Rugby: Close encounters in store this weekend

Round eight of the premier Baywide rugby competition promises plenty of close match-ups this weekend.

Only one match, runaway leaders Tauranga Sports up against Rotoiti, is between teams more than four points apart on the competition ladder.

That match will take place tomorrow afternoon at Tauranga Domain with Rotoiti given the opportunity to do something no other club has done this season - defeat Tauranga.

Meanwhile, Fourth-placed Whakarewarewa will tangle with sixth-placed Mount Maunganui at Puarenga Park at 2.45pm tomorrow.

The Rotorua-based side will be looking for redemption after losing their perfect record at home last week in a one-point thriller against Greerton Marist.

A win from Whaka should help them consolidate their spot in the top four, as Te Puna and Mount Maunganui remain hot on their heels.

However, Whaka playmaker Maurice Stone Jnr is unlikely to take the field tomorrow after injuring his shoulder last weekend against Greerton Marist.

Perhaps the most important of all the tight tussles this weekend will be between bottom-of-the-table sides Paroa and Rangataua at Lawson Park. The two clubs share just one win between them this season and are likely to duel to stay in the top flight.

While Rangataua are yet to win, they have conceded 107 points fewer than a Paroa side smarting after a number of heavy loses in the last few weeks.

The promoted side sits one point clear of last place, courtesy of an early season defeat of Greerton Marist, but the side has not got within 26 points of another side since.

Rangataua, on the other hand, have slowly accumulated four bonus points for finishing within seven points of their opposition in more than half of their games this season.

At the other end of the spectrum, Greerton Marist will put their five game winning streak on the line against Te Puke Sports. The defending champions Te Puke face falling out of the top four for the first time this season with a loss.

Division 1 (all games start at 2.45pm):

Marist St Michael's v Waikite (Marist Park 1), Poroporo v Katikati (Poroporo Park 1), Ruatoki v Kahukura (Tuhoe Park 1), Te Teko v Ngongotaha (Dunderdale Park 1) and Whakatane Marist v Rangiuru (Rugby Park 2).