Rotoiti beat Greerton Marist in a close encounter at Emery Park on Saturday. Photo/File
Rotorua teams overcame close encounters to battle to impressive wins in the Baywide Premier.
Both Rotoiti and Whakarewarewa recorded narrow results at home - Rotoiti beat Greerton Marist 34-32 at Emery Park while Whaka recorded a 28-22 win over Mount Maunganui Sports at Puarenga Park in round three of the competition yesterday.
Rotoiti dived over for five tries in total with Baywide academy player and halfback Te Ra Whata sliding over for two while forward Abe Tito, back Beau Kiel and Shilo Cullen also touched down. Whakataki Cunningham kicked three successful conversions and one penalty.
The home side went in 27-15 up at half time largely thanks to an impressive start from the kickoff - scoring three tries in the first 30 minutes.
But Rotoiti's scalp was made all the more memorable after they played the final 30 minutes of the match with just 14 men after forward Abe Tito received a second yellow for a high tackle.
And Greerton could have snatched victory in the last phase of the match, but a dogged home defence dug deep and intercepted at the crucial moment.
Rotoiti head coach William Royal said he was delighted with the final result and highlighted the performances of Baywide academy players Whata and Raniera Whakataka.
"Everybody was totally ecstatic on the final whistle," he said. We really were made to work hard but to get that result with just 14 men showed the character of the team.
"We got off to a great start - the guys knew we needed to play our systems and cut out errors and that's exactly what they did. Both our attack and defence worked together and our tries reflected the good work. Everybody did their job.
"Greerton could have grabbed it - their backs really dragged them back into the game in the second half but we stayed cool and calm and made a great interception when they had us backed into the corner near the end.
"I was really pleased with what I saw especially from Te Ra and Whakataka - it was their first games and they stepped up to the mark and were influential in the game, they should be very proud of their performance."
The result leaves Rotoiti sixth in the table.
"We've had a good start so far and I'm happy. Our first goal is still to make that top eight - you don't take that for granted because 12 tough teams all want the spots," said Royal.
Elsewhere Whaka touched down for four tries against the Mount - both Dave Marinkkovich and Chauncy Edwardson grabbed two and Ryubyn Vaipo converted all of them.
Whaka head coach Joe Savage said he was pleased with the result - especially as his team was trailing 10-7 at half time.
"I'm extremely happy, in patches we did really well and it's a result we needed," he said.
"In the first 40 minutes we made silly mistakes like holding onto the ball and not hitting our targets.
Savage added the introduction of players frontrower James Lay and assistant coach Edwardson at centre made a huge impact.
"They really were influential and turned the game for us. Edwardson created good space for himself - scoring and setting up another very early on."
Whaka sit just behind local rivals Rotoiti in seventh.
"We need to use this result to push forward. The aim is to be in the top two at the end of round one and we have more than enough quality to do that," said Savage.
Meanwhile in the Baywide Division 1 it was a mixed day of results for local teams. On the positive Waikite thumped Katikati 91-7 at Bellvue Rd and Ngongotaha, also at home beat Te Teko 27-8 at the Ngongotaha Domain.
Elsewhere Marist St Michael's lost narrowly to Waimana 34-32 in a close encounter away at the Waimana Domain and Kahukura suffered a similar fate losing 19-16 against Papamoa at the Gordon Spratt Reserve.
Baywide Club rugby results
Saturday April 01
Baywide Premier results:
Rotoiti 34 Greerton Marist 32
Whakarewarewa 28 Mount Maunganui Sports 22
Tauranga Sports 28 Te Puke Sports 20
Arataki 16 Paroa 10
Te Puna 60 Poroporo 21
Rangataua 60 Whakatane Marist 24
Baywide Development results:
Te Puke Sports 34 Tauranga Sports 19
Whakarewarewa 40 Mount Maunganui 12
Arataki 50 Paroa 5
Greerton Marist 50 Rotoiti 11
Te Puna won by default against Poroporo
Rangataua 77 Whakatane Marist 21
Baywide Division 1 results:
Papamoa 19 Kahukura 16
Waimana 34 Marist St Michael's 32
Opotiki 10 Judea 3
Rangiuru 27 Ruatoki 13
Waikite 91 Katikati 7
Ngongotaha 27 Te Teko 8
Baywide Premier points:
Rangataua 13
Paroa 11
Tauranga Sports 10
Te Puna 10
Te Puke Sports 6
Rotoiti 9
Whakarewarewa 9
Arataki 8
Greerton Marist 6
Mount Maunganui Sports 5
Whakatane Marist 1
Poroporo 0
Baywide Development points:
Te Puna 14
Arataki 10
Greerton Marist 10
Rangataua 10
Tauranga Sports 10
Te Puke Sports 10
Paroa 8
Mount Maunganui Sports 5
Rotoiti 5
Whakarewarewa 5
Whakatane Marist 1
Poroporo 1
Baywide Division 1 points:
Ngongotaha 9
Opotiki 9
Papamoa 9
Waikite 6
Judea 6
Te Teko 5
Marist St Michael's 5
Waimana 5
Rangiuru 4
Ruatoki 1
Kahukura 1
Katikati 0