Te Puke captain Danny Underwood and Te Puna captain Te Aihe Tomo. Photo/John Borren
Te Puke captain Danny Underwood and Te Puna captain Te Aihe Tomo. Photo/John Borren
They have one win apiece against each other this season so Te Puna and Te Puke are heading into this weekend's Baywide final as equals.
After five months of club rugby action from across the Bay of Plenty, the Farmlands Co-operative Baywide Premier 1 trophy decider tomorrow pits first-time finalistsTe Puna taking against Te Puke - with both ready for what will undoubtedly be a battle of quality club rugby.
Te Puke Sports will host Farmlands Co-operative Baywide Premier 1 round one winners Te Puna at Murray Salt Stadium this Saturday.
Te Puna and Te Puke will battle it out in the Baywide Premier 1 finals on Saturday. Photo / File
Te Puna head coach Aidan Kuka said making the finals was not just a major milestone for his club - it was a feat their community was proud of and excited about.
He said the club had spent many years developing young players, which had created a strong team culture, and a team that gelled together seamlessly. After four years of knocking on the door of a final, Te Puna were ready, he said.
"We're a club that's been building for a while," Kuka said.
"Finally, this year we broke through," he said.
Although it was their first time to a final, Kuka said: "We may be inexperienced in that department, but we're confident.
"We've played Te Puke twice, they've beaten us once and we've beaten them once.
"We've got a bit of momentum behind us and so have Te Puke to be fair.
He knows the fight for the title will be no easy task, describing Te Puke as a "strong" and "very dangerous side", but his players know they each have a role to play.
"I know the boys are ready to play a final.
"We just have to be mentally up for this game, we've got to be very focused. They're going to be hard to beat.
"We want to do it for our community and families and each other. Everyone is excited to be there."
Tana Tuhakaraina avoids being tackled in an earlier Te Puna vs Te Puke match this season. Photo / File
Te Puke Sports head coach Matt Wallis will take confidence into tomorrow's final after last weekend's 32-6 win over Mount Maunganui Sports, with plans to defend to the best of their ability in order to overcome Te Puna.
"Te Puna are strong across the whole bar – good scrums, good lineouts, backs play well, they kick well too. To combat it we're going to hold on to the ball, deny them possession, just defend well without giving too much away," Wallis said.
"Our key focus for this game will be on us as a team, not getting overawed by the occasion, and control what we can control."
Both clubs are also in the running for the Farmlands Co-operative Baywide Premier 1 Development title, playing in the finals on Te Puke's home ground at 12.30pm.
Wallis said having two teams in the Baywide Club finals is a "pretty good feeling, to have two teams reach the final out of your club, it's awesome".
Te Puna are playing Ruatoki in the Senior Reserves final at Tuhoe Park at 12.30pm.
