottom-of-the-table Oratia United on Thursday, having scored five of their six goals, to join the league leaders in time for their trip to Cambridge.

Cambridge took the lead at John Kerkhof Park through skipper Patrick Woodlock in the 16th minute.

Three minutes later, Withers scored his first goal for Ngaruawahia.

In the 33rd minute, he gave the Green Machine a 2-1 lead, scoring from the penalty spot.

That’s how the score remained for the rest of the game, ensuring Ngaruawahia remain the only unbeaten team in the competition.

Withers, meanwhile, joins Bucklands Beach striker Sean Latimer in the lead for the division’s Golden Boot, both with seven goals from five rounds.

Waterland fires Bucklands Beach to win against West Auckland

Bucklands Beach stay in second place after beating promoted West Auckland 2-0 at Lloyd Elsmore Park.

Both goals came from 33-year-old Sander Waterland. He opened the scoring after six minutes and then struck the killer blow two minutes into added time for the first half.

Main photo: Sander Waterland is brought down by a West Auckland player. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.

The sides played out a scoreless second half which was marred only by five yellow cards and a late red for West Auckland captain Chris Bond who collected a second card.

See-saw game sees Beachlands Maraetai beat Oratia 4-2

All six goals were scored at the same end as fortunes changed during a high-scoring encounter between Beachlands Maraetai and bottom-of-the-table Oratia United.

Beachlands Maraetai won the match 4-2 — their first win of the season — but looked as though they were going to run away with the game when leading 4-0 at half-time.

The visitors to Parrs Park scored through Aaron Parry after only two minutes.

Oliver Peters added a second after 14 minutes,

Ben Culpan made it 3-0, converting from the penalty spot on the half hour, before Parry scored his second in the 33rd minute.

However, Oratia made a decent fist of the second half, stemming the flow of goals and finding two themselves.

Four players — two from each side — went into referee Aaron Day’s book for showing disrespect to the game in the 51st minute.

Alexander Burden pulled back one goal, after 49 minutes, and captain Michael Brown scored the other with 10 minutes to go.

Oratia, who lost leading scorer Mark Withers to leaders Ngaruawahia United during the week, prop up the table, without a point after five games.

Rovers coast home with the points after 3-1 win

Claudelands Rovers picked up three useful points on the road when they beat Hibiscus Coast 3-1 at Stanmore Bay Park.

Rovers took the early initiative, scoring through Dominick Edwards in the 8th minute and Kyle Kirsten after 21 minutes.

The teams turned around with Rovers good for their 2-0 lead and the visitors struck again through Henry Thompson after 62 minutes.

Almost immediately, Coast replied through Trent Mayes.

The win leaves Rovers well placed on the table, a point behind local rivals Ngaruawahia United.

Results

Games played May 21, 2022

Oratia United 2 (Alexander Burden 49′, Michael Brown 80′)
Beachlands Maraetai 4 (Aaron Parry 2′, 33′, Oliver Peters 14′, Ben Culpan 30′, pen)

Cambridge 1 (Patrick Woodlock 16′)
Ngaruawahia United 2 (Mark Withers 19′, 33′ pen)

Bucklands Beach 2 (Sander Waterland 6′, 45+2′)
West Auckland 0

Hibiscus Coast 1 (Trent Mayes 65′)
Claudelands Rovers 3 (Dominick Edwards 8′, Kyle Kirsten 21′, Henry Thompson 62′)

Franklin United P
Northland P
Rescheduled to June 4, 2022

Standings

Thanks

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