Crunch time looms for Baywide division 1 rugby teams

HOPING:"If it's nice and fine we will try and move the ball a little bit," said Kahukura coach Wayne Fell of today's game at Te Teko. PHOTO/FILE A_121216sp6.JPG

It's not quite last chance saloon time for Kahukura - but it's close.

With three more games in the first round of the Baywide Division 1 competition, Kahukura need to push themselves up from seventh to at least fourth if they have ambitions to play in next season's Baywide Premiership.

The top four in the division, along with the bottom four from the first-round premiership, will form the Premier 2 division for round two of the Baywide competition. The top four from that competition will be promoted to the Baywide Premier division in 2018.

Tomorrow's opponent, Te Teko, are also in need of points as they are currently in fifth.

Kahukura head coach Wayne Fell is frustrated with the injury count his team has suffered, but is confident they will be up for the challenge.

"We had a tough game last week against Waikite. Unfortunately for us we had a number of boys knocked around and so we have a raft of injuries at the moment. So we will be slightly depleted heading down to Te Teko on Saturday but that's rugby and we have just got to do the best we can," he said.

Fell is hoping conditions will suit an expansive game.

"The focus will be weather-dependent, but if it's nice and fine we will try and move the ball a little bit. The boys enjoy throwing the ball around but we will have to earn our right to do that and we know it isn't easy down there. The forwards will need to stand up and set a good platform for the guys. Hopefully we can play well and execute everything and have a bit of fun as well," said Fell.

The head coach knows his team's chances are in their own hands.

"We still have three games to go and we need to win all three of those to be in with a chance. But it is still achievable and every other team is no doubt in the same position as us and you just have to do the best we can."

Te Teko head coach Simon Geddes has tagged the game as a "must win".

"There are a number of us bunched together in the middle of the table, we can't afford to drop any more games if we want to be in the top four. Really it is front-up time."

The game is being played at Dunderdale Park with a 2.45pm kick-off.

Meanwhile Ngongotaha are running away with the division title, heading the table with eight wins from eight and 38 points, seven more than second-placed Waikite.

Other Baywide division 1 games: Waimana v Judea at Waimana Domain, Marist St Michael's v Ruatoki at Marist Park, Ngongotaha v Katikati at Ngongotaha Domain, Rangiuru v Waikite at Centennial Park, Papamoa v Opotiki at Gordon Spratt Reserve.