Waikite's Jamie Tukiri-Haumaha (left) goes up against some stiff defence from Tokoroa on Sunday PHOTO/BEN FRASER
Waikite's Jamie Tukiri-Haumaha (left) goes up against some stiff defence from Tokoroa on Sunday PHOTO/BEN FRASER
Waikite will head into the playoffs as hot favourites in the Baywide women's rugby competition, after finishing the regular season at the top of the ladder.
Waikite defeated Tokoroa 27-12 in a top-of-the-table match on Sunday at Bellvue Rd in Rotorua.
Both sides were undefeated going into the the lastround of the regular season.
Tokoroa led early in the second half but Waikite hit back with three tries to win the match.
Speedster Mystery McLean starred for the home side, scoring four tries.
Waikite coach Lee Uerata, who took over the team this season, said they had performed well to stay undefeated.
"Tokoroa certainly came over to play today and our girls knew we were in a game," he said. "We had to win this to get a home semi and we achieved that."
Uerata said his team had plenty of girls travelling from out of town each week, and did very well considering the challenges they had with trainings.
"It's very hard because we have a lot of girls who live out of town [in places] like Hamilton, Rangiuru and some from Putaruru ... we don't always get everyone to trainings on a Wednesday.
Image 1 of 7: Waikite player Mystery McLean
"So that means we have to come down early and train on a Sunday, so I take my hat off to them, they live on sheer skill," he said. "If we could have two nights a week to train we would be on another level but you take what you've got."
Tokoroa have been something of a surprise package in the Baywide women's competition. They only joined this year alongside fellow newcomers Tauranga Sports and Ngongotaha.
The semifinals will be played this Sunday at 1pm with Waikite meeting fourth-placed Waimana at home in Rotorua and defending champions Arataki hosting Tokoroa.
The final will be held the following Sunday.
The sides to miss out on the playoffs this year were Rotoiti, Apanui, Ngongotaha, and Tauranga Sports.
