Rugby: Clinical West charge into final

Tauranga West booked a place in today's Tai Mitchell final at Blake Park with a clinical and efficient 34-5 victory over Tauranga East.

West will face Te Puke at 12.30pm in today's final after the defending champions beat Rotorua Maroon 22-7 in the other major semifinal yesterday.

The clash between the two Tauranga teams was expected to be a close affair after they drew 17-17 on Friday but from the opening whistle - from excellent 14-year-old referee George Haswell - it was West who set their mark on the game.

East dropped the kick-off and lock George Catto drove forward to set up quick ruck ball that was quickly fed out to winger Jack Broadley-Ryan, who finished expertly for the first of his team's six tries.

East had a few attacking forays into West's territory but they had to defend most of the half against a well-drilled forward pack and some dazzling running from centre Jack McManaway and particularly fullback Logan Karauria, whose skills delighted the excellent crowd watching in the sun.

Flanker Kobe Rogers scored to give West a comfortable 17-0 lead at halftime.

Any chance of a comeback by East was shattered as Karauria and winger Lachlan Haycock quickly stretched the score out to 27-0.

East finally had something to show for their efforts when No8 Mileno Fotu charged down a clearing kick by Karauria to score but his opposite Neitana Tapiata-Smith had the final laugh when he crossed unopposed from a scrum.

Tauranga West head coach Geoff Booth was pleased with how his team stepped up from their earlier performances.

"In that first game [against Tauranga East] they fed off our mistakes and we couldn't get any flow and build pressure, so the tournament has been about let's build pressure," Booth said.

"We don't have to score off the first phase and today I thought we built pressure really well. 'The boys realise they have to go five or six phases before they can cross the line, and that is the one key difference today."

In other results, Whakatane beat Rotorua Gold 29-26 and Opotiki thumped Rangataiki 71-0.

Finals day at Blake Park today starts at 9.30am with the Bill Murray Trophy playoffs, followed by the Gavin Parkinson Trophy and Rob Shaw Cup games at 11am before the Tai Mitchell final at 12.30pm.

Results:

Tauranga West 34 (Jack Broadley-Ryan, Eldo Pasi, Kobe Rogers, Logan Karauria, Lachlan Haycock, Neitana Tapiata-Smith tries; Jay Gardiner 2 cons) Tauranga East 5 (Mileno Fotu try).

Te Puke 22 (Coolio Williams, Tre Pohipi, Tamikoha Te Aute tries; Wipori Tuanau 2 cons, pen) Rotorua 7.