The Daily Post's sports department previews some of the grassroots sporting events happening around the region's sports fields this weekend.
Baywide rugby
The second round of Baywide club rugby kicks off tomorrow, with Te Puke Sports firm favourites to go back to back champions.
Te Puke, who lead the competition with 41 points, are yet to taste the bitter pill of defeat so far this season, they host Mt Maunganui at Murray Salt Stadium.
Although there were only four points in it when the two teams met way back in round one (Te Puke winning 15-11), the Mount, who are seventh with 23 points, may struggle to contain a team who average 46.5 points per game and only give away 11.7 points.
Mount were probably lucky to come away with a 20-20 draw last week, when they hosted Whakarewarewa.
There is no secret to Te Puke's success - it's based around a large mobile pack who lay a great foundation for their exciting backs run by an in-form Nick McCashin.
Sitting in second place with 33 points, Tauranga Sport host Whaka at Tauranga Domain.
The last time the two teams met, Sport ran out of gas and the Rotorua side managed to snatch a draw.
Whaka are sixth with 24 points but are winless since their 29-10 win over Rotoiti four weeks ago. It's fair to say Whaka have struggled for the past few weeks to field a full 22-man squad, which has contributed to the Kevin Lee-coached side's losing streak.
It will be a tough match for the red and blacks but they are a team who can never be counted out and with a backline who can score from anywhere on the field, they can turn a game on its head.
Three teams are battling it out for the third spot on the table: Opotiki, Rotoiti and Te Puna all have 27 points.
Opotiki have found some great form in the past month with three wins and a draw last week against Tauranga Sports.
They travel from their Eastern Bay fortress to take on Greerton Marist, who lost 26-18 to Rotoiti last week.
Rotoiti shouldn't have too much of a problem picking up a win when they travel to Rotorua for their local derby against Waikite.
The yellow and blacks haven't won a match since week two of this year's competition.
Te Puna are another team in fine form, they pushed competition leaders Te Puke last week, narrowly going down 27-20.
Te Puna host Rangataua at Maramatanga Park. The visitors will be hoping to repeat last weekend's 52-21 win over Waikite and give Te Puna only their third loss at home.
In Division One of the PGG Wrightson Baywide rugby, it's a top-of-the-table clash with Rangiuru hosting Paroa in Te Puke. The teams share the lead on 39 points.
They are followed by Te Teko and Kahukura on 33 points.
They take on Whakatane Marist and Reporoa respectively. Meanwhile, Poroporo host Marist St Michael's and Ngongotaha host bottom of the table Ruatoki.
PGG Wrightson Baywide draw for Saturday:
Premier (2.45pm): Te Puna v Rangataua, Maramatanga Park; Te Puke Sports v Mount Maunganui, Murray Salt Stadium; Waikite v Rotoiti, Bellvue Rd; Tauranga Sports v Whakarewarewa, Tauranga Domain; Greerton Marist v Opotiki, Greerton Park.
Points table: Te Puke Sports 41, Tauranga Sports 33, Sports Opotiki 27, Rotoiti 27, Te Puna 27, Whakarewarewa 24, Mt Maunganui 23, Rangataua 10, Waikite 7, Greerton Marist 6.
Division One (2.45pm); Poroporo v Marist St Michaels, Poroporo Park; Whakatane Marist v Te Teko, Rugby Park Whakatane; Ngongotaha v Ruatoki, Ngongotaha Domain; Kahukura v Reporoa, Kuirau Park; Rangiuru v Paroa, Te Puke.
Points table: Paroa 39, Rangiuru 39, Te Teko 33, Kahukura 33, Whakatane Marist 26, Ngongotaha 20, Poroporo 15, Marist St Michael's 15, Reporoa 6, Ruatoki 2.
Colts: Ruatoki v Rangataua, Tuhoe Park; Opotiki v Mount Maunganui, Princess Street Reserve; Waikite v Marist St Michaels, Bellvue Road; Tauranga Sports v Whakarewarewa, Tauranga Domain; Greerton Marist v Rotoiti, Greerton Park; Kahukura v Te Puke Sports, Kuirau Park; Te Puna bye.
Points table: Mt Maunganui 43, Greerton Marist 33, Te Puna 32, Tauranga Sports 29, Te Puke Sports 23, Ruatoki 23, Sports Opotiki 20, Waikite 20, Rangataua 15, Marist St Michael's 13, Whakarewarewa 13, Rotoiti 6, Kahukura 1. - By Greg Taipari
Football
It's getting desperate for Rotorua United in the WaiBop Federation League.
Rotorua United: played seven, lost four, drawn three, won none, points three, position on league table, last.
They have the worst defensive record, having conceded 22 goals and only Otorohanga, with six goals, have scored fewer than United's tally of nine.
The Rotorua side was also eliminated in the first round of the Chatham Cup.
No matter what way you look at it, it doesn't make good reading.
The loss of experienced players Paul Mullen, Steve Turner and Shadley Petersen hasn't helped, but coach Neil Rush still has a reasonable squad.
United host Otumoetai at Neil Hunt Park tomorrow and with Melville favoured to beat Otorohanga a win would not only lift United off the bottom it would be a lift in morale for players and supporters.
Across town at Stembridge Rd, Ngongotaha also have an important game against AFC Fury.
The young Villagers team have played some good football this season and their mid-table position doesn't do them justice and a win against Fury is not beyond them.
The top two, Taupo and Claudelands Rovers, face off at Galloway Park, where the Federation Challenge Shield will also be on the line.
Without a doubt, Taupo will start favourites but there could be little between the teams at the end of 90 minutes.
In other games, Tauranga Boys' College are at home against Old Blues and Waikato Unicol host Whakatane Town who need to win to stay in touch with the front runners.
Division one points: Taupo played 7 points 21, Claudelands (7) 18, Fury (8) 14, Whakatane, Tauranga Boys' (7) 10, Ngongotaha (7) 9, Old Blues, Otumoetai (7) 7, Unicol (7) 6, Otorohanga (8) 5, Rotorua (7) 3.
Division two:
Leaders Tauranga City should be too strong for Te Awamutu at Links Ave, Cambridge host Katikati in what promises to be a close encounter, Tokoroa are at home against West Hamilton, while the bottom two Matamata and Rotorua United meet at the Matamata Domain.
Division two points: Tauranga (7) 18, Clube Alegria (8) 16, Cambridge (6) 15, Katikati (7) 13, Te Awamutu (6) 8, West Hamilton (7) 7, Tokoroa (7) 5, Rotorua (7) 4, Matamata (7) 3.
- By Brian Smith
Netball
After a one-sided opening weekend of Baywide Open netball Rotorua's Whakarewarewa Red are expecting a tougher challenge on Sunday.
While in the past, the competition has been split into two divisions, that has not been possible this year with just nine sides entered.
That resulted in a couple of massive victories last week for the Rotorua side, who were last year's Baywide runners up and are front runners for the Rotorua premier crown.
Whaka Red coach Carol Holt said that overall the Baywide standard was not as high as in previous years, but there were still some excellent teams to look out for.
On Sunday, all teams play three matches at Tauranga's TECT arena with Whaka Red up against newcomers Nga Hau E Wha, Mount Allied and Whaka Black.
"I'm expecting a good run against Mount Allied and Whaka Black but I don't know too much about Nga Hau E Wha," said Holt.
Holt singled out Whakatane's Paroa Panthers, coached by Mary-Jane Araroa, as one of the sides to beat in the competition, along with the Bay of Plenty under 19 team.
She said her side were trying not to focus on winning the competition, instead taking it week by week.
This week will be extra tough for all teams, with the three games in a day testing the players' fitness. With this in mind, Holt will be taking her full squad of 15 players, naming a final 12 before each match.
Ngongotaha Premiers, who play in the Tauranga competition, should have a comfortable victory over Premier 2 side Marist Shakers in their first match of the day. However, with games against the Bay under 19s and Mount Allied to follow, the results should be a good indicator of their championship credentials.
Baywide Open draw for Sunday (all matches TECT Arena):
9.45am: Whakarewarewa Red v Nga Hau E Wha; Trident High School v Mount Allied; Bay of Plenty under 19 v Whakarewarewa Black; Ngongotaha Premier v Marist Shakers; Paroa Panthers bye. 11.30am: Whakarewarewa Red v Mount Allied; Paroa Panthers v Whakarewarewa Black; Trident High School v Nga Hau E Wha; Ngongotaha Premier v Bay of Plenty Under 19; Marist Shakers bye. 1.15pm: Whakarewarewa Red v Whakarewarewa Black; Ngongotaha Premier v Mount Allied; Paroa Panthers v Nga Hau E Wha; Trident High School v Marist; Bay of Plenty Under 19 bye. 2.45pm: Paroa Panthers v Marist Shakers.
- By Katie Holland
League
An injury-ravaged Pikiao take on Taupo tomorrow in what coach Selwyn Rikiti describes as a "huge" game for the community as a whole. It's the final round of the Bay of Plenty premier rugby league competition and after suffering their first loss last week Pikiao are in a three-way tie at the top of the table with Otumoetai and Pacific - the three sides all vying for a top-two finish and a place in August's grand final.
Pacific have the bye tomorrow, so receive two points while Otumoetai are expected to be too strong for Central.
With it looking likely to come down to points differential Rikiti has done his maths.
"We've got to win by a minimum of 14 points," he said.
Pikiao look assured of a top-four finish and a spot in the WaiCoa Bay club competition, however for Rikiti and his players the prospect of a first grand final in 15 years is the main motivation.
"We have a lot of players who have been at the club for a long time and never made a grand final." A bruising victory against Otumoetai two weeks ago left the side with a number of injuries and last week's 30-20 loss to Pacific only made that worse.
Rikiti said four of his main players were doubtful and he would give them until tomorrow morning to recover before naming the team to run out in Taupo. But he remained optimistic his side could pull off the 14-point win he believes is required.
"We still have the experience in our side. We still have young talent. Provided we stick to having the right sort of attitude, having the discipline and putting big value on our points we should be okay," he said.
After going down 30-14 to Tauranga last week, Central look unlikely to do Pikiao a favour and upset Otumoetai at Puketawhero Park but will be hoping to improve on last week's error-ridden performance. In the other match, Tauranga host Forestland at Grenada Park.
In the premier reserve competition, it's almost the halfway point of the competition, with Pacific and Mangakino both undefeated at the top of the table.
Premier Draw for Saturday (all matches 2.30pm): Taupo v Pikiao, Taupo; Tauranga v Forestland, Grenada Park; Central v Otumoetai, Puketawhero Park.
Points: Otumoetai, Pacific, Pikiao 10; Taupo 6; Forestland, Tauranga, Central 4.
Premier Reserve Draw (all matches 1pm): Taupo v Pikiao, Taupo; Tauranga v Forestland, Grenada Park; Central v Otumoetai, Puketawhero Park; Ngongotaha v Pacific, Puketawhero Park.
- By Katie Holland
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