There will be plenty of league to whet the appetite of ardent fans this weekend with both Waicoa Bay and Bay of Plenty district's competition taking to the fields tomorrow.
Puketawhero Park offers plenty of excitement with Pikiao reserves hosting Pacific and Ngongotaha hosting Otumoetai reserves in the Bay of Plenty district rugby league competition. Both games kick off at 1pm.
In the only Waicoa Bay competition at Puketawhero, Pikiao Warriors take on the Hamilton Hornets in the main event at 2.30pm on number one field, while at the same time on field two, Central will host Forestland.
It hasn't been an easy couple of weeks for Pikiao Warriors coach Selwyn Rikiti. He has had to nurse a number of his key players through injury. One in particular, Te Kaiaotea Te Mata "Bully" Tahuriorangi, has been struggling with a leg injury.
The nippy half is a key ingredient in Pikiao's play making formula and when he's not there it's noticeable.
The saving factor for Rikiti has been his experienced forwards Ivor Thomas and captain Jason Kameta. What these two props lack in size they more than make up for in heart. Thomas, who had contemplated retiring after last season, has been inspirational on and off the field.
Rikiti said the props' work rate at training was phenomenal and it was showing results on the field.
Pikiao got their Waicoa Bay campaign underway with a 38-16 win over Tauranga Whalers last week.
The Rotorua side's game against the Hornets tomorrow shouldn't be too challenging for the Mourea based side. The Hornets copped a 60-10 thrashing at the hands of Otumoetai Eels last week and should meet a similar fate at Puketawhero Park.
Tauranga Whalers host Turangawaewae at Waipuna Park tomorrow. Both teams lost their first up matches - Turangawaewae going down 24-10 to their neighbours Ngaruawahia. Neither will want another loss so it will be vital for both teams' forward packs to get momentum early.
Otumoetai Eels will travel over the Kaimai Ranges to take on Waikato's top side, Ngaruawahia, at League Park.
The Waikato side's game plan is simple - use their hard running forwards as a battering ram to weaken their opponent's defence and open holes for their slick backs to slip through.
However, the Eels are no push-overs and at their best they are a clinical side who rarely make mistakes while having the skills to pounce on their opponent's mishaps.
In the other pool, Hamilton City Tigers take on a confident Pacific Sharks side at Resthills, Hamilton. The Sharks were too strong for the Taupo Phoenix last week, beating them 20-0, while the Tigers are yet to open their account after drawing the bye last week.
Taupo host Taniwharau at Hickling Park tomorrow.
The visitors were too strong for Hukanui, beating them 30-14 last weekend.
All Waicoa Bay premier games kick off at 2.30pm except Ngaruawahia and Otumoetai which gets under way at 3pm.
Draws:
Waicoa Bay draw for June 16; (Black pool) Taupo v Taniwharau, Hickling Park; Hamilton City Tigers v Pacific, Resthills; Hukanui *bye*.
(Blue pool) Pikiao v Hamilton Hornets, Puketawhero Park; Tauranga v Turangawaewae, Waipuna Park; Ngaruawahia v Otumoetai, League Park;
Bay of Plenty district rugby league draw; (Division one) Pikiao v Pacific, Puketawhero Park; Central v Forestland, Puketawhero Park; Reporoa v Mangakino, Reporoa; Ngongotaha v Otumoetai, Puketawhero Park.
(Division two) Tauranga v Putaruru, Waipuna Park; Taupo v Central, Hickling Park; Turangi v Forestland, Turangi.