Rugby: Whaka sights set on top scalp

Whaka's Leighton Simpkins (with ball). Photo / Stephen Parker

Whakarewarewa are missing only one thing this year - a top-four scalp.

Whaka got off to a perfect start in the Bay of Plenty premier competition this season, winning their opening five games, but have since slipped up against Te Puke and Tauranga Sports, two of the top sides in the competition.

Whakarewarewa will hit the road tomorrow to play another top-four side in Mount Maunganui. A win for either side will help cement them in the top four as the competition nears the halfway mark.

"It is a big game for us. It is about time we beat one of the top-of-the-table teams," Whaka coach Ngarimu Simpkins said.

Despite dropping matches to Tauranga Sports and Te Puke, he was pleased with where his team were placed.

"This first round is about building a team and not so much about winning every game. So I am really happy with where we are at."

Whaka currently boast the best offence in the competition and will look to hurt the Mount with good attacking rugby tomorrow.

"We are showing it in every game this year that we can score from anywhere."

Meanwhile, Rotoiti will go in as favourites against Te Puna tomorrow. Rotoiti have impressed this year with big results, including a win over Tauranga Sports two weeks ago.

The Rotorua side have a chance to charge back into the top four with a victory tomorrow at Emery Park.

Kahukura not taking final lightly: Coach

Two of Rotorua's top rugby clubs will face off in a local derby match this weekend.

Waikite and Kahukura will meet at Bellvue Rd tomorrow at 2.30pm during the final of the Central Bay of Plenty Local Senior Competition.

The Baywide Division One competition has been scaled back to one round this year and will get under way on May 24.

In the meantime, Kahukura and Waikite have been contesting the local senior competition and have progressed to the final tomorrow.

Kahukura coach Charles Hubbard said their major focus this season was the Baywide competition but they would not take tomorrow's final lightly.

"To be honest it is always a good match [against Waikite].

"There is a couple of trophies up for grabs and it would be good to win before going into the Baywide competition."

Hubbard said they had a big squad and most spots in the team were still open.

"We lost to Waikite about two weeks ago in a close game but we are still rotating players and giving everyone a chance."

Hubbard said apart from four or five guys they had a completely new roster this year, including a lot of young players.

"The last two years we have made the Baywide semifinals and that is our goal again this year - to make it to the semis and see what happens from there."

Baywide rugby draw for tomorrow (Premier games 2.45pm, development games 1pm):

Mount Maunganui v Whakarewarewa, Blake Park; Rangiuru v Te Puke, Centennial Park; Greerton Marist v Tauranga Sports, Greerton Park; Opotiki v Rangataua, Princess Street Reserve; Rotoiti v Te Puna; Emery Park.