The goals flew in during a full weekend of football as The Soccer Shop WaiBOP W-League got underway, joining The Soccer Shop WaiBOP Premiership and Championship, which kicked off a week ago.

Flying Mullet Papamoa are flying at the top of the Premiership following a fine 5-2 win at 2018 champs, Taupo, while both Waikato Unicol and Otumoetai are the only sides with 100% records following successive comfortable wins. In the W-League, one-sided scorelines were the order of the day, as a clearly defined top four seem to already be in play.

Papamoa built their impressive win around player/coach Colm Kenny’s hat trick, but it was Nazareno Luna’s early goal that set them on their way. Jordan Lamb had the Lakesiders level just before the half hour but Kenny restored Papamoa’s lead heading into half time. The winning of the game came during the opening stages of the second half as substitute, Logan Crawford, hit home a minute after the break. Fin Smith hauled Taupo back into not long after, but Kenny struck twice in quick succession just after the hour mark to put the result beyond a fully stretched Taupo side. 

Papamoa had Callum Glover see red with just over a quarter hour to go, but for the second week in succession the Lakesiders couldn’t make their numerical advantage count. Along with three huge points Papamoa also wrested the Federation Challenge Shield from Taupo’s grasp and will defend it for the first time on Saturday against neighbours, Te Puke.

Papamoa lead Unicol and Otumoetai by a point as they’ve played an extra game – a rescheduled match against Tauranga Boys’ College – but they’ll be looking at that as two dropped points given what both their pursuers have done to the students over the last fortnight.

Unicol secured their second 4-0 win in two games, scoring all their goals in the first half of a game in which their opponents, Boys’ College, would have had at least one eye on their impending trip to South America. Krishaant Singh grabbed a brace for the visitors, while goals from Stephen Kapa and Jonathan Tobias completed the damage.

Otumoetai also scored four first half goals, although their 4-2 derby victory at Tauranga Blue Rovers was marginally tighter than Unicol’s. Harawira Smith, Jordi Langton, Miroslav Sindler and Ryan Peddle all found the back of the net for the visitors, while Karl Bryant replied for Rovers. Reuben Wood’s second half strike was never going to be enough to allow the hosts to challenge for a result.

Ngaruawahia United and Comag Matamata Swifts both remain unbeaten after their second positive haul in two games. Noor Mire’s second half goal ensured the Green Machine left Gower Park with a point after a 2-2 draw. David Brennan and Jordi Ditfort had Melville 2-1 in front at half time. Reuben Wiglesworth’s second half goal was enough to give the Swifts a 2-1 win at Safer Te Puke. Radge Avergonzado opened the scoring for the visitors while Santiago Curi drew Te Puke level by half time.

Gisler Architects Te Awamutu clearly enjoyed the comforts of home, picking up their first win of the season against West Hamilton at the Stadium. Their 2-0 victory came thanks to a goal in each half from Rowan Beaumont Bell and Jack Connor.

Claudelands Rovers, Tauranga City, Whakatane Town and Papamoa all eased to emphatic victories on the opening day of The Soccer Shop WaiBOP W-League. Claudelands came close to double figures, winning 9-1 at Tauranga Blue Rovers, while City scored all eight of their goals in their 8-1 win at Hamilton Wanderers during the first half.

Claudelands’ goals were spread around as seven different players found themselves on the score sheet. Rachel Porteous and Rhiannon Jones both snapped up a brace. Annaliese Heuvel hit the league’s first hat trick of the season, for Tauranga, while Danaya McKenzie scored twice during City’s rampant first period.

Sinead Doherty snaffled the W-League’s second hat trick for Whakatane Town as they turned over Otumoetai 6-2 at Rex Morpeth Park. The hosts led by the odd goal in five at half time but eased home courtesy of a big second half performance.

Once Maree Wooddin put Papamoa in front midway through the first half at Melville United the visitors always looked relatively comfortable. Briana Osborne scored in each half to help them on their way to a 4-1 victory.

Otorohanga’s return to Federation level football continued apace with their second big win in The Soccer Shop WaiBOP Championship. Mason Apperly scored twice, while Trent Maguire and Nathanael Wrack were on the score sheet for the second week running as Otorohanga beat Hamilton Wanderers 5-2 at home.

Taupo’s Reserves secured the largest victory margin in the Championship as they turned over Papamoa’s reserves 6-1 in the early game at Crown Park. Nick Field and Taylor Long both scored twice. Claudelands Rovers won 3-1 at Tauranga City with Ash Gower-Rudman scoring twice, while Adam Brady’s double also helped Cambridge to a 3-1 victory, at home over Waharoa Transport Matamata reserves.

The other two matches were drawn. Tokoroa picked up their first point of the season from their 1-1 draw at home to Waikato Unicol’s Reserves, while the game between Blue Rovers’ Reserves and Otumoetai’s Reserves finished 2-2. Jayden Hill, for Otumoetai, was yet another player to bag a brace.

Match details HERE.

Photo: supplied.