Baywide rugby: Two unbeaten sides to clash at last

Jesse Acton in action in Tauranga Sports' win over Te Puke Sports in the early-season WBOP competition. Photo / File

It has taken until round 10 for the two main protagonists in the Bayfair Baywide Premier competition to finally meet.

After far too many one-sided romps for anyone's benefit in this year's revamped competition, the two unbeaten sides, Tauranga Sports and Te Puke Sports, will clash in what is expected to be a typically fierce battle between the long-term rivals.

Tomorrow's game between top-ranked Tauranga (45 points) and Te Puke (42) at Te Puke's Murray Salt Stadium has plenty riding on it. Te Puke are playing in special pink jerseys to raise funds for breast cancer research and it is a late opportunity for players to convince Clayton McMillan and Rodney Gibbs they deserve a Steamers jersey.

Te Puke captain Tim Bond says the key is to keep doing what has worked well so far this season.

"We have a fairly dominant forward pack at the moment, our set piece has been fairly strong and our scrum is going really well," he said. "We are looking to build on our strengths and are not too worried about what Tauranga are doing, per se. We just have to execute correctly and, on the back of that, the result will look after itself."

Bond is looking forward to a real challenge and said it was a pity there had been so many one-sided games this season.

"I think that is just how they have gone since they restructured the competition. I think they need to have a look at that and there have to be parameters for making the competition."

His coach, Craig Jeffries, admits it is hard to find a chink in the Tauranga armour.

"They are an extremely strong team. They are full of stars across the park. We are going to have to be on our game to get close to them.

"We have been building quite nicely, and cruising along doing our thing. I think it is a pretty good position for us to be in."

Tauranga Sports coach Mike Rogers was understandably happy with his team's progress.

"Results and performance have been really good to date. Te Puke are also undefeated in the Baywide round and have been going really well. They are a tough and physical team up front and will be a real challenge for us.

"We have been looking forward to this game. We played Te Puke way back in mid-March and they pushed us for the entire 80 minutes. We are expecting the same sort of torrid battle this time around. The key for us is to stick to and execute our plan well - if we do that we will be in with a good chance."

Mount Maunganui (35 points) sit third but need to beat sixth-placed Greerton Marist at Blake Park to keep their top-four position, as Rotoiti (32) and Whakarewarewa (29) have relatively easy home games.