Rugby League: Nines to test fitness of BOP club players

LEAGUE: The Bay of Plenty District Rugby League nine-a-side competition is being held tomorrow. Pictured is Pikiao Warriors player Reggie Lingman. PHOTO/FILE

Take the best league players in the Bay, remove four players from each team, shorten the halves and there you have it - the Bay of Plenty District Rugby League Nine-A-Side Tournament.

The fast-paced pre-season tournament is being staged at Puketawhero Park tomorrow with all the Bay of Plenty premier and reserve grade clubs entered.

The annual competition marks the final hit out before the 2014 rugby league season gets underway next weekend.

Hundreds of players and spectators are expected at Puketawhero tomorrow, with games starting from 10am.

Rotorua's Pikiao Rugby League Club coach Doug Unuwai said it should be a great day out to test his team.

"That's going to be another good hit-out for the boys," he said. "I'm hoping it will be a nice hot day to really test the fitness."

The competition will be set up in the same format as the up-coming season, with the seven premier teams playing against each other and the nine division two teams competing against each other.

Semifinals will begin at 3.15pm followed by the division two final at 4.15pm and the premier final at 4.45pm.

New premier clubs Central and Mangakino, who are making the step up from reserve grade this year, will be worth watching.

The defending champions are Ngongotaha in the premier grade and Reporoa in the reserve grade.