Rotoiti have moved back into the top four on the Premier 1 table with 29-20 win over Te Puna.
After consecutive losses, against Greerton Marist and Rangataua, the win on Saturday was just what the doctor ordered for Rotoiti.
They now go into their local derby with Whakarewarewa in the final round next weekend knowing a semifinal spot at the Tai Mitchell Shield are theirs for the taking.
Rotoiti took the lead early against Te Puna when the kicked a penalty in the first minute of the game.
However, for the majority of the first half Te Puna looked the better side and had the majority of territory and possession.
Ten minutes in they scored to take the lead after spreading the ball right from a lineout inside the Rotoiti half.
A big crowd was at Emery Park for the match. Photo/Ben Fraser
Fullback Elijah Nicholas ran into space and created an overlap before drawing the last defender and passing to winger Hunter Mokomoko to score in the corner.
They made the lead 10-7 with a penalty goal 10 minutes before halftime.
It looked like Rotoiti would trail at the break but they fired themselves up and produced two tries in the last five minutes of the half to lead 17-10.
The first came from a lineout - Rotoiti formed a maul, drove over the try line and hooker William Royal broke off to score.
The second try also started with a lineout inside the Te Puna 22.
For several phases the Rotoiti forwards charged at the try line before lock Stevie Coffin did his best impression of a bulldozer to crash over and score.
Loni Fisiihoi goes on a run. Photo/Ben Fraser
Rotoiti looked the more enthusiastic side in the second half - flanker Josh White in particular did some fantastic work at the breakdown.
For 20 minutes they had Te Puna camped inside their own 22 and in the 60th minute produced a great forwards' try.
They had a scrum 5m out and powered their way over the line - all No 8 Jesse Acton had to do was fall on the ball to score.
They had another shortly afterwards and again it was the forwards doing the job.
Rotoiti had a lineout inside the Te Puna 22 and once again they formed a maul and drove over the try line for Hakarangi Tichborne to score and make the lead 29-10.
Te Puna came to life in the final minutes and scored twice to make the score a more respectable 29-20 but it was too little, too late.
