Rugby: Rotoiti set to find if they're real deal

Luke Perott wins clean ball for Te Puke Sports. Photo / George Novak

Whether Rotoiti are serious challengers for the Bayfair Baywide title, or just off to a better than usual early season start, will be revealed at Te Puke Sports tomorrow.

The home team will be a severe test for the boys from beside the pristine Rotorua lake, who last week travelled to the Tauranga Domain and took down the defending champs.

Te Puke, just a point clear of second-placed Mount Maunganui and three ahead of Rotoiti, will be favourites at home after beating Whakarewarewa 46-38 in a 13-try spectacular last weekend.

Te Puke coach Craig Jeffries expects a tough challenge.

"Rotoiti are a completely different side to what they were a couple of years ago," he said. "They have a lot of depth and having seen they beat Tauranga last week, we know this game is going to be big."

Rotoiti's coach Kevin Lee was thrilled to get Tauranga Sports' scalp last week and would love to add Te Puke to a growing list: "We're looking forward to bench marking ourselves against Te Puke to get an idea of where we stand.

"Playing at their home ground always makes things harder too," Lee said.

Tauranga Sports host Opotiki at Tauranga Domain and should get maximum points, but after last week who knows? One certainty is Opotiki's big, brutal pack will need to be matched if Tauranga's sharp backs are to shine.

Mount Maunganui travel to Maungatapu to take on Rangataua, who were well off the pace against Greerton Marist last round. But every team seems to lift against the free-flowing Mounties and Rangataua always like to send their ex-coach Rodney Voullaire home winless.

Te Puna have just one win, and drew with bottom side Rangiuru last week, but are better than that. They will host a Greerton Marist side starting to flourish under coach Kane Parker.

Bayfair Baywide draw

Saturday, May 10
Development games 1pm, Premier games 2.45pm
Whakarewarewa vs Rangiuru at Puarenga Park.
Tauranga Sports vs Opotiki at Tauranga Domain.
Te Puke Sports vs Rotoiti at Murray Salt Stadium.
Te Puna vs Greerton Marist at Maramatanga Park.
Rangataua vs Mount Maunganui at Te Ariki Park.

Points: Te Puke Sports 27, Mount Maunganui 26, Rotoiti 24, Tauranga Sports 23, Whakarewarewa 21, Greerton Marist 18, Rangataua 13, Opotiki 10, Te Puna 10, Rangiuru 2.