By Jack Sharp
Leaders Cambridge face their biggest tests of the season over the next two rounds when they tackle their nearest challengers in back-to-back fixtures.
In Saturday’s round of games in the Lotto NRFL Men’s Southern Conference, they face in-form Taupo and a week later, they host Claudelands Rovers.
Taupo and Claudelands are currently equal on points, 11 points behind the Reds who also have a game in hand.
So far this season, Cambridge have not encountered a blip, winning all 13 of their games and rattling up 71 goals in the process.
Claudelands host fourth-placed Otumoetai on Saturday, needing the three points to keep within sight of the leaders.
But they’ll also want to retain the WaiBOP Federation Challenge Shield, which they took off Ngongotaha Lakes.
Waikato Unicol host bottom-placed Te Awamutu who are running out of chances to find their first win of the season.
The improving Ngongotaha Lakes can leapfrog Papamoa on the table with a win at their Tamarahi Reserve ground.
Game of the week
Few teams will get a better chance of ending Cambridge’s perfect league run than Taupo this weekend.
Taupo, who are in second place after a 3-2 stoppage-time win against Claudelands Rovers last weekend, have struck winning form.
Since they lost 5-1 to Cambridge in early June, Taupo have won five games on the trot, scoring 24 goals.
With home advantage, they’re well-positioned to upset the league leaders, who managed a 3-1 win against Ngongotaha Lakes in the last round.
Players to watch
With forward Bailey Webster out for the rest of the season through injury, Jack Connor has stepped up and is now co-leader of the Southern Conference Golden Boot table with 17 goals.
Connor (27) has been around the Waikato clubs in recent seasons, playing for Te Awamutu, Claudelands Rovers, Melville United, Otorohanga and Ngaruawahia United.
He has certainly found his scoring boots at Cambridge.
Cambridge have also added Haydn Roil (28) to their squad, signing him from Waipa rivals Te Awamutu in June. He played the 2021 season for the Reds but has played most of the last seven seasons up the road for Te Awamutu.
Bold prediction
Though I expect Taupo to make things difficult for Cambridge, I’ll be surprised if they beat them. I’ll tip Cambridge to win by a single-goal margin.
Last week, I tipped Papamoa to beat Waikato Unicol by a couple of goals. Unicol won the match 3-2.
Golden Boot
17 — Bailey Webster (Cambridge), Jack Connor (Cambridge)
16 — Krishaant Singh (Claudelands Rovers)
15— Josh Clarkin (Cambridge)
14 — Joe O’Donoghue (Taupo)
11 — Jack Boland (Otumoetai)
9 — Andrew Cooper (Papamoa)
8 — Henry Stephen (Claudelands Rovers)
7 — Kjay Morehu (Waikato Unicol), Steffano Riley (Ngongotaha Lakes), Dylan Foster (Taupo), Sean Barbour (Taupo)
6 — Ty Christensen (Taupo)
5 — Dylan Montero (Otumoetai), Jordan Shaw (Cambridge), Vincent Callister (Papamoa)
Fixtures
Games to be played on Saturday July 27, 2024
Waikato Unicol v Te Awamutu
Waikato University, Hamilton, 3pm
Taupo v Cambridge
Crown Park, Taupo, 3pm
Ngongotaha Lakes v Papamoa
Tamarahi Reserve, Ngongotaha, 3pm
Claudelands Rovers v Otumoetai
Galloway Park, Hamilton, 3pm
Jack Sharp
Jack Sharp is a long-time follower of club football in New Zealand and is a volunteer writer for Friends of Football. You can show your appreciation for his work by buying him a coffee.
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