- A total of 22 goals has landed in the last four meetings between these sides.
Fencibles United a force when on song
Fencibles United have 19 points from 12 matches in the 2026 Northern Premier League, sitting in sixth place and chasing a top-four spot for National League qualification.
They have been a streaky team this term; a 6-0 away win over Western Springs and a 2-1 win over Manukau United last time out show how dangerous they can be on their day.
Aníbal Paris's Fencibles United have played a compact, centrally congested 4-1-3-2 this term and have excelled when they can spring rapid counters through their strikers and midfield runners. Kodie Nicol is the playmaker in the middle of the field, but Ryan Clarke is the talisman.
Tauranga struggling to find form
Tauranga City AFC are languishing in 9th place with only 12 points from 12 games in the Northern League and, while not in immediate danger of the drop, need to turn around their form. Barry Gardiner's side have lost four of their last five Northern League matches and are conceding too many goals, but they did beat Western Springs 4-2 last time out. Tauranga City's 4-3-3 is all about width and they have some talented players on the wing. With their three in front, they press high up the pitch and force turnovers in wide areas which their front three pounce on. Colby Brennan leads the line, he is their top goalscorer and has the movement and finishing ability to be a real threat from set pieces and on the break. Campbell Higgins is Tauranga's most important player and contributes plenty of goals, but also marshals the team when they are on the back foot.
Tauranga can make their mark
The hosts are favourites for this game with the bookies at 1.62 with Tauranga at 4.01 and the draw 4.5. That seems a little extreme and we're going to take the underdogs to get a result here.
Tauranga beat Fencibles United 5-2 in the Northern League back in April of 2026, while Fencibles bounced back with a 3-1 victory in May 2025 and then held them to a 3-3 thriller in August 2025. This is never a dull fixture.
Fencibles have the attacking firepower to take the win with home advantage, but Tauranga can get on the score sheet too and we're backing a Fencibles win and under 2.5 goals. However, the bookies heavily back over 2.5 goals at 1.33 for a couple of teams that have scored 22 goals in their last four matchups in all competitions.
Paris' men are a little more direct and physical and may favour the potentially soggy Riverhills Domain pitch if the overcast skies and Severe Thunderstorm Watch combine on Saturday. The hosts can edge out Tauranga in a thrilling affair in a possible 2-1 scoreline or 1-0.
