Baywide Premier rugby preview

Te Puke Sports fullback Declan Barnett is tackled in last week's game against Mount Maunganui Sports. Photo / Stuart Whitaker

There is always an extra edge in intensity when Te Puke Sports host Tauranga Sports at Murray Salt Stadium.

With eight Baywide titles Tauranga is considered the big brother, the team to beat every season, but Te Puke has emerged as a major player in the competition, winning the title in 2011 and 2012.

Both teams lost last week and will be eager to win tomorrow.

Tauranga was tipped over at their home ground at Tauranga Domain by high-flying Rangataua while Te Puke lost a battle of attrition at Blake Park against Mount Maunganui Sports.

Te Puke coach Craig Jeffries says preparation is a focus point for his team ahead of this weekend's match.

"The fact that we are playing Tauranga Sports this weekend doesn't change what we are trying to achieve. We are just trying to get better and, clearly, we have a long way to go," he said.

"It will be a big week of corrections ... video analysis to see what we can get out of it to move forward."

Jeffries acknowledged that they needed to improve player discipline at the breakdown.

"We had a problem with the breakdowns in the weekend, being penalised time and time again, so we are going to be doing a lot of work in that space. We have utilised the opportunity to have a referee along to take us through the laws and take us through what we are allowed to do.

"We always enjoy being home especially with that home support," Jeffries added.

Tauranga coach Zane Winslade also highlighted the breakdown as a key area his team needed to improve.

"We are looking at cleaning up the breakdown area and also ensuring that we make the most of good set-piece ball. We were not at our best performance last week but some hugely positive aspects to it," he said.

"Te Puke have a good all-round team and our main focus will be getting the basics right, which is creating quality ball from the set piece, building pressure and playing a fast style of rugby.

"We're hungry to get back out there after last weekend, so we will take this opportunity to put a few things right."

In other premier games, unbeaten leaders Rangataua are home to Whakatane Marist, Greerton Marist travel to play Rotoiti, Whakarewarewa host Mount Maunganui, Arataki are home to Paroa and Te Puna take on Poroporo at their home ground of Maramataga Park.

Premier kick-off 2.45pm, Premier Development kick-off 1pm
Rotoiti v Greerton Marist at Emery Park
Whakarewarewa v Mount Maunganui Sports at Puarenga Park
Te Puke Sports v Tauranga Sports at Murray Salt Stadium
Arataki v Paroa at Arataki Park
Te Puna v Poroporo at Maramatanga Park
Rangataua v Whakatane Marist at Te Ariki Park

Baywide Division 1:
Division 1 kick-off 2.45pm
Rangiuru v Ruatoki at Centennial Park
Waimana v Marist St Michael's at Waimana Domain
Waikite v Katikati at Bellvue Road
Ngongotaha v Te Teko at Ngongotaha Domain
Opotiki v Judea at Princess St Reserve
Papamoa v Kahukura at Gordon Spratt Reserve