Ōtorohanga's rain dance - coach Mark McKenzie and Jamie Walker joined the 2024 WaiBop champions as they celebrated with their trophy on Saturday. The rain started just after the final whistle
They are WaiBop League One football champions – but they can’t get promoted.
Bulk Lines Ōtorohanga wrapped up the title with a resounding 3-0 home win over Northern United from Hamilton on Saturday knowing rules about club depth would tie them down.
Ōtorohanga, whose most famous player, former Australian international Archie Thompson turns 46 next month, doesn’t have the depth to field an Under-23 team, and that is a condition of playing in the Southern Conference League.
Ironically, the team at the bottom of the conference is neighbour Te Awamutu, whose struggles are a mirror image of Ōtorohanga’s fortunes in this campaign.
The Ōtorohanga Domain club won the title with 17 wins from 18 outings – but Northern would have been celebrating promotion had they managed a draw on Saturday.
Te Awamutu has battled gamely throughout the season but finished the 21-game campaign 15 points behind the field with points from four draws.
The latest was a surprise 3-3 draw with Claudelands which allowed Taupō to ensure it would finish second on goal difference barring a monumental thumping at home to Papamoa next weekend.
Two late goals at Te Awamutu denied the hosts their first win of the season – an early one at the domain set Ōtorohanga on its way to victory.
When news of the goal filtered through to the Wanderers ground in Hamilton, it didn’t take much guessing to pick who had scored it.
Tawhirimata -Tawhiri – Ball has scored goals for fun when ever he has been on the park this season – and is clearly a level above the competition.
The goal was set up by up by his brother Waikato Ball and he held off defenders in the penalty area to score from close range.
It was the only goal of an even half where both teams could have added to the goal tally on a challenging park where conditions were heavy underfoot.
Northern had dominated the first 15 minutes, getting behind the Otorohanga defence, but found centre backs Jackson Allen and Jacob O’Brien in top form.
The visitors were also caught in the second half after a period of midfield dominance as Bailey Croad found space on the left, beat the defence and goalkeeper and slotted home from a narrow angle with just over 25 minutes to play.
When Waikato Ball’s outstanding header from a Croad corner found the net five minutes later the healthy home crowd were watching their side put the finishing touches on a successful league campaign.
The game was preceded by two minutes’ silence Kīngi Tuheitia’s passing – the Ōtorohanga team has seven players of Māori descent.
Earlier in the curtain raiser played at Ōtorohanga College, the Ōtorohanga Reserves lost 3-0 to Ngaruawahia.
The club now turns its attention to its Summer Soccer Competition starting next month.They are WaiBop League One football champions – but they can’t get promoted.
Buk Lines Ōtorohanga wrapped up the title with a resounding 3-0 home win over Northern United from Hamilton on Saturday knowing rules about club depth would tie them down.
Ōtorohanga, whose most famous player, former Australian international Archie Thompson turns 46 next month, doesn’t have the depth to field an Under-23 team, and that is a condition of playing in the Southern Conference League.
Ironically, the team at the bottom of the conference is neighbour Te Awamutu, whose struggles are a mirror image of Ōtorohanga’s fortunes in this campaign.
The Ōtorohanga Domain club won the title with 17 wins from 18 outings – but Northern would have been celebrating promotion had they managed a draw on Saturday.
Te Awamutu has battled gamely throughout the season but finished the 21-game campaign 15 points behind the field with points from four draws.
The latest was a surprise 3-3 draw with Claudelands which allowed Taupō to ensure it would finish second on goal difference barring a monumental thumping at home to Papamoa next weekend.
Two late goals at Te Awamutu denied the hosts their first win of the season – an early one at the domain set Ōtorohanga on its way to victory.
When news of the goal filtered through to the Wanderers ground in Hamilton, it didn’t take much guessing to pick who had scored it.
Tawhirimata -Tawhiri – Ball has scored goals for fun when ever he has been on the park this season – and is clearly a level above the competition.
The goal was set up by up by his brother Waikato Ball and he held off defenders in the penalty area to score from close range.
It was the only goal of an even half where both teams could have added to the goal tally on a challenging park where conditions were heavy underfoot.
Northern had dominated the first 15 minutes, getting behind the Otorohanga defence, but found centre backs Jackson Allen and Jacob O’Brien in top form.
The visitors were also caught in the second half after a period of midfield dominance as Bailey Croad found space on the left, beat the defence and goalkeeper and slotted home from a narrow angle with just over 25 minutes to play.
When Waikato Ball’s outstanding header from a Croad corner found the net five minutes later the healthy home crowd were watching their side put the finishing touches on a successful league campaign.
The game was preceded by two minutes’ silence Kīngi Tuheitia’s passing – the Ōtorohanga team has seven players of Māori descent.
Earlier in the curtain raiser played at Ōtorohanga College, the Ōtorohanga Reserves lost 3-0 to Ngaruawahia.
The club now turns its attention to its Summer Soccer Competition starting next month.
