Rugby: Battlelines drawn for finals

Whakarewarewa captain Doug Edwards. Photo / Ben Fraser

A good old fashioned Tauranga v Rotorua battle will decide the Bayfair Baywide premier club rugby title at Tauranga Domain tomorrow.

The lack of Bay of Plenty representation from Rotorua clubs in recent years is always a motivating factor for Whakarewarewa, who go into the final as the form team of the competition after beating Te Puke Sports, Tauranga Sports and Mount Maunganui in recent weeks.

Mount Maunganui have shown plenty of resilience to get this far and will fancy their chances after falling at the final hurdle last year.

Mount Maunganui head coach Rodney Voullaire clearly feels his team did not get the kudos they deserved after beating Te Puke last week, in a game that hinged on a controversial red card to Te Puke flanker Dan O'Rourke.

"The focus in the media this week, has been all about poor Te Puke and Tauranga not making it," Voullaire said. "Well I see it as we both deserve to be in the final. Our scores against the so-called top teams show we both deserve to be here, and this weekend we will show the Bay of Plenty supporters why.

"I'm sure Whaka will be trying to do the same, with the match on neutral ground, and throwing in some good weather and great referees, it will be a spectacle to watch."

The so-called "neutral ground factor" has fired up Rotorua supporters all week, as they feel the final should be played in their city as Whakarewarewa are the top qualifiers left.

But it does not work that way as Bay of Plenty Rugby allocates points to each finalist, including the development grade, and the sub-union with the most points hosts the final. With Greerton Marist and Tauranga Sports contesting the development final (12.45pm on Saturday), Rotorua had no chance of hosting the final.

"I definitely think the system needs to be looked at again," said Whakarewa coach Ngarimu Simpkins.

"It only seems right, having finished as the top side, that we have earned the right to host the final. It would have been a great result for us."

Whakarewarewa will look to physically dominate the Mount Maunganui pack so expect plenty of fireworks early on in the forward exchanges in the match refereed by Brett Johnston.

Baywide First division, Second division and Senior Reserve semifinals will be played tomorrow, with finals next Saturday at Tauranga Domain.

Te Puke Sports flanker Dan O'Rourke's judicial hearing lasted 10 minutes on Wednesday night. The judiciary decided no further punishment was necessary after he was sent off in last week's semifinal against Mount Maunganui.

Bayfair Baywide finals on Saturday

1pm, Development, Tauranga Sports v Greerton Marist
*Referee: Jamie Bell

2.45pm, Premier, Mount Maunganui v Whakarewarewa
*Referee: Brett Johnston