Rugby: Whaka back on track

Whakarewarewa will be looking to give their coach of last season, Kevin Lee, a proper Puarenga Park welcome when he returns to the ground with new team Rotoiti.

Lee, who has taken over the head coaching role from Wayne Ormond at Rotoiti, brings his side to Puarenga Park for the opening round of the Baywide premier division.

There is never any love lost between both sides at the best of times and it is sure to be a passionate affair tomorrow.

Both sides will be motivated. Up for grabs is the Tai Mitchell Shield, which Rotoiti lost 43-3 to Whaka last weekend in the grand final of the Banner played at Rotoiti's Emery Park.

Under new coach Maurice Stone, Whaka appear to have gotten over their woes of last season, when the team struggled to field a full playing 15 at times.

The red and blacks, traditionally known for their attacking backline, are a more rounded side this season and looked to have worked on their scrummaging during the off season.

As for Lee's squad, the jury is still out. The side had to scrape a team together for their clash last weekend and could only put together a squad of 18.

Although Rotoiti competed for the first 15 minutes of the match, after they lost first five Matt Landers to a serious knee injury, it pretty much went down hill from there.

However, Rotoiti are a proud side and they are more dangerous when they are underestimated. Led by inspirational captain Jesse Acton the side are dangerous with ball in hand especially around the fringes of the ruck. If given a chance to get a roll on, Rotoiti are hard to stop.

Rotoiti have pace out wide with Levi Sakeo Waqa and Scott Bogun on the wing and their mid-field pairing of Beau Kiel and William Saywell are a lethal combination as well.

However, Whaka have grown in confidence over the last two weeks, none more so than the front row of Greg Gillies, Trent Sweeney and Boxer Smith who have looked to dominate their opponents. What will be pleasing to Stone is he has depth in this department with Darrell Pereira and Samuel Cameron able to step in and add extra punch to the side.

If there is one concern for Stone, it is the lack of a real organiser at first-five. The last two weeks the side has used John Wiringi who appears to be out of his depth in this position.

The coach will be keen to see the return of his son Maurice Stone (jnr) who is expected to return in the next week or two from a shoulder injury.

In the other matches in the round Greerton Marist will host Tauranga Sports, Mt Maunganui take on Te Puna, Opotiki will host Rangataua and Paroa will get their introduction to premier rugby when they travel to Murray Salt Stadium to take on last year's champions Te Puke. All matches kick off at 2.45pm.

Draw:

Premier; Greerton Marist v Tauranga Sports, Greerton Park; Mt Maunganui v Te Puna, Blake Park; Sports Opotiki v Rangataua, Princess Street Reserve; Te Puke Sports v Paroa, Murray Salt Stadium; Whakarewarewa v Rotoiti, Puarenga Park.

Division One; Ngongotaha v Ruatoki, Ngongotaha Domain; Poroporo v Te Teko, Poroporo Park; Rangiuru v Marist St Michael's, Centennial Park Te Puke; Waikite v Kahukura, Bellvue Rd; Whakatane Marist v Katikati, Rugby Park.