Rugby: Rotoiti's tough task first up

Rotoiti's vice-captain Joe Royal and his side face a challenging test as they take on Whakatane Marist away in the first game of the new Premier 1 competition this weekend.

Rotoiti vice-captain Joe Royal has warned his side face a difficult first challenge when they kick off in the new Premier 1 competition tomorrow.

The team will travel to take on Whakatane Marist who finished second on 40 points after the first round, while Rotoiti finished seventh on 28 points.

Front-rower Royal, who has been away training with Bay of Plenty Steamers, said it would be a "tough match" against one of the best sides in the division.

But his side can take hope having beaten their opponents, who were then top of the table, 27-17 in round seven of the competition.

"They are very much going to be looking for redemption and every team wants a positive start to the new division," he said.

"There is real quality in the side - very fast backs which we can't give space to and they also have a very big forward pack so we will have to make sure we match them up front. We had to dig very deep to get a result last time and it will be no different with the added pressure of playing away. But I know we have the capability to get the result we want."

Rotoiti sealed their place with three minutes to go in last weekend's nail-biting 30-28 home victory over Greerton Marist.

And Royal wants the result to give his side confidence as the vice-captain is eyeing a top four finish.

"It was such a hard-fought battle with Greerton and it showed everyone that we can fight back. We never gave in, and it's that spirit that will help us do well. We now have to have the belief that we can do really well. On our day when all our calls are right and everyone's head is in the game we are tough to beat.

"We achieved our first goal of the top eight and if we start right we could get to that top four and be playing in the finals.

"There are awesome teams in this division and every game is going to be a real test. But this is why we pull on the shirt every week. We want to be competing in these games and toppling big sides."

In the new-look competition, the top eight premier teams will now battle it out for the premier title with the top four teams contesting a semifinal on July 30 and final on August 6.

The eight teams in Premier 1 will be joined by the top four teams in the Premier 2 competition for 2017.

Rotorua has four local sides in Premier 2 - Whakarewarewa, Ngongotaha, Waikite and Marist St Michael's. A special preview of these four sides will be in tomorrow's Rotorua Daily Post.

Tomorrow's games:

Premier 1:

Kick-off 2.45pm/ Development kick-off 1pm. Te Puna v Greerton Marist; Whakatane Marist v Rotoiti; Te Puke v Tauranga Sports; Rangataua v Mt Maunganui.

Premier 2:

Kick-off 2.45pm/ Development kick-off 1pm. Waikite v Whakarewarewa; Arataki v Ngongotaha; Opotiki v Paroa; Marist St Michael's v Poroporo.

Division 1:

Kick-off 2.45pm/ Development kick-off 1pm. Rangiuru v Edgecumbe; Papamoa v Judea; Ruatoki v Te Teko; Kahukura v Katikati.

Division 2:

Kick-off 2.45pm. Murupara v Te Teko B; Reporoa v Taneatua; Matata v ED; Eastern Pirates v Waimana.