Rotoiti's Lorni Fisihoi rides a tackle in his team's defeat of Tauranga Sports at Tauranga Domain on Saturday. Photo / Andrew Warner
Rotoiti upset the form book with a rare victory over Tauranga Sports in a key Baywide Premier match played at Tauranga Domain on Saturday.
This season's first round was already looking like anyone's to win and Rotoiti's thoroughly deserved 25-18 victory just added to the intrigue.
They did it despite only having 13 players at one stage in the second half with Jesse Acton and captain Joseph Royal cooling their heels in the sin bin.
Rotoiti arrived at the Domain with a powerhouse pack including Steamers' Royal and Ziggy Fisi'ihoi, and the forwards got straight into dismantling Tauranga's set piece.
Rotoiti were gifted a crucial try just before the break when an errant throw from a defensive lineout fell into Royal's hands. Tauranga fought back to take the lead 18-17 with 15 minutes to play while Rotoiti had 13 players.
However, burly prop Fisi'ihoi crashed over for his second try to end the contest.
"It is an awesome feeling actually," said Royal, "especially here against a strong team like Tauranga. We came off three big losses and had nothing to lose so wanted to just back ourselves.
"We knew they had a pretty dominant and pretty experienced forward pack with Pingi [Talapataga] and Keepa [Mewat] in there. We wanted to meet them up-front early on and if we could hang with them we knew we could last the 80. I am proud of the boys and proud of the whole team, really."
A player to watch is 19-year-old Rotoiti halfback Logan Henry, who kicked goals well and looks a fine prospect with a sharp pass and plenty of pace.
"He is a young talent coming through," said Royal. "He came up from Wellington, where he went to school but he is a Rotorua and Bay of Plenty boy. I just hope the powers that be maybe give him a chance with the Steamers with us. For a young guy of only 19 he is real professional about what he does, he trains well and goes hard."
Being yellow-carded was a new experience for Royal.
"Jesse's [Acton] was for no arms and late, and mine was just continuous offending. It is actually my first card ever in a game at any level so that is a bit disappointing."
The result was a new experience for Zane Winslade, who suffered his first defeat in his debut season as Tauranga coach.
"Every team fronts up against us and they always bring their A game it seems, and they are out to get us. This round is not where championships are won so it is probably more dangerous to go through a season unbeaten then head into playoffs," he said.
Whakatane Marist won their sixth straight game in some style with an emphatic 45-18 home win over Whakarewarewa to go six points clear at the top.
Te Puna moved into the top four after a 29-27 win over Mount Maunganui at Blake Park. Captain Te Aihe Toma calmly slotted a long-range penalty goal in the final minute to win the match and the Jordan Cup (WBOP Challenge Trophy).
Results:
Baywide Premier
Rotoiti 25 (Siegfried Fisi'ihoi 2, Joseph Royal tries; Logan Henry 2 cons, 2 pens) Tauranga Sports 18 (Allen McRobbie, George Honey tries; John Dodd con, pen; Paul Morris pen) HT: 14-3
Te Puna 29 (Mike Bidois, Shahn Eru, Pomare Pearson tries; Te Aihe Toma 3 pen, Rob Dunne pen, con) Mount Maunganui 27 (Jonty Wood, Sam Mayes, Danny Kayes tries; Pera Gibbs 3 con, 2 pen) HT 10-17
Te Puke Sports 43 (Caleb Hall 2, Andy Lee, Danny Underwood, Graydon Scheres, Stevie Coffin tries; Andy Lee 4 con) Paroa 17 (Jamie Porter, Maikeli Sivo, Kurt Baker tries; K Baker con) HT 14-10
Rangataua 45 (Carlin Tata 2, Timoti Gardiner, Kemble Frost, Alex Jessop tries; Joel Little 5 con) Arataki 14.
Whakatane Marist 45 Whakarewarewa 18 (Te Rangi Fraser, Andy Noble, Maake Taulahi tries Te Rangi Fraser can) HT 26-13.
Greerton Marist 42 v Opotiki 3.
Baywide Development
Te Puke Sports 89 v Paroa 0, Greerton Marist 23 v Opotiki 19, Tauranga Sports 105 v Rotoiti 0, Mount Maunganui 21 v Te Puna 11, Whakatane Marist 38 v Whakarewarewa 26, Arataki 60 v Rangataua 5.
Baywide Division 1
Judea 30 v Ruatoki 17, Marist St Michael's 38 v Rangiuru 26, Katikati 24 v Kahukura 11, Poroporo 50 v Te Teko 19, Ngongotaha 12 v Waikite 8, Papamoa Bye.
Baywide Premier Points:
Whakatane Marist 30, Tauranga Sports 24, Mount Maunganui Sports 23, Te Puna 22, Te Puke Sports 22, Rangataua 15, Rotoiti 10, Whakarewarewa 8, Opotiki 7, Arataki 5, Paroa 4.