Pikiao's Raureti Grace (right) in action against his old club on Saturday. Photo / Ben Fraser
Pikiao's Raureti Grace (right) in action against his old club on Saturday. Photo / Ben Fraser
Pikiao have outmuscled Ngongotaha 20-8 in their Rotorua derby match to secure two precious competition points in the Bay of Plenty Coastline premier competition.
Pikiao welcomed back a couple of their star players for the derby on Saturday afternoon, giving the club a boost ahead of the match-up.
The wetand muddy conditions meant a lot of the game was restricted to the forward packs but that did not seem to bother either side.
Both packs gave each other plenty during the at-times heated game, which even saw a fight break out in the first half, resulting in a Pikiao player being sent to the sin bin.
Pikiao coach Garrum Davis said the likes of captain Rocky Ahuriri and young prop Rikihana Te Rangi stood out in their forward pack and helped them get across the line.
"It was quite evenly matched really. I think the weather played a big part in that, so we had to use our forwards quite a bit," he said.
"Then when we managed to get our backs into the game it opened up a bit."
He said it was an important win for the club which now has a bit of breathing room inside the top four. Going into the match Pikiao were looking to hold on to fourth spot with Mangakino and Ngongotaha close behind them on the ladder.
Tense moment between Pikiao and Ngongotaha at Puketewhero Park on Saturday Photo/Ben Fraser
"It has put us three points ahead of Mangakino ... so it gives us a bit of breathing room."
Although Ngongotaha remain bottom of the ladder, with only one win this season, Davis said they put up a good battle on Saturday.
"They gave us a good game. They brought it to us," he said. "Jason Walker, for a man in his 40s to still be playing premier football is remarkable. As a coaching staff we were talking about it and we thought he was the best on the park for them."
Pikiao will play against Mangakino next weekend in a fixture that could allow the Rotorua club to secure their place in the playoffs.
In the other premier games, Mangakino just lost to the Pacific Sharks 18-16 at Memorial Park, and Taupo Phoenix were too strong for the resurgent Otumoetai Eels winning 28-6 at Hickling Park.
