Whakarewarewa crushed by defending champs

HANDOFF: Andy Noble had a big game for Whakarewarewa in the loss to Rangataua on Saturday. PHOTO/ANDREW WARNER

Whakarewarewa coach Joe Savage didn't see Saturday's rout coming - but his Rangataua counterpart John O'Loan did.

Whaka were on the end of a good old-fashioned shellacking at the hands of the defending Baywide Rugby champions who scored 12 tries in the 71-10 win at Te Ariki Park.

There was no way back for the visitors with the score 31-10 at half time and, ominously for the rest of the competition, Rangataua stepped up a gear early in the second half to score arguably the try of the game.

Finished off by Josh Te Kani, the leadup involved backs and forwards combining to breach the Whaka defence.

After taking an early lead in the game with a penalty, Whaka had to make do with what little possession Rangataua allowed them and scored just a solitary try midway through the second half, Lionel Skipwith getting the five-pointer.

"Thought we had a good chance of winning that game based on camera footage from previous games, but unfortunately they haven't played like that [before]," Savage said.

"We've built a lot over the last few weeks and that game wasn't one of our worst games by any stretch.

"We played really well, we retained our ball really well. [The players] are getting the basics right and they are doing what they are asked to do, so it's up to me, really, to put together a game plan that can counter that sort of team."

There were positives for Savage who now needs to turn things around ahead of the visit of Te Puke Sports to Puarenga Park next Saturday.

"Out set piece was okay. We've still got a few lineout issues and we need to get it wide when we need to and the guys need to communicate that as well to be able to get that ball distributed at a fast pace rather than put out those looping passes and inaccurate passes - it's those little touches that we need.

"Andy Noble definitely stood out for me, it was probably one of the better games that I have seen over this year. There were a handful of other guys that played really well but he seemed to stand out.''

O'Loan said Saturday was the game his side "clicked".

"We are waiting for that moment," Savage said.

Whaka were up against an unstoppable force.

"When it clicks, it clicks, and it was about time," O'Loan said.

"We needed it to click and we changed a lot this week, particularly from the Te Puke game [the week before]."

Across Tauranga, Rotoiti had a 23-20 win over Arataki.

In Division 1, both Ngongotaha and Marist St Michael's racked up 90 points in wins over Rangiuru and Katikati respectively.Results:

Baywide Premier:
Rotoiti 23 v Arataki 20, Tauranga Sports 19 v Mount Maunganui 17, Rangataua 71 v Whakarewarewa 10, Te Puke Sports 38 v Poroporo 14, Te Puna 33 v Paroa 22, Greerton Marist 62 v Whakatane Marist 22.
Baywide Development:
Arataki 29 v Rotoiti 20, Tauranga Sports 19 v Mount Maunganui 12, Rangataua 29 v Whakarewarewa 27, Te Puke Sports 93 v Poroporo 7, Te Puna 41 v Paroa 7, Greerton Marist 75 v Whakatane Marist 7.
Baywide Division 1
Te Teko 29 v Judea 6, Waimana 46 v Opotiki 29, Kahukura 26 v Ruatoki 18, Marist St Michael's 90 v Katikati 7, Waikite 43 v Papamoa 7, Ngongotaha 90 v Rangiuru 10.