Rugby: Mounties must win to have a chance

Robert Dunne in action for Te Puna in their last home game at Maramatanga Park. Photo / File

Defending champions Mount Maunganui Sports have to find their winning mojo if they want to contest the semifinals of the Bayfair Baywide Premier competition.

After a lacklustre start to the 2015 season, the Mounties are seventh and desperately needing to get up over eighth-placed Te Puna at Maramatanga Park tomorrow. Whakatane Marist, Rotoiti and Rangataua shot past Mount Maunganui last Saturday after Rotoiti's remarkable win at Blake Park.

Te Puna will be looking forward to Mount Maunganui's visit and have a well drilled team that will be enhanced by the return of captain and outstanding halfback Te Aihe Toma.

The top three teams " Tauranga Sports, Te Puke Sports and Whakarewarewa " look sure to contest the play-offs, so the battle for fourth spot is an intriguing contest with only the bottom three clubs " Opotiki, Paroa and Waikite " not in the running.

In Rotorua, third placed Whakarewarewa will be looking to bounce back from their last round trouncing by Tauranga Sports. Their clash with second placed Te Puke Sports is never one for the faint hearted and tomorrow's game is set to be typically tough.

Te Puke Sports coach Craig Jeffries has not forgotten the thumping Whakarewarewa handed them on their last trip to Rotorua.

"We are very aware of the hiding they gave us over there last year, and no doubt they will be trying to replicate that," Jeffries said. "Heading to Whaka is never an easy task, especially following Tauranga Sports. They will be hurting after their loss last weekend and will want to get back on track."

Meanwhile, the top of table clash in division one will hold plenty of interest. Unbeaten Kahukura host Arataki, who have just one loss this season, with both teams wanting promotion to the Premier division.

Arataki coach Marty Bourke says "it will be a good challenge for us given they are competition leaders and averaging about 34 points a game".

"It will be a good indicator if we are deserving of a spot in the top four or not. This year we have been going well enough but, as with any team, injuries and player availability are a real pain," Bourke said.

"We had a rough week with our life member and one-eyed supporter Sid Longley losing his wife after a battle with cancer, but that seems to have brought the group closer together, and puts why we play the game into perspective.

"Our focus for the weekend will be to test ourselves against the competition leaders who have made no secret of their desire to win that promotion spot. Regardless of the result, we need to play our style of rugby, and the key to winning away from home will be in our preparation".

Rugby draws, tomorrow:

•Premier/Development: Whakarewarewa v Te Puke at Puarenga Park; Paroa v Greerton Marist at Lawson Park; Rotoiti v Opotiki at Emery Park; Te Puna v Mt Maunganui at Maramatanga Park; Waikite v Tauranga Sports at Bellvue Road; Whakatane Marist v Rangataua at Rugby Park (Premier kick-off at 2.45pm; Development at 1pm).

•Premier points: Tauranga Sports 20, Te Puke Sports 17, Whakarewarewa 14, Whakatane Marist 11, Rangataua 11, Rotoiti 11, Mount Maunganui 10, Te Puna 9, Greerton Marist 6, Paroa 5, Opotiki 4, Waikite 0.

•Division 1: Galatea v Poroporo at Galatea Domain; Kahukura v Arataki at Kuirau Park; Katikati v Reporoa at Moore Park; Rangiuru v Ngongotaha at Centennial Park, Te Puke; Ruatoki v Judea at Tuhoe Park; Te Teko v Marist St Michael's at Dunderdale Park. Kick-off 2.45pm.