Rugby: Whaka pushed to wire in shield test

Whakarewarewa and Waikite did battle at Bellvue Rd on Saturday. Pictured is Waikite's Pointon Ngatai. Photo / Stephen Parker

Whakarewarewa have defended the Tai Mitchell Shield during their biggest challenge to date in the Central Bay of Plenty local round.

The local round features Rotorua's six best rugby clubs, who are playing each other in the lead-up to the Baywide competitions starting on May 2.

After straight forward wins over Kahukura and Marist St Michael's in recent weeks, Whakarewarewa visited Bellvue Rd on Saturday to play newly-promoted premier side Waikite.

Whaka won the match 29-8 but Waikite kept up with the Rotorua heavyweights for the most part.

"I think the first 10 to 15 minutes we gave away about four penalties for infringements," Waikite coach Charles Te Kowhai said.

"I think we were probably a bit shell-shocked with the step up. But we responded well towards the end of the first half and in the second half. It was 15-8 right up until the last five minutes, and Whaka scored two late tries."

He said they were still developing as a premier side but were improving each week.

"My backline really stepped up on Saturday as they came to grips with the calibre of premier rugby. So heaps of positives."

He said there was a lot to work on but most of it was just small things.

"I had 21 bullet points of little areas we need to work on but they are all fixable."

He said it was great to have a big crowd for the fixture with Whaka versus Waikite matches carrying a lot of history. "It was like the days of old. The place was full and all in all it was a great day."

In the other matches on Saturday, Rotoiti beat Marist St Michael's 78-7 at home and Kahukura defeated Ngongotaha 10-0 at the Ngongotaha Domain.

This coming weekend will see Rotorua's best two sides Rotoiti and Whaka doing battle at Puarenga Park.

Club results on Saturday:

-Central Bay of Plenty local round:

Waikite 8 Whakarewarewa 29

Rotoiti 78 Marist St Michael's 7

Ngongotaha 0 Kahukura 10

-Eastern Bay of Plenty local round:

Opotiki 37 Te Teko 10

Paroa 44 Ruatoki 8

Whakatane Marist 38 vs Poroporo 31

-Western Bay of Plenty local round:

Greerton 24 Te Puke Sports 32

Tauranga Sports 60 Rangataua 22

Te Puna 21 Mt Maunganui 22