Results all went in favour of the four clubs locked in a tight battle for the Lotto NRFL second division title in the latest round of fixtures.
Leaders Ngaruawahia United, Hibiscus Coast, Bucklands Beach and West Auckland all secured victories to keep the pressure on each other at the top of the table.
Here’s our round-up of latest games:
Green Machine rolls along with win in Waikato derby
The Green Machine of Ngaruawahia United continues to roll along, beating Claudelands Rovers 3-0 in the Waikato derby.
Daniel Ngungambili opened the scoring against his former club when he netted in the 36th minute.
That’s how the score remained at half-time.
Jack Connor doubled the lead in the 51st minute with his second goal of the season.
Ngaruawahia coach Kyle Park went for the jugular in the 57th minute, bringing four players off the bench, including leading goalscorers Mark Withers and Jack Marden.
As it happened, another sub, Alfie Cole, found the third goal, with five minutes remaining, to wrap up the win and keep Ngaruawahia two points clear of the chasing pack.
Stevenson hat-trick gets Coast home against Oratia
A hat-trick from Julian Stevenson inspired promotion-chasing Hibiscus Coast to a 3-2 win against lowly Oratia United at Stanmore Bay Park.
Stevenson (24) got the home side off to a strong start with goals in the 15th and 21st minutes.
Oratia’s Michael Graham pulled back a goal when he scored from the penalty spot in the 35th minute.
The sides turned around with Coast leading 2-1.
Oratia, who a week earlier won for the first time this season, fought back in the second half and levelled through substitute Jason Beeston in the 74th minute.
But Stevenson dashed any hopes of another Oratia win when he completed his hat-trick with seven minutes remaining.
West Auckland keep pressure on leaders with win against 10-man Northland
West Auckland maintained their tilt for the title with a 1-0 win at Brains Park against Northland.
The winning goal came from Anthony Lockton in the 37th minute.
Northland’s cause was not helped by the sending off of Geoffrey Zwaneveld in the 83rd minute, after he collected his second yellow card.
Striking duo get the points for Bucklands Beach
The fruitful striking partnership between Sean Latimer and Sander Waterland fired again as Bucklands Beach dispensed with Cambridge’s challenge, beating the Waikato side 3-0 at Lloyd Elsmore Park.
Latimer opened the scoring for the Aucklanders with his ninth goal of the season, in the 24th minute.
Four minutes later, Waterland doubled the home side’s lead and they took the 2-0 scoreline into the half-time break.
Waterland scored his second of the day in the 75th minute to effectively put the result beyond doubt.
Between them, Latimer and Waterland have scored 16 goals this season, making them the division’s deadliest partnership.
Main photo: Sander Waterland … two more goals. File photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
Richardson double leads Franklin to victory
Two goals by striker Tim Richardson helped Franklin United to a 4-1 win against Beachlands Maraetai.
Playing a late kick-off under lights at Tuakau’s Dr John Lightbody Reserve, Richardson put Franklin ahead after only four minutes.
Beachlands Maraetail levelled as the first half came to its close when captain Ben Culpan scored from the penalty spot.
Franklin skipper Stephen Ashby-Peckham restored his side’s lead in the 68th minute.
The gap stretched to two goals in the 75th minute when Aus Shabbot own-goaled for the visitors.
Richardson completed the scoring with two minutes to go, registering his 10th goal of the season and taking the lead in the division’s Golden Boot race.
Results
Games played Saturday July 2, 2022
Claudelands Rovers 0
Ngaruawahia United 3 (Daniel Ngungambili 36′, Jack Connor 51′, Alfie Cole 85′)
Bucklands Beach 3 (Sean Latimer 24′, Sander Waterland 28′, 75′)
Cambridge 0
Hibiscus Coast 3 (Julian Stevenson 15′, 21′, 83′)
Oratia United 2 (Michael Graham 35′ pen, Jason Beeston 74′)
West Auckland 1 (Anthony Lockton 37′)
Northland 0
Franklin United 4 (Tim Richardson 4′, 88′, Stephen Ashby-Peckham 68′, own goal 75′)
Beachlands Maraetai 1 (Ben Culpan 45+2′ pen)
Standings
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