Rugby: Te Puke get own back on Whaka

Rotoiti picked up a bonus-point win on Saturday against Opotiki, winning 54-7. Pictured is Rotoiti player Loni Fisiihoi (left). Photo / Stephen Parker

Te Puke have avenged their embarrassing defeat to Whakarewarewa a year ago, thumping the Rotorua side 64-22.

Whaka were handed their second big loss in as many weeks in the Bayfair Baywide premier rugby competition, after Te Puke outclassed them at Puarenga Park on Saturday.

The scoreline was a reversal of the same fixture last season when Whaka defeated Te Puke by almost 50 points.

Te Puke and Tauranga Sports now have a handy lead at the top of the premier ladder and remain the only unbeaten sides after five rounds.

Meanwhile, Rotoiti have backed up from their win over Mount Maunganui a week ago to defeat Opotiki at home 54-7 on Saturday. The victory sees Rotoiti leapfrog Whaka and Whakatane Marist on the table as they move into the top four.

Things started well for Whaka during their match against Te Puke on Saturday, going ahead early with a try to Kimo Houltham.

Te Puke hit back with a penalty and a brilliant try to no8 Eru Smith-Wano, following a big drive from his forward pack.

Te Puke started to show their dominance towards the back end of the half and were rewarded with two more tries before the break, after plenty of possession in Whaka's 22m zone.

The home fans were given a brief moment of hope when Whaka scored straight after the break through Ryubyn Vaipo.

But the visitors ran in six tries during the remainder of the second half to dismantle the Rotorua side.

Classy Whaka fullback/first five Te Rangi Fraser scored two late tries to secure a bonus point for his team, but the day firmly belonged to Te Puke.

No doubt Italian international and former Whaka star Kelly Haimona would have loved to have taken the field on Saturday, but he could do very little as he watched from the sidelines.

Haimona is home in Rotorua on holiday and will head back to Italy soon to rejoin the Italian national squad.

Whaka captain Doug Edwards said it was a disappointing effort at home.

"We pride ourselves on playing on our park and didn't deliver today, so pretty disappointing," he said. Te Puke had produced everything they thought they would but they simply did not match them.

"We were in the game. It was something like 12-5, and they just pulled away at that 30-minute mark and it was hard to grind back after that. We were playing catch-up rugby and couldn't really come back from there."

But, he said his team did not give in and managed to get a bonus point.

-Te Puke 64 (Eru Smith-Wano, Sipa Moimoi, Declan Barnett, Dan Hollinshead, Michael Hinaki, Jono Kitto, Conor Hirini, Bryn Uriarau, Dan Goodwin; Dan Hollinshead 8 con, pen) Whakarewarewa 22 (Te Rangi Fraser 2, Kimo Houltham, Ryubyn Vaipo tries; Ma'aki Taulahi con).

Baywide rugby results on Saturday:

Premier: Te Puke Sports 64 Whakarewarewa 22, Mount Maunganui 41 Te Puna 19, Rangataua 40 Whakatane Marist 23, Greerton Marist 55 Paroa 17, Tauranga Sports 85 Waikite 10, Rotoiti 54 Opotiki 7.

Development grade: Tauranga Sports 92 Waikite 0, Te Puke Sports 33 Whakarewarewa 0, Opotiki 45 Rotoiti 31, Mount Maunganui 32 Te Puna 7, Greerton Marist 82 Paroa 12, Whakatane Marist 38 Rangataua 32.

Division One: Rangiuru 58 Ngongotaha 14, Arataki 20 Kahukura 11, Te Teko 45 Marist St Michael's 22, Katikati 54 Reporoa 5, Ruatoki 13 Judea 12, Poroporo 70 Galatea 7.