League: Stallions look to finish on high

The Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions will host the Central Vipers in Rotorua on Sunday. Pictured is Stallions player Shaquille Jakeman. Photo / Andrew Warner

The Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions will look to end their season on a high when they tackle the Central Vipers in Rotorua.

The Stallions will play their final game of the season at Puketawhero Park on Sunday looking for back-to-back wins.

It has been an up-and-down season for the Stallions in the NZRL Pirtek National Premiership this year.

They have dropped three matches to powerhouse teams Canterbury Bulls, Akarana Falcons (Auckland) and Counties Manukau Stingrays while winning two matches against the Wellington Orcas and most recently the Northern Swords.

It means they still have a chance of finishing in fourth spot, in the seven-team competition, if they defeat Central Vipers on Sunday.

If their 30-all draw in pre-season is anything to go by, it should be a good match in Rotorua.

The Stallions represent the Bay of Plenty District Rugby League, which covers the Rotorua, Taupo, Tokoroa and Mangakino area.

Taupo Phoenix captain John Koko and Pacific Sharks star Isaiah Cooper-Tetevano will partner each other in the centres for the Stallions while Mangakino player Johnson Peri will start in the halves.

Raureti Grace (Ngongotaha Chiefs), Hone Love-Henry (Taupo Phoenix), Lionel Skipworth (Pikiao Warriors) and Cassius Dunn-Reid (Pacific Sharks) will all start in the pack for the Stallions.

Meanwhile, Riki Collier (Pikiao Warriors) and Tupara Tupara (Taupo Phoenix) will come off the bench.

Puketawhero Park will also host the NZRL National Youth Tournament next week for under-15s and under-17s, starting on Monday and running until Friday.