Club Rugby: Axe poised over Whakatane Marist

Whakatane Marist face their most most important game of the Baywide premiership season tomorrow as the relegation axe hovers precariously over them.
Whakatane travel to Rotorua tomorrow to face Waikite. With automatic relegation to division one next season for the bottom-place team, there is huge pressure to avoid finishing last.
With just two rounds of the regular season remaining after this weekend, Whakatane Marist sit at the bottom, just two points in arrears of Te Puna who face defending champions Tauranga Sports tomorrow at Maramatanga Park.
The Eastern Bay side's lowly status belies some good performances this season under coach Matt Te Pou, the most successful New Zealand Maori coach in history.
His coaching tenure at the club is part of a long-term strategy to return Whakatane Marist as a Baywide heavyweight, although it goes without saying Whakatane need to remain on the premier ranks.
Waikite will be just as desperate for a win as a loss would put them close to the relegation zone. The Rotorua team are former Baywide premier heavyweights and moved back to the premier ranks when they won the division one crown last season.
One of the biggest crowds seen at Western Bay club rugby this year is likely to be at Blake Park tomorrow when Mt Maunganui takes on archrivals Te Puke Sports - the second and third-placed sides in the premier grade. The winner taking a big step to booking a home semifinal.
Defending titleholders Tauranga Sports should be too good for Te Puna at Maramatanga Park, whereas Rotoiti and Opotiki are likely to battle to the wire at Emery Park, with Whakarewarewa and Rangataua also expected to have a good tussle in Rotorua.
Division one new recruits Katikati will be desperate for victory when Paroa visits Moore Park. Last year's division two champions sit just off the pace in fifth position but have posted an unusual record of four drawn games during the season. Leaders Te Teko should book a home semifinal berth when they play Reporoa at Dunderdale Park.
The two colts competitions play the last of their round robin matches tomorrow before the quarter finals next weekend.
Tomorrow's Baywide games:
Premier (2.45pm): Rotoiti v Opotiki, Emery Park; Waikite v Whakatane Marist, Bellvue Rd; Te Puna v Tauranga Sports, Maramatanga Park; Whakarewarewa v Rangataua, Puarenga Park; Mount Maunganui v Te Puke Sports, Blake Park. Points: Tauranga Sports 58, Mount Maunganui 52, Te Puke 48, Whakarewarewa 44, Rangataua 40, Opotiki 35, Rotoiti 30, Waikite 25, Te Puna 19, Whakatane Marist 17.
Division one (2.45pm): Katikati v Paroa, Moore Park; Greerton Marist v Marist St Michaels, Greerton Park; Rangiuru v Kahukura, Jamieson Oval; Ruatoki v Ngongotaha, Tuhoe Park; Te Teko v Reporoa, Dunderdale Park. Points: Te Teko 51, Greerton Marist 49, Marist St Michaels 48, Ngongotaha 43, Katikati 42, Kahukura 35, Paroa 34, Rangiuru 32, Reporoa 19, Ruatoki 7.
Colts 1pm (section one): Te Puna v Marist St Michaels, Maramatanga Park; Rangataua v Tauranga Sports, Te Ariki Park; Greerton Marist v Opotiki Greerton Park; Mount Maunganui v Te Puke Sports, Blake Park. Points: Te Puke Sports 30, Greerton 19, Te Puna 18, Tauranga Sports 14, Mount Maunganui 11, Marist St Michaels 11, Rangataua 10, Opotiki 6.
(Section Two): Waikite v Ruatoki, Bellvue Rd; Whakarewarewa v Rotoiti, Puarenga Park; Edgecumbe v Judea, Edgecumbe Domain; Whakatane Marist bye. Points: Ruatoki 23, Waikite 19, Edgecumbe 14, Whakarewarewa 11, Rotoiti 10, Whakatane Marist 8, Judea 3.
Seeka KI Western Bay games:
Merv Scholes Trophy: Mt Maunganui v Matakana Island, Blake Park; Tauranga Sports v Arataki, Tauranga Domain (2.30pm).
Phelan Cup: Katikati v Papamoa, Moore Park; Judea v Te Puke Sports, Maharaia Winiata Park (2.30pm) Te Puna v Greerton Marist, Maramatanga Park; Eastern Districts bye.