Despite two losses in as many weeks, it's not all doom and gloom for Whakarewarewa in the premier division of Baywide rugby.
Whaka played host to a determined Te Puna side at Puarenga Park at the weekend, going down 42-32. The previous week they were thrashed 41-9 by Opotiki and this week face unbeaten competition leaders and last year's champs Te Puke Sports.
Short term, things look bleak for the red and blacks, with injuries decimating their forward ranks. Against Opotiki and again on Saturday Whaka had no back reserves.
On Saturday Whaka were outmuscled up front, making it hard for stand-in first-five Maurice Stone (regular first-five Tyson Ripia is out with a hamstring injury) to get quality front foot ball to spark his back line. Despite this, half of Whaka's four tries were scored by the backs, with Courtney Mita and John Ririnui dotting down and hooker Trent Sweeny and Theo Heta grabbing the other two tries. Stone was solid with the boot, snaring three conversions and two penalties.
But the day belonged to Te Puna, with first-five Te Aihe Toma regularly combining with Chad Tuhoro to cause havoc, making half breaks which gave Te Puna's hungry forwards plenty to feed off.
The visitors scored five tries to Whanahou Peita, Turoia Kuka, Heywood Kuka, Tapene Mika and Marty Stevenson, with Toma kicking four conversions and three penalties for his side's 42 points.
The silver lining for Whaka would have to be the Kelly Haimona, Tamati Ryan and Daniel Ngawhika factor. Haimona and Ryan are on overseas contracts but are to return in time for the second round of the Baywide competition, while Ngawhika, who is studying in Hamilton, is expected to finish his course shortly.
In spite of the opposition scoring three tries to one, Mount Maunganui grabbed a 25-19 win over Rotoiti after 20 points from the boot of first-five Matt Golding.
Golding opened the scoring with his first penalty, before Rotoiti winger MaNasana Bole waltzed around the Mount defence to score under the posts. Two more Golding penalties saw the home side take a 9-7 advantage into the halftime break.
Just a minute into the second spell, the visitors to Blake Park hit the front when Luke Cassidy crashed over for Rotoiti's second touchdown, to lead 12-9. Three more penalties from Golding gave the advantage back to Mount Maunganui before halfback Scott Bradley finished off a Mount attack to score out wide. With the clock ticking, Rotoiti stormed the tryline and Bole picked up his second try.
Mount Maunganui's hard fought victory moves them into the top four for the first time this season.
Competition leaders Te Puke Sports cemented their place at the top of the standings with a solid 28-0 win over Opotiki at Murray Salt Stadium. Gideon Uelese, Isaac Takai and Jack Wilson scored tries; goal kicker Nick McCashin added 13 points with his boot.
Tauranga Sports ran riot over Rangataua at the Tauranga Domain, running in 15 tries on the way to a 99-9 win. Tauranga Sports star of the match was Nick Thompson who scored five and Jeremy Cave grabbed three tries.
Greerton Marist picked up their first success since earning promotion to the premier ranks when they cruised past Waikite 36-15.
Paroa lost their unbeaten record in division one when Kahukura used home ground advantage in Rotorua to upset the competition leaders 22-11. Rangiuru joined Paroa at the top of the standings after a 77-0 thumping of Reporoa.