Big derby to open season

DERBY DAY: Rotoiti'sMatt Landers (right) in action last season against Whaka. PHOTO/FILE

WHEN it comes to Rotorua club rugby it doesn't get any bigger than a Whakarewarewa Rotoiti derby match.

The two proud clubs are set to do battle on Saturday in round one of the 2016 Baywide premier rugby season, at Whaka's home field Puarenga Park. Both teams have more than early season form and competition points to play for: the Tai Mitchell Shield and the Banner are up for grabs.

Rotoiti coach Dave McLean said he wasn't too worried about having the derby first up this year and it generally produced a good match.

"It will be a good game, they always are these derby matches," he said.

"It is a one-off game for both [the Tai Mitchell and Banner] and the winner takes all."

He said they had a few changes to their roster this year and they had been "ticking along" nicely in pre-season.

We are still rebuilding because we have lost a few guys who have decided to move on. But we have just got better and better during our pre-season games.

Rotoiti coach Dave McLean

Rotoiti have played two preseason games losing to Melville (Hamilton) before beating Arataki. Whakarewarewa have only played one pre-season match against University
(Hamilton) which they lost.

Despite only playing the one match in pre-season, Whakarewarewa have managed to recruit well in the off-season. Chauncy Edwardson-who was part of the Waikato side which won the Ranfurly Shield last year-has joined the club alongside ex-Te Puke Sports player Eru Smith-Wano.

Joe Savage is also back from Australia.

"We don't want to finish in the same place as last year, and just settle for making the semifinals," Whaka coach Kopae Irihei said.

"We are hoping these new players could be the difference in terms of getting us over the
line this season and winning a championship."

The last time the two sides met, Whaka defeated Rotoiti 27-20 at Emery Park to win back the Tai Mitchell Shield. It also proved a huge result in helping Whaka make the semifinals just ahead of Rotoiti last season.

Whaka and Rotoiti are the only Rotorua clubs in the premier competition this year with Waikite down to division one.

Four Rotorua clubs will feature in the Baywide division one competition which also starts this weekend.

A new format for the Baywide club competitions debuts this year. A full round-robin will be
played up until June 4 before teams are re-graded into three competitions of eight teams, and points re-started for the next round robin stage.

"I think it is a good thing. Once you sort out the top eight there is no easy games left, so you have to work really hard each week, where as when there are 12 teams in the premier division you could probably afford to play some reserves in some games," Irihei said.

- Baywide rugby draw for round one (2.45pm kick-off unless stated
otherwise):
- Premier:
Tonight: Greerton Marist v Te Puna, Greerton Park (6.45pm).
Tomorrow: Rangataua v TePuke Sports, Te Ariki Park; Arataki v Mount Maunganui, Arataki Park; Paroa v Whakatane Marist, Lawson Park.
Saturday: Whakarewarewa v Rotoiti, Puarenga Park; Opotiki v Tauranga Sports, Princess St Reserve.

- Division One:
Tomorrow: Judea v Papamoa, Maharaia Winiata Park (1.30pm); Katikati v Rangiuru, Moore Park.
Saturday: Te Teko v Marist St Michael's, Dunderdale Park; Kahukura v Waimana, Kuirau Park; Ruatoki v Ngongotaha, Rugby Park; Poroporo v Waikite, PoroporoPark.