Rugby: Whaka ready for another big clash

Whakarewarewa's Jordan Lay will return after a one week concussion stand down as the Rotorua side takes on reigning Baywide premiers Tauranga Sports tomorrow. Photo / Ben Fraser

For the fifth week in a row, Whakarewarewa will face one of Baywide Rugby's big hitters when Tauranga Sports visit Puarenga Park tomorrow.

It's a quirk of the draw that has coach Kopae Irihei scratching his head.

"At some stage you've got to face these teams, but it would have been nice to have it spread out and not have the five hardest games first up," he said.

Whaka started their 2016 with a 36-26 win over Rotoiti.

"That was a good result, and then we drew against Te Puna and then the draw just got harder from there - we had Te Puke, who were in the final last year, then the Mount last week and now Tauranga this week.

"We can't complain too much or keep going on about it, otherwise we are going to lose focus on what's at stake this weekend - it's just another hard game that's all."

Leading with around 10 minutes to go last week against the Mount, the game ended in a 24-21 defeat.

"There are always positives from every game, but for us - especially last week when we were leading 21-13 with about 10 minutes to go - we've just got to learn to put teams away."

Ill discipline was Whaka's biggest enemy last week.

"That cost us right at the dying stages and we let them score and gave away a couple of penalties and a penalty on full-time and obviously that cost us. If you don't start to rectify these things, you're just going to keep travelling down the same track."

Irihei said there are no secrets to what Tauranga Sports will bring to the table tomorrow.

"They are probably the best structured team in the competition. Everything they do at set piece, their line out, their scrums, and their field play, are probably the best, that's why they won the competition last year. "We've certainly got the backs, we've proved that in the past, and our forwards have to keep on going the way they have been and get some dominance. That's where there's a lot of focus, to get our forward pack to match the likes of Tauranga and the Mount and Te Puke because that's where they had it over us and we've made huge inroads in that area.

"We're not too far off, but a win is always good because when you're losing by one or two points it certainly doesn't help the cause."

Regular goalkicker Ryubyn Vaipo, who missed last week's game, is out again, but Whaka have an able replacement in Te Rangi Fraser who slotted three conversions from three attempts last week. Jordan Lay returns after a one week concussion stand down and lock Tamati Rhind may make his return after a hamstring injury.

Elsewhere, this week's round kicks off tonight when Te Puna and Te Puke face off under lights at Maramatanga Park, while Rotoiti take on Mount Maunganui at Emery Park tomorrow.

Draw:

Baywide Premier

Today: Te Puna v Te Puke Sports at Maramatanga Park Premier kick off 7.30pm development kick off 6pm.

Tomorrow: Arataki v Paroa at Arataki Park, Greerton Marist v Whakatane Marist at Greerton Park, Rangataua v Opotiki at Te Ariki Park, Whakarewarewa v Tauranga Sports at Puarenga Park, Rotoiti v Mount Maunganui at Emery Park. Premier kick off 2.45pm, Development: Kick off 1pm

Baywide Division 1: Judea v Waikite at Maharaia Winiata, Ruatoki v Katikati at Tuhoe Park, Te Teko v Rangiuru at Dunderdale Park, , Marist St Michael's v Papamoa at Marist Park, Kahukura v Poroporo at Kuirau Park. Ngongotaha BYE Kick off 2.45pm