Te Puke Sports No8 Eru Smith-Wano breaks away to score a crucial try in the victory over Mount Maunganui Sports. Photo / Andrew Warner
Defending champions Mount Maunganui Sports were knocked over by a resurgent Te Puke Sports side on the opening day of the Bayfair Baywide premier club competition on Saturday.
Te Puke showed their early season losses in the Western Bay local round were all part of a cunning plan devised by
head coach Craig Jeffries as they looked every inch early favourites in their 22-12 win at Blake Park.
The fire and brimstone in the forward pack that has been a hallmark of Te Puke teams over the years was a key factor in the win, as were inside backs Jono Kitto and new first-five Matt Coles who ran the game plan to perfection.
Mount Maunganui lacked their usual backline firepower but are sure to be in contention when the semifinals roll around.
Their opponents in last year's memorable final, Whakarewarewa, trounced Paroa 91-7. The one-sided result confirms most pundits' concerns that the third teams from Eastern Bay and Central Bay will have plenty of tough afternoons this winter. Rotorua's Waikite also lost heavily by 58-13 to Whakatane Marist.
