Te Waiariki look to build on positives against Eastern Bay of Plenty

BIG OUT: Baden Wardlaw, pictured in action against Western Bay of Plenty last weekend, is unavailable for Te Waiariki this week. PHOTO/BEN FRASER

Cohesion as a defensive unit has been the focus for the Te Waiariki Maori team at training this week.

In the opening round of the competition last weekend they went down 37-15 to Western Bay of Plenty. Todaythey travel to Whakatane to play Eastern Bay of Plenty, who also lost their first game, against Bay of Plenty Samoa.

Te Waiariki coach Murray Sturt said he wanted his side to build on their performance in the first game.

"We spoke at training about our defence quite a bit. We've got the attacking prowess but we just don't have the defence sorted.

"We did pretty good in the weekend but it was late in the game we sort of fell over," Sturt said.

A solid defence is built on quality communication and he said the team was gelling more each week.

"We've got a lot of camaraderie in our team now and the boys are starting to get to know each other a lot better - there's a lot more laughs at training.

"We can only get better, the positive [from last week] is we stuck together as a team and played together as a team - that's the main thing."

He expected the Eastern Bay team to play some expansive rugby.

"They'll throw the ball around, they've got a few Fijian flyers in their team. We need to shut their space down a bit earlier, our line speed has to be a lot faster."

Te Waiariki will be without dominant lock Baden Wardlaw this week, who has work commitments.

"That's a huge loss for us, but it's a chance for other boys to step up to the plate. There's more players expressing interest this year which, for Maori rugby is a positive.

"We have the experience of [Whakarewarewa and Bay of Plenty Steamers player] Kelly Haimona, he's starting at fullback this weekend and he adds a lot of zest to our lineup," he said.

Meanwhile, Western Bay of Plenty play Bay of Plenty Samoa at Blake Park in Mount Maunganui. Both games kick off at 2.30pm.

In the Stan Meads Cup, Central Bay of Plenty were set to play Maniapoto in Rotorua today. However, the game has been postponed due to Sir Colin Meads' funeral. The sides will now play for the Stan Meads Bowl in Te Kuiti on September 2.