Pikiao up for the challenge against unbeaten Otumoetai

Pikiao Warriors forward Jason Whareaitu hits a gap against Ngongotaha last weekend. Photo/Stephen Parker

The Pikiao Warriors have their work cut out for them this week as they travel to top-of-the-table Otumoetai.

Otumoetai, who are unbeaten, have been winning games for fun all season and have been a class above the rest of the competition.

Pikiao led 24-0 after 65 minutes against Ngongotaha last weekend, but switched off and let their local rivals score three times in the last 15 minutes to make the deficit a more respectable 24-14.

Pikiao coach Jason Parata said his side would need to turn their 65 minute performance into 80 minutes to have any chance today.

"We need to have a complete effort.

"We're working on the little things, the little 1 per centers - I was happy with the 65-minute effort, it was just the last 15.

"For 65 minutes we had a wall that Ngongotaha couldn't get through ... we know we've got a wall and the biggest bonus is the way we felt at 24-0.

"All the boys felt good for that, they know the last 10-15 minutes wasn't them and they tried things they shouldn't have tried," Parata said.

He said the discipline and composure his side showed against Ngongotaha was something to build on.

"They are pretty tough at home, most teams are, it's not a trip anyone looks forward to really.

"To win the competition we're going to have to beat them, either now or at the end of the season, so the challenge for us is to see whether we've improved since the last time we played them.

"Their discipline is good and they are pretty quick all around the park, their line speed and play of the ball.

"The challenge we set ourselves is to see if we can slow them down, that's the biggest thing.

"The boys are keen to go, they'll run hard and tackle hard and see what comes of that."

Meanwhile, the Ngongotaha Chiefs are hopeful of bouncing back from their loss to Pikiao with a win over Mangakino at home this afternoon.

Coach Jason Walker said he expected Mangakino to attempt to use their large forwards up the middle.

"They've got a pretty big pack so we need to turn them around as much as we can and get them moving.

"They rotate their forwards quite well with substitutions so we just need to speed the game up and keep them under the pump.

"We've been working on that through the week, it's something we've been trying to get them to do but haven't quite got there yet," Walker said.

He said the biggest lesson his side learnt in their loss to Pikiao was to take more care of possession.

"Just ball retention really, we gave them too much possession and let them put us under pressure.

"We didn't have enough depth on attack and let them get up in our faces."

Walker hoped his side would take some confidence out of finishing that game strongly.

"They seemed pretty keen at training but it's about turning up on the day."

Coastline/Bay of Plenty Premier Rugby League:

Saturday 2.30pm
Ngongotaha v Mangakino at Puketawhero Park
Otumoetai v Pikiao at Mitchell Park
Taupo v Pacific at Hickling Park
Taneatua Bye