Waikato-Bay of Plenty Football's Loaded Premiership remains wide open heading towards the sharp end of the season, but the top three of Tauranga Boys' College, Flying Mullet Papamoa and Taupo continued to set the pace in the title chase.

Boys' College edged past Te Awamutu to stay three points clear at the top, while Papamoa and Taupo both struck convincing wins against two of 2017's top three sides to keep the pressure on the students.

Their two matches to come in September against Papamoa look increasingly likely to have a lot to say about the final destination of the title.

Boys' College didn't appear to be at their fluent best against a dogged Te Awamutu side but had enough in the tank to take the match 2-1 and extend their winning run to six.

Ryan Peddle's goal put the students in front but Haydn Roil hit back to ensure the match was level at the break.

Kody Gorst scored the sole second half goal as Boy's College became the first team to score 50 goals and move past 30 points this season.

Papamoa started slowly against Matamata Swifts but struck three times in nine minutes heading into half time, through Logan Crawford, Andrew Cooper and Top Khamwanthong, to all but secure the points.

Brayden Lissington snatched one back for the Swifts not long after the break, but Khamwanthong had restored his team's three goal lead before the hour mark, then substitute Liam Molloy scored late to complete a comfortable 5-1 victory.

Taupo kept pace after dispatching Waikato Unicol 3-0 at Crown Park. Toby Tullet hit the only first half goal, then Gordon O'Donoghue and Conor Hinz found the back of the net to send a Unicol side that has made no secret about their title hopes home with plenty to think about.

The Hamilton students are ten points off the pace but have three games in hand so may still have a say in the title race.

Jared Bailey netted twice for Tauranga Blue Rovers in their 4-1 defeat of Hamilton Wanderers.

Wins for Otumoetai and Tauranga Blue Rovers completed a special day in the league for Bay of Plenty clubs.

Otumoetai picked up their fourth straight win to move into the top half of the table. Their 4-1 away victory at Tokoroa came thanks to two goals from Sam Flatt, and strikes from Jordi Langton and Nicholas Barnes.

All the goals came in the first half as Tauranga Blue Rovers beat rock-bottom Hamilton Wanderers 4-1. Jared Bailey with two, Robert Barnes and Reuben Wood scored for Rovers, who move up to 15 points and put themselves back in touch with the peloton.

In the remaining game Melville United scored twice during the second half to consign West Hamilton United to a 2-0 defeat.

WaiBOP Championship leaders Ngaruawahia United had the bye this weekend so the spotlight fell on the teams below them. Kawerau Sports jumped back into second spot after a 4-1 win at previously-second Taupo reserves and now look nailed on for the second promotion spot. Krishaant Singh was the stand-out performer for Kawerau, scoring twice in each half for a personal haul of four goals.

In the other games, Waikato Unicol reserves won 2-1 at Te Puke United to move into third, while Tauranga Blue Rovers beat Otumoetai reserves by the same score to stay fifth. Cambridge jumped off the bottom, over Matamata Swifts, after a 2-1 home win against their near neighbours.

The WaiBOP Women's Premier League is down to five teams after Northern United's withdrawal, meaning there are now only two games scheduled every week.

In Sunday's feature match, McKay Tokoroa beat Whakatane Town 2-1 to dent the Eastern BOP side's title chances. Played at Taupo's Crown Park, Tokoroa took an early lead when Whakatane put through their own net, then doubled their advantage heading into the break thanks to Isobella Jackson.

Whakatane's Naomi Countney-Tennent gave her side hope of rescuing at least a point when she grabbed a goal back midway through the second half, but Tokoroa held on to record three excellent points.

Papamoa handed Melville United a 6-1 hiding in a game that saw most of the goals scored in the second half.

Abigail Turnbull and Briana Osborne gave Papamoa a solid two goal lead at the break before Maree Wooddin took over and buried the visitors with a second half hat trick. Laura Krauts also got in on the goal scoring action.

Tauranga City, like all the other sides due to play Northern United for the remainder of the season, bagged a 3-0 victory while sitting the weekend out. That stretched their lead over Whakatane at the top of the table to four points with three matches remaining.

For full match details and standings go to http://www.waibopfootball.co.nz/DRAWS/Seniors-2