Tauranga West hope to pour on the pace today in a bid to halt Te Puke's march towards a hometown win in the Tai Mitchell primary schools tournament.
Tauranga West downed neighbouring Tauranga East 24-10 in one championship semifinal yesterday while the Te Puke train rolled on at a sodden
Murray Salt Stadium in the afternoon semifinal, as they eliminated Rotorua Maroon 37-7.
West captain Quintin Kingi reckoned superior pace might give them an edge in the final at 12.15pm against a side who've looked hot favourites for the win since their 72-12 demolition of Rotorua Gold on day one.
West pushed Te Puke close on Saturday, leading 7-0 at halftime before succumbing 10-7, and Kingi, a student at Te Wharekura O Mauao in Bethlehem, hinted they'd try to get the ball wide to Fijian flyer Peni Lasaga at every opportunity.
"Peni's pretty mean, he's the wheels in our team, and with our speed that should mean we've got a bit more pace than Te Puke," the pint-sized hooker said.
