Rotoiti's Te Ra Whata runs the ball during a win against Whakarewarewa last weekend. The win means Rotoiti host a semifinal against Rangataua this weekend. Photo / Stephen Parker
Rotoiti's Te Ra Whata runs the ball during a win against Whakarewarewa last weekend. The win means Rotoiti host a semifinal against Rangataua this weekend. Photo / Stephen Parker
Four does not go into two - that's the simple equation facing this week's semifinalists.
On a dramatic final day of the round robin last weekend the top two, Rangataua and Te Puke, both lost which saw them drop to third and fourth respectively.
Meanwhile, Mount Maunganui and Rotoiti picked up wins which moved them into first and second and ensured they have home ground advantage in this weekend's semifinals.
Rotoiti host the defending champions Rangataua at Bellevue Rd.
They have had an impressive season to date, producing winning performances at crucial times.
Rotoiti coach Richard Francis said a strong performance up front and strong defensive effort from their backline would be crucial to a winning performance.
"It's crucial we meet Rangataua up front, win our set piece, and contest at the breakdown. Our backline defence has to be spot on because they like to run the ball.
"We will be approaching this weekend's game exactly the same way we have every other game - with a sense of survival, discipline and control throughout.
"We will also enjoy the occasion being a home semifinal and we will be making the most of that home ground advantage.
"Finals rugby comes down to big moments and who takes their opportunities. It's going to be an awesome game of rugby between two great Maori clubs with a lot of mana," Francis said.
Rotoiti will have their vocal home ground behind them during their semifinal against Rangataua this weekend. Photo / File
Rangataua coach John O'Loan said the right attitude would be vital.
"Semifinals is all about turning up with a real want-to-win attitude.
"We've proven in the past that when we get our head space right all the other things fall into place. But we need to ensure when we are given the opportunity we are capitalising on the scoreboard and staying focused on what the plan is.
"It's important for us to play winning, positive rugby. We can't let ourselves go into our shells when things don't go our way," O'Loan said.
He said beating Rotoiti would be a challenging task and was aware of the threat their home advantage may play.
"Despite Rotoiti having the best defensive record this round they still have a potent, hard-running attack led by some of their big boys up front and a couple of very good play makers.
"However, the major obstacle for us is they have home ground advantage which comes with a very loyal and vocal supporter base. This provides challenges for us that I know as a club we are absolutely up for it.
"As the current Baywide champions, we have no intention of giving the cup away without scrapping and fighting for every metre it may take to keep hold of it."
In the other semifinal Mount Maunganui host Te Puke at Blake Park, just two weeks after losing to them at Murray Salt Stadium.
Mount coach Rodney Voullaire said his side would continue working on looking after the ball.
Mount Maunganui's Matt Golding runs the ball against Te Puna last weekend. Photo / Andrew Warner
"We're not going to change much to be honest - we had to fix up a few errors, last time we played Te Puke we had 22 unforced errors.
"We cut that down by a quarter last week, we're hoping the weather plays ball and we can hold on to possession," Voullaire said.
He said the Mount Maunganui players enjoyed playing expansive rugby as much as their supporters enjoyed watching it.
"We've got a great, vibrant team and they love to pass the ball around, that's Mounties footy.
"Te Puke have been really tough this year, they're a big, physical pack and they love to bully teams."
Voullaire said the closeness of this year's competition was a credit to the way it was run by the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union and the performance of the referees.
"They've spread the quality of players around and the quality of the referees has been great - they can change games quite easily if we haven't got the right refs."
Te Puke coach Craig Jeffries said his side's 33-22 loss to Greerton Marist last weekend was a wake-up call.
Te Puke players (left to right) John Corbett, Luke Campbell and Jared Bekhuis in action against Greerton Marist last weekend. Photo / Stuart Whitaker
"It's going to be a typical Mount v Te Puke game where nothing is given away, we'll have to fight for every inch of the ground - it will be real a cracker of a game I'd imagine.
"We got smacked last week by Greerton, we've got a fair bit to tidy up after that game. Definitely defensively we let ourselves down and accuracy, we made so many mistakes and kicked poorly.
"Greerton came at us and that's what the Mount are going to do, so I guess the positive spin on it would be they've given us some stuff to wake us up and we're taking nothing for granted.
"We beat these guys a couple of weeks ago but this is a whole new 80 minutes, so that counts for nothing," Jeffries said.
