Rugby: Out of form Rotoiti facing crucial game

Rotoiti coach Kevin Lee hopes his side can distance themselves from the relegation zone with a win this weekend.

Following a good start to the Baywide rugby season - which saw Rotoiti win two of their first three games - the club has managed just one win in their last five encounters.

Lee believed a lack of depth had hurt them during the past month and they needed to fight to stay away from the bottom of the table.

"We are just fighting to stay out of the relegation zone at the moment. If we can scratch out a win [tomorrow] then I think we'll avoid relegation at the end of the season."

There is also added incentive for the club to beat bottom-of-the-table Paroa tomorrow at Emery Park, with the local derby just one round away against Whakarewarewa.

Meanwhile, Whakarewarewa will look to cement themselves in the top four when they visit Te Puna tomorrow.

However, if things go wrong for the red and blacks they could find themselves as far down the table as sixth.

In other games, Mount Maunganui and Te Puke Sports will meet tomorrow at Blake Park in a match which could complicate matters at the top of the table.

The defending champions, Te Puke, have a two-point cushion in second place but could be overtaken by Greerton Marist and Whakarewarewa if the Mount can string 80 minutes of quality rugby together.

Mount Maunganui has lost four games this season by just one point.

Mount coach Rodney Voullaire said his players were trying not to let the disappointment of a number of tight losses affect them.

"We've been in close ones all season and we are just waiting to click. The boys are getting quite frustrated so I'm just hoping that we come together at some stage," he said.

In other games, Greerton Marist host Opotiki and runaway leaders Tauranga visit Rangataua.

All premier matches start at 2.45pm tomorrow.

Division one (All games start at 2.45pm):

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