Whakarewarewa aim to pick up valuable points when they face Arataki this weekend. Photo/File
Whakarewarewa aim to pick up valuable points when they face Arataki this weekend. Photo/File
In the final weeks of the first round of the Baywide Club Rugby Competition any number of teams could still make top eight.
In the Premier competition Whakarewarewa host Arataki. Both teams suffered a lost last weekend and will be searching for the win.
Whakarewarewa coach Joe Savage welcomes thereturn to his team's home ground.
"We are definitely looking forward to another home game and hopefully we can get a decent performance and a win," said Savage.
Savage will ask his team to focus their attention to set pieces and ensure they are competitive at the breakdown.
"We will be looking to get rid of bodies in the contact area. Technically we are not doing it right and it is not effective at all. We have had a massive focus on that and being more physical at the breakdown and our set piece as well," he said.
"We seem to be not finishing off our set pieces and rushing off too early or not delivering to our backs cleanly. All in all it wasn't too bad but is another focus for us going forward."
Arataki coach Billy Russell said this week his side had focused on holding on to the ball and maintaining possession.
"We are trying not to focus too much on the teams we are playing but on our personal performances both individually and as a team. We have shown we can beat any team on our day. However, everybody has to be on the same page to do so."
Attitude and team focus will be a key focus for Arataki this weekend.
"We know Whaka is strong and we know they have some brilliant players in their team, but if we focus too much about them we forget about what our own jobs are," said Russell.
In the Division 1 Competition an experienced Judea side will host a youthful Kahukura. Both teams are sitting in the middle of the table, Judea edging into the top four with Kahukura in sixth.
Kahukura coach Wayne Fell said the focus would be on retaining ball.
"Judea are quite big up front and we are quite a young team. So we will be trying to keep the ball off them as well as having a good defensive line," he said.
"We have some exciting players including our number eight Harlem Leatigaga-Angell and his teammate Dorso Pormia-Horne. These guys are exciting young talent in our forward pack, that step up most weeks. We try and involve a bit of play around them."
Baywide Premier and Premier Development Draw: Saturday: Premier kick-off: 2.45pm Development kick-off: 1pm Te Puke Sports v Rangataua at Murray Salt Stadium Te Puna v Whakatane Marist at Maramatanga Park Mount Maunganui Sports v Poroporo at Blake Park Greerton Marist v Tauranga Sports at Greerton Marist Whakarewarewa v Arataki at Puarenga Park Rotoiti v Paroa at Emery Park
Baywide Division 1: Saturday: Kick-off: 2.45pm Judea v Kahukura at Maharaia Winiata Memorial Park Katikati v Te Teko at Moore Park Waikite v Ruatoki at Bellvue Rd Opotiki v Marist St Michael's at Princess St Reserve Rangiuru v Waimana at Centennial Park Papamoa v Ngongotaha at Gordon Spratt Reserve
