Real contest for play-off spots

There is always something extra on the line when Tauranga Sports and Mount Maunganui Sports clash.

The competitive history between the clubs and the whole Battle of the Bridge scenario adds another dimension to scrapping for a top four play-off position.

Tomorrow the latest instalment will be acted out at Blake Park with just three rounds to play before the play-offs.

Front-runners Mount Maunganui will be eager to stop sixth-placed Tauranga from making the semifinals.

Mount Maunganui coach Rodney Voullaire is happy with his team's progression and development over the past few weeks.

"We are up to the challenge and have been building well over the last three or four games and are continuing to take it game by game.

"We are just focusing on ourselves and not what Tauranga Sports bring. We still have a few things we need to work on ourselves. We will focus on our own patterns and making sure we are getting the little things right.

"We are amping for this game and the boys are really excited. It is always a good game, the Battle of the Bridge."

Tauranga Sports coach Zane Winslade is pleased to have secured the Jordan Cup with their 12-9 win over Te Puke Sports.

"It was great to get our hands on the Jordan Cup last weekend but we know it's now about winning the next three games to retain it for the season," he said.

"The Mount will be worthy challengers and they're going to be tough, but if we can get full commitment to the cause from all 22 players then we'll have a good chance."

Winslade knows his team needs to step up from last weekend to beat the Mounties on Sir Gordon Tietjens Field.

"It's no secret we like to attack with width and strike quickly off turnover ball. We'll also look to dominate scrum and lineout. The Mount is a really good team across the park so we are going to have to be smart and much more clinical than we were last week."

The other Premier 1 games will have a major bearing on who makes the play-offs.

Fifth-placed Te Puna should beat bottom team Whakarewarewa at home and could move ahead of either second-placed Rangataua Sports or fourth-placed Te Puke Sports, who meet in Te Puke.

Greerton Marist are in seventh place but a win over Rotoiti, who hold third spot, will change everything with just two more rounds to play after tomorrow.

In Baywide Division 1 action, first-equal Papamoa and third-placed Ruatoki meet at Gordon Spratt Reserve in an enticing clash.

Papamoa coach Paul Sloane has guided his team to three wins over Katikati, Judea and Rangiuru. With a strong defensive structure and home record Papamoa will be hard to knock over by their tough opponents from the Eastern Bay.

On Sunday the Baywide Women's competition enters the first round of the Cup and Trophy Championships.

Baywide rugby draws, Saturday
Premier 1 and Premier 1 Development
Premier kick-off: 2.45pm. Development kick-off: 1pm
Mount Maunganui (15 points) v Tauranga Sports (9) at Blake Park
Te Puke Sports (12) v Rangataua Sports (14) at Murray Salt Stadium
Te Puna (11) v Whakarewarewa (3) at Maramatanga Park
Greerton Marist (8) v Rotoiti (13) at Greerton Park

Baywide Premier 2 and Premier 2 Development
Premier kick-off: 2.45pm, Development kick-off: 1pm
Waikite v Whakatane Marist at Bellvue Road
Paroa v Ngongotaha at Lawson Park
Arataki v Poroporo at Arataki Park
Marist St Michael's v Opotiki at Marist Park

Baywide Division 1
Kick-off: 2.45pm
Papamoa v Ruatoki at Gordon Spratt Reserve
Katikati v Kahukura at Moore Park
Rangiuru v Judea at Centennial Park
Te Teko v Waimana at Dunderdale Park

Baywide Division 2
Kick-off: 2.45pm
Matata v Eastern Districts at Richmond Park
Murupara v Reporoa at Ngati Manawa Road
Eastern Pirates v Edgecumbe at Neil Hunt Park

Baywide Women
Sunday, kick-off: 1pm
Cup:
Rangiuru v Rangataua at Centennial Park
Waikite v Waimana at Bellvue Road
Trophy:
Whakarewarewa v Rotoiti at Puarenga Park
Te Whanau Apanui - Bye