Grassroots Sport: Weekend for league lovers

The Daily Post's sports department previews some of the grassroots sporting events happening around the region's sports fields this weekend.To feature your local sport in this column send your contributions to sport@dailypost.co.nz

League

There will be plenty of league to whet the appetite of ardent fans this weekend with both Waicoa Bay and Bay of Plenty district's competition taking to the fields tomorrow.

Puketawhero Park will have its coffers full with Pikiao reserves hosting Pacific and Ngongotaha hosting Otumoetai reserves in the Bay of Plenty district rugby league competition, both games kick off at 1pm.

In the only Waicoa Bay competition at Puketawhero, Pikiao Warriors take on the Hamilton Hornets in the main event at 2.30pm on number one field, while at the same time on field two, Central will host Forestland.

It hasn't been an easy couple of weeks for Pikiao Warriors coach Selwyn Rikiti, he has had to nurse a number of his key players through injury. One in particular, Te Kaiaotea Te Mata "Bully" Tahuriorangi, has been struggling with a leg injury. The nippy half is a key ingredient in Pikiao's playmaking formula and when he's not there it's noticeable.

The saving factor for Rikiti has been his experienced forwards Ivor Thomas and captain Jason Kameta. What these two props lack in size they more than make up for it in heart. Thomas, who had contemplated retiring after last season, has been inspirational on and off the field.

Rikiti said the props' work rate at training was phenomenal and it was showing results on the field.

Pikiao got their Waicoa Bay campaign under way with a 38-16 win over Tauranga Whalers last week.

The Rotorua side's game against the Hornets tomorrow shouldn't be too challenging for the Mourea-based side. The Hornets copped a 60-10 thrashing at the hands of Otumoetai Eels last week and should meet a similar fate at Puketawhero Park.

Tauranga Whalers host Turangawaewae at Waipuna Park tomorrow. Both teams lost their first up matches - Turangawaewae losing 24-10 to their neighbours Ngaruawahia. Neither will want another loss to their tally so it will be vital for both teams' forward packs to get momentum early.

Otumoetai Eels will travel over the Kaimai Ranges to take on Waikato's top side, Ngaruawahia, at League Park.

The Waikato side's game plan is simple - use their hard-running forwards as a battering ram to open holes in their opponent's defence for their slick backs to take advantage of.

In the other pool Hamilton City Tigers take on a confident Pacific Sharks side at Resthills, Hamilton. The Sharks were too strong for the Taupo Phoenix last week beating them 20-0, while the Tigers are yet to open their account after drawing the bye last week.

Taupo host Taniwharau at Hickling Park tomorrow. The visitors were too strong for Hukanui beating them 30-14 last weekend.

All Waicoa Bay premier games kick off at 2.30pm except Ngaruawahia vs Otumoetai which starts at 3pm.

Waicoa Bay, draw for June 16

Black pool: Taupo v Taniwharau, Hickling Park; Hamilton City Tigers v Pacific, Resthills; Hukanui *bye*.

Blue pool: Pikiao v Hamilton Hornets, Puketawhero Park; Tauranga v Turangawaewae, Waipuna Park; Ngaruawahia v Otumoetai, League Park.

Bay of Plenty District, draw

Division one: Pikiao v Pacific, Puketawhero Park; Central v Forestland, Puketawhero Park; Reporoa v Mangakino, Reporoa; Ngongotaha v Otumoetai, Puketawhero Park.

Division two: Tauranga v Putaruru, Waipuna Park; Taupo v Central, Hickling Park; Turangi v Forestland, Turangi. - Greg Taipari

Rugby

It's make or break time for Kahukura in the Baywide division one competition. The Charlie Hubbard-coached side are on an eight-game winning streak and host division one leaders Rangiuru at Kuirau Park tomorrow.

Hubbard has been inspirational at the club lifting his team to third with 46 points on the division one table behind Rangiuru, 54, and Paroa, 49.

It's Hubbard's first season as the head coach and his team is well on track to achieving their goal of a top-four finish in division one.

Their immediate challenge, however, is to continue their winning streak. It's not going to be easy as Rangiuru haven't lost a game since way back in round one - a 23-3 loss to Paroa.

Second-placed Paroa should have little trouble brushing aside the challenge of Reporoa, however they have the burden of a long trip to one of the extremities of the Bay of Plenty Union.

A local derby will take centre stage in the Eastern Bay when Te Teko host Poroporo at Dunderdale Park.

Marist St Michaels should move up the table when they play last-placed Ruatoki at Marist Park, while Whakatane Marist could have a good battle when Ngongotaha pay a visit to Rugby Park in Whakatane.

Meanwhile a one-point logjam between third, fourth and fifth in the Baywide premier title race should dissipate after tomorrow's round.

Rotoiti and Opotiki, who are separated by a solitary point in third and fourth place respectively on the points ladder, will meet head-on in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. While Opotiki have home ground advantage in round two, they are sure to be motivated by the 30-21 loss to the Rotorua side in April.

Opotiki head coach Mike Smith has marshalled his troops to good effort during the long season. Last week the Eastern Bay sole premier representatives picked up their eighth bonus point of the season, when they overran Rangataua 28-10 in the Western Bay.

Rotorua lakesiders Rotoiti are having their best run for a number of years under player/coach Wayne Ormond. The Bay of Plenty legend, who owns the distinction of being the Bay's only Ranfurly Shield-winning captain, has provided inspiration to the many youngsters in the side.

While Te Puna sit fourth equal on the standings, they face a big challenge when they meet multiple Baywide champions Tauranga Sports at the Tauranga Domain. Te Puna have been the big mover this season going from the relegation zone last year to genuine semifinalists this season. Head coach Vaughan Bidois has moulded his side into legitimate contenders in just a year.

Tauranga Sports hold the mantle of best premier unit in the last decade after winning the championship silverware five times since 2003. In spite of a slow start to their season they sit second in the title race. While Tauranga Sports mentor Mike Rogers has lifted aloft the Baywide trophy as a player, he is chasing his first premier title in the coaching ranks.

Competition leaders Te Puke Sports should have little trouble in cementing their lead against cellar dwellers Waikite. The formbook suggests that Whakarewarewa will be too strong for Rangataua at Whaka HQ, while Mount Maunganui and Greerton Marist could have a good tussle at Blake Park.

Mount Maunganui will finish top of the table in the Colts preliminary competition despite sitting on the sideline this weekend courtesy of the last round bye. While the top five to contest the championship round are well sorted, the last place is still in limbo until the end of play tomorrow. Marist St Michaels, who sit in sixth entering the last round, must beat Whakarewarewa to ensure a place in the six to contest the Baywide age group title.

PGG Wrightson Baywide Rugby, draws for June 16

Premier (2.45pm): Opotiki v Rotoiti, Princess Street Reserve; Tauranga Sports v Te Puna, Tauranga Domain; Whakarewarewa v Rangataua, Puarenga Park; Te Puke Sports v Waikite, Murray Salt Stadium; Mount Maunganui v Greerton Marist, Blake Park.

Points: Te Puke Sports 52, Tauranga Sports 46, Rotoiti 39, Opotiki 38, Te Puna 38, Whakarewarewa 33, Mount Maunganui 25, Greerton Marist 12, Rangataua 11, Waikite 7.

Division One (2.45pm): Reporoa v Paroa, Reporoa; Marist St Michaels v Ruatoki, Marist Park; Whakatane Marist v Ngongotaha, Rugby Park; Kahukura v Rangiuru, Kuirau Park; Te Teko v Poroporo, Dunderdale Park.

Points: Rangiuru 54, Paroa 49, Kahukura 46, Te Teko 39, Whakatane Marist 33, Ngongotaha 31, Poroporo 22, Marist St Michaels 20, Reporoa 8, Ruatoki 2.

Colts (1pm): Greerton Marist v Waikite, Greerton Park; Whakarewarewa v Marist St Michaels, Puarenga Park; Rangataua v Kahukura, Te Ariki Park; Opotiki v Te Puke Sports, Princess Street Reserve; Ruatoki v Tauranga Sports, Tuhoe Park; Te Puna v Rotoiti, Maramatanga Park; Mount Maunganui the bye.

Points: Mount Maunganui 54, Tauranga Sports 44, Greerton Marist 42, Te Puna 42, Te Puke 38, Marist St Michaels 27, Rangataua 24, Opotiki 24, Ruatoki 23, Waikite 22, Whakarewarewa 14, Rotoiti 6, Kahukura 1.Greg Taipari

Basketball

A mixed basketball tournament for all ages will be held at the Rotorua Girls High School Sports Arena on Sunday.

The tournament, organised by Rotorua locals Emille and Darnielle Hoods, has attracted teams from as far away as Auckland and Hamilton.

Mr Hoods said the couple had decided to organise the tournament as a fun day for Living Well Church to reach out to the community.

"We decided to hold the event so the community could come together, show off their basketball skills and have a day of sports in a safe environment," he said.

Mrs Hoods said the tournament would have a junior section for under 16s and a senior section for older players, and all teams would need to have a minimum of two males and two females on the court at all times.

"We have never organised an event like this before and have been amazed by the response from the public. There has been so much interest and some of the players are over 50 years of age," she said.

"There are some players who think they are Derek Rose, (a famous American basketball player) and they probably are that good, but we want to make it fun and fair for everyone," she said.

"After the tournament we will have a live band playing at a prize giving ceremony at Living Well Church around 7pm," she said.

The tournament starts at 12pm and the cost is $50 per team. Teams can register by calling (07) 348 7932 or (022) 067 0332. - Alan Solomon, Waiariki journalism student

Football

It took Rotorua United nine games to register their first win of the season and claw themselves off the bottom of the WaiBop Federation League, but they did it in emphatic style with an 8-1 win over Old Blues last Saturday. Tomorrow they are at home again, this time against Melville United who are 11 points and seven places ahead of them. It would be beyond their wildest dreams to repeat last weeks result, but they will approach this game with confidence. When the two met in the opening game Rotorua missed a penalty and Melville scored late to win 1-0.

Cross-town rivals Ngongotaha, who have taken only two points from their last four games, now find themselves third from bottom. Tomorrow they are away to second-placed Claudelands Rovers, who they beat 3-2 in round one. The Villagers probably should have beaten Melville last week, but another unlucky loss will not help their cause.

Leaders Taupo take on Otumoetai at Fergusson Park and although they have home advantage it is hard to see Otumoetai challenging Taupo's 100 per cent record.

Whakatane Town, like Ngongotaha are a team that have flattered to deceive, and although they won their first encounter with Old Blues 4-2 there is little to suggest they can repeat that at Waipuna Park tomorrow, even though Old Blues are coming off a big loss.

In other games Tauranga Boys' College will be favoured to beat bottom-of-the-table Otorohanga at Southey Park, while Waikato Unicol look likely to take three points from their home clash with AFC Fury.

In division two, Tauranga City and Cambridge who are tied at the top of the table face off at Links Ave. Though Tauranga have home advantage, Cambridge have the momentum.

The third and fourth placed teams Clube Alegria and Katikati clash, with Clube Alegria, who have home advantage, favoured to take the points narrowly.

Bottom-of-the-table Matamata host West Hamilton while Rotorua United are away to Tokoroa.

Division one points: Taupo 30, Claudelands 24, Melville 20, Fury 18, Otumoetai 13, Tauranga Boys' 13, Unicol 12, Old Blues 11, Whakatane 10, Ngongotaha 9, Rotorua United 7, Otorohanga 5.

Division two points: Tauranga City (10) Cambridge (9) 24, Clube Alegria (10) 20, Katikati (10) 17, Te Awamutu (9) 12, Tokoroa (10) 9, Rotorua United (9) West Hamilton (10) 7, Matamata (9) 3.Brian Smith