Rugby: Rotorua teams win convincingly

Rotoiti got their first win of the season on Saturday, defeating Rangiuru. Here Rotoiti's Wayne Ormond makes a break. Photo/File

Rotorua's two premier rugby clubs picked up convincing weekend wins in the Baywide competition.

Whakarewarewa defeated Greerton 33-7 at Puarenga Park on Saturday while Rotoiti defeated Rangiuru 51-13 away from home.

It marked three wins from three games for Whaka who have only conceded one try in 240 minutes of rugby this season.

Whaka coach Ngarimu Simpkins said his team played some of their best rugby against Greerton.

"Probably one of the most pleasing efforts I have seen this year from the boys. I really felt like we controlled the game."

He said they were able to hold on to the ball for long periods of the game and turn it into points.

"The key was being able to keep Greerton under pressure for long periods of time."

Simpkins said they had shown this season they could shift the ball wide and score tries but it was good to see them pressure Greerton and come away with points.

He said self-belief was growing at the club but they were still focusing on one game at a time. Their next outing will be against Opotiki in Opotiki this Saturday.

Simpkins said standouts against Greerton were fullback Whaimotu Craft-Chemis, who scored two tries in the space of two minutes; hard-working forward Trent Sweeney and captain Doug Edwards.

Whaka back Jason Harvey recorded one of the highlights of the game when he collected the ball in his own half before chip kicking to himself and racing away to score under the posts.

Meanwhile, Rotoiti coach Kevin Lee said it was good to get their first win of the season on Saturday.

Rotoiti lost to Whaka in round one but bounced back well on Saturday to convincingly defeat newly promoted Rangiuru 51-13. "We are on the board now and that is the main thing," Lee said. "[It was] just a natural improvement from the Whaka game. I felt we were a bit underdone against Whaka and the extra game helped us."

Lee said it was still hard to tell where they stood in the tough Baywide competition after only playing two games.

"It is really hard to say where we stand because last week Mount Maunganui bet Rangiuru by 10 points and then this week they tied with Tauranga Sports.

"So playing them [this Saturday] will give us a good indication of where we are at."

Rotoiti will play at home, Emery Park, on Saturday against Mount Maunganui.

Other results in the Baywide competition on Saturday: Mount Maunganui 24 Tauranga Sports 24, Te Puna 16 Rangataua 23, and Te Puke 23 Opotiki 13.

Whakarewarewa 33 (Whaimotu Craft-Chemis 2, William Grace, Jason Harvey, Te Rangi Fraser; John Ririnui 4 con) defeated Greerton 7 (Martino Nemani try; Andrew Boyd con), Rotoiti 51 (Tute Malcolm 2, Josaia Tavio 2, Jacob Marsters, Tyson Ripia, Jesse Acton, Matt Landers, Nick Falaoa tries; Tyson Ripia 2 con, Whakataki Cunningham con) defeated Rangiuru 13.