Shield and bragging rights on the line in Baywide competition

BRAGGING RIGHTS: Whakarewarewa came out on top the last time the top two Rotorua sides clashed, with a 24-5 victory over Rotoiti in March. PHOTO/FILE

Rotorua's two Baywide premier sides have had contrasting lead-ups to tomorrow's Tai Mitchell Shield and Rotorua Banner game at Emery Park.

With both sides confirmed in the premier division top eight, in Baywide rugby terms, there is little to play for. But try telling that to the two coaches.

"We are both in the eight now, so we can both breathe a sigh of relief - and concentrate on this game," said Rotoiti coach Richard Francis.

"And it will have the added spice of a Tai Mitchell Shield challenge. It doesn't matter now where we finish, we are really playing for the shield and Rotorua honour and bragging rights."

The Tai Mitchell Shield has been contested among Rotorua sides since 1914 and the Rotorua Banner was introduced in 1938.

"The shield is huge because it's been around for so long."

Whakarewarewa hold the shield and Francis' counterpart Joe Savage agrees the game has little relevance to the Baywide premier competition, but retains plenty of significance.

"The Tai Mitchell Shield is pretty important to us," he said.

"This is one of the games we've been targeting for a while now and hopefully we can bring the goods.

"[The shield] has a proud history in Rotorua, and Whaka has been a prolific holder of it in the past and the guys would hate to be part of the team that lost it. It's been a while since any other team has had it."

Whaka retained the shield with a 24-5 win when the two sides met in the pre-season Central Bay of Plenty competition in March.

Both teams are coming off wins - Whakarewarewa having a routine victory over Poroporo last Saturday and Rotoiti defeating Paroa 30-5 in Paengaroa on Tuesday evening.

The bonus point put them one point below Whaka on the ladder. For Rotoiti, tomorrow's game will be their third in eight days.

On Tuesday Rotoiti just edged Paroa 8-5 at half-time.

"It was a tight first half, but it was the same thing as our last win. When the boys put it all together we are pretty strong. When they play to the plan and structure and systems and have belief in those systems, we come away with the win.

"It was pretty much a team effort. We want to play 1-15, to play a team game and we are working on being able to play expansively as well as up front. Our strength is definitely in the forwards, but we are trying to get a complete game going."

One sour note was the loss of winger Josh Te Kani-Taylor with a broken jaw that Francis felt was the result of a high shot that didn't get punished.

Player of the day on Tuesday "by far" was Loni Fisiihoi.

"Jesse Acton is also coming into a bit of form as well going into Saturday."

With the exception of Te Kani-Taylor, Francis should have a full squad to choose from as he welcomes back hookers Willie Royal from suspension and Raniera Whakataka who will return from Samoa where he has been with the Bay of Plenty Academy side.

Savage will be without suspended centre Maake Taulahi and planned to assess potential injury problems at training last night.

"Any who aren't quite right, I'd rather not play because there's still a long season ahead. But at the end of the day we still want the best team we can have and hopefully we can iron that out at training."

He said he may have to juggle his resources in the back line, but would prefer to play players in their more accustomed positions if he can.

While possible, he said it was unlikely he would don a playing shirt himself.

"I will if needed, but I'd rather be on the sideline to critique the guys."

Emery Park has proved to be a fortress this season.

"We are really getting good backing from our community and supporters, and we haven't lost at home yet," said Francis.

"And people are loving what we are doing at home."

The two clubs' development sides face off at 1pm with the premier teams' game starting at 2.45pm.