Who to pick, Uawa or Waiapu

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Waiapu versus Uawa in Rangitukia is not an easy result to predict.

The Pango Productions Waiapu team made a statement of intent with their 25-19 triumph over Ruatoria City in week 1 of the Enterprise Cars Ngati Porou East Coast club rugby competition.

They went on to record a draw (with Hikurangi), another win (41-0 against Tokomaru Bay United) and a narrow loss to front-runners Tihirau Victory Club to be sitting second on the table.

The Jesse Haenga-coached Waiapu actually led the seven-team competition for the first three weeks before unbeaten TVC edged them 31-26 in Round 4.

Covid-19 cost Waiapu and Hicks Bay a run last weekend but all games in Round 6 are confirmed for 2.30pm kick-offs on Saturday.

Tokomaru Bay face TVC at Hatea-a-Rangi, Waiapu play Pango Productions Uawa at George Nepia Memorial Park and Hicks Bay meet Hikurangi at Kawakawa mai Tawhiti.

Ruatoria City have the bye.

Defending champions Uawa should go into their clash with Waiapu with confidence after their comprehensive 48-12 defeat of Tokomaru Bay last weekend.

Hikurangi, after falling 26-20 to City, will be keen to bounce back against a Hicks Bay side who have not had a game since May 28.

The Coast-Poverty Bay derby, a bye and last weekend’s postponement will have Hicks Bay champing at the bit.

Tokomaru Bay have had a few downs since the up of their season-opening win against Hicks Bay.

They will need a powerful performance from 1-15 and the bench to upstage a TVC side determined to go one better than last year’s runners-up finish.

City’s win away to Hikurangi will be the wind in their sails for a week.

United will be eyeing them across the halfway line on their July 2 return.