Rugby: Fraser flair fires Whaka win

Whakarewarewa kept their perfect start to the season alive with a win over Greerton Marist. Pictured is Whaka player Kimo Houltham (with ball).

Some individual brilliance from one of Whakarewarewa's star players has helped the Rotorua club continue their perfect start to the season.

Te Rangi Fraser, who played for the Bay of Plenty Steamers last year, scored two tries against Greerton Marist on Saturday to help Whaka win 20-8 at Puarenga Park.

It is Whaka's third straight win to kick off the season in the Baywide premier competition.

In an otherwise messy game, Fraser showed his class on two occasions in the second half to help guide his team to victory.

His first try came off the back of a scrum when, playing at first five-eighth, Fraser received the ball and took off on one of his trademark runs - breaking the line before weaving past scrambling defenders to score next to the posts.

His second try was similar but he had more metres to cover and more players to beat.

He has now scored eight tries in his first three games this season.

Whaka coach Kopae Irihei said while it was not a pretty win on Saturday, his side managed to get the result in the end.

He said when they were trailing 5-3 in the second half, Fraser made the big difference.

"I think when you go back and review [that game] it was just two bits of individual brilliance that sort of made that 14 points for us."

He said having the wind at their backs in the second half also helped, with the option of kicking themselves out of danger.

Whaka will face their biggest test so far this season when they travel away to Tauranga Sports this coming weekend.

Their backline may also receive a boost this week with the potential return of star fullback from last year, Whaimotu Craft-Chemis.

In the other premier matches in Rotorua, Rotoiti were unable to get past a strong Te Puke team, losing 13-6 at Emery Park.

Rotoiti have lost two tough matches on the trot after going up against Tauranga Sports last weekend. Things don't get much easier for them either, as they play away against Mount Maunganui this weekend.

Waikite lost at home on Saturday against Rangataua, but put up a good fight in the second half losing 21-45 at Bellvue Rd.

* Whakarewarewa 20 (Te Rangi Fraser 2 tries; Ryubyn Vaipo 2 pen, 2 con) Greerton Marist 8 (Cody McGovern try; Tim O'Malley pen) Halftime: 0-0.

Baywide results, Saturday

Premier: Opotiki 10 Mt Maunganui 76, Rotoiti 6 Te Puke Sports 13, Te Puna 11 Tauranga Sports 42, Whakarewarewa 20 Greerton Marist 8, Waikite 21 Rangataua 45, Whakatane Marist 32 Paroa 22.

Development grade: Opotiki 5 Mt Maunganui 51, Rotoiti 0 Te Puke Sports 75, Te Puna 9 Tauranga Sports 82, Whakarewarewa 12 Greerton Marist 45, Waikite 5 Rangataua 21, Whakatane Marist 62 Paroa 22.

Division 1: Galatea 12 Ruatoki 34, Kahukura 39 Judea 13, Katikati 27 Arataki 22, Rangiuru 51 Poroporo 13, Reporoa 18 Marist St Michael's 27, Te Teko 53 Ngongotaha 12.