Rugby: Rotoiti tackle huge task with aplomb

Rotoiti toppled defending champions Tauranga Sports on Saturday. Pictured is Rotoiti players Tute Malcolm and Joe Royal (right), playing earlier this season.Photo/Ben Fraser

Some gritty defence has led to a memorable victory for Rotoiti who toppled defending champions Tauranga Sports.

Rotoiti defeated one of the top teams in the Baywide premier competition on Saturday, winning the match 17-14 at Tauranga Domain.

Rotoiti are now sitting inside the top four, with a record of five wins and two losses this season.

"If someone had said at the start of the season 'that is where we are going to be', we would have taken that," coach Kevin Lee said.

"But in saying that, we are only seven rounds in so there is no reason to get too excited yet."

He said what pleased him most about the victory on Saturday was the discipline and character shown near the end.

"I thought we showed great discipline and really good spirit on defence.

"Towards the end of the game, with it being so close, they were attacking quite a bit and we didn't give away any tries or silly penalties."

Rotoiti were down 11-10 at half time but battled well in the second half to take the lead. Rotoiti's two try scorers were Jesse Acton and Joe Royal, while Tyson Ripia kicked two conversions and a penalty.

The Tauranga match marked the first of a series of tough games for Rotoiti this month.

Rotoiti's next assignment will be against Te Puke away on Saturday. Lee said they would have a better idea of how well they are shaping after the big test.

Meanwhile, Whakarewarewa have slumped to their third straight loss after a near perfect start to the season.

Whaka conceded seven tries on Saturday against a strong Te Puke outfit. Te Puke came from behind at half time to record the 46-38 victory.

Rotoiti 17 (Jesse Acton, Joe Royal tries; Tyson Ripia 2 con, pen) Tauranga Sports 14 (Nick Evemy try; Geoff Berry 2 pen, Paul Morris pen). Te Puke Sports 46 (Gideon Uelese 2, Dan Hollinshead, Uru Smith-Wino, Junior Tofa-Vaa, Jonno Kitto, Elliot Hagen tries; D Hollinshead 4 con, pen) Whakarewarewa 38 (Siegfried Fisiihoi 2, Doug Edwards, Riiki Waitoa, Jason Harvey, Te Rangi Fraser tries; T Fraser 4 con).