Sport: Desperate times for United

Football

Alarm bells will be ringing loudly at the Neil Hunt Park, headquarters of Rotorua United as the threat of relegation from the first division of the WaiBop Federation league has come into clear focus.

Second to last on the table, tomorrow United are away to second-placed Claudelands Rovers, who they trail by 22 points.

It has been a strange season for United, many expected them to challenge for the title and while they have shown glimpses of what they are capable of, they have not been able to overcome a poor start. It is now desperate times but United must play with control rather than desperation.

Ngongotaha's first season in division one finds them third from the bottom of the points table. Coming off an important win over Waikato Unicol they need to take three points from their away game against Tauranga Boys' College, who are just a point ahead of them.

Taupo, apart from a slip up against Otumoetai, have swept all before them and it will be a surprise if they don't take maximum points against Whakatane Town at Rex Morpeth Park.

Otorohanga who are likely favourites for relegation are away to Old Blues, with the home side favoured, while in a middle of the table clash Otumoetai are away to AFC Fury, and Waikato Unicol have home advantage for their match against Melville United.

In division two, Rotorua United face leaders Tauranga City at Neil Hunt Park, bottom of the table Matamata are at home to Cambridge, Tokoroa host Clube Alegria and Te Awamutu are at home against West Hamilton.

Division one points;

Taupo 33, Claudelands 30, Melville 21, Fury 18, Otumoetai 16, Unicol 15, Whakatane 14, TBC 13, Old Blues, Ngongotaha 12, Rotorua United 8, Otorohanga 5.

Division two points;

Tauranga City 30, Cambridge, Clube Alegria 24, Katikati 21, Te Awamutu, Tokoroa 12, Rotorua United 10, West Hamilton 8, Matamata 4.

Bay Sportsmed Cup

Teams that progressed to the second round were;

Papamoa, Otumoetai, Te Puke, Tauranga City (2), Taupo, Whakatane, Kawerau (2), and Tauranga City.

- By Brian Smith

League

It's a clash of the big guns in the Blue pool of the Waicoa Bay premier league competition tomorrow when Pikiao Warriors take on Ngaruawahia Panthers in a bid to strengthen their position at the top in their division.

Both sides are undefeated so far with Pikiao narrowly beating Turangawaewae 42-40 at Puketawhero Park last weekend.

The win has set up a monumental clash between Mourea and Ngaruawahia, who beat their neighbours Hamilton Hornets 56-0.

It will be a tough battle for the Warriors to claim a win on Tainui soil but the Selwyn Rikiti-coached side have a strong belief in one another. But they will need to play perfect footy if they are to beat a side who are yet to taste defeat on home soil.

Otumoetai Eels also make the trip to Waikato to take on Turangawaewae at Paterson Park, both sides suffered losses last weekend, with the Eels going down to their neighbours the Tauranga Whalers 34-24.

The Whalers should pick up an easy win when they head to Hamilton to play the hapless Hamilton Hornets.

In the Black pool, Pacific host Hukanui at Memorial Park, Tokoroa. It should be an easy win for the Forestry boys with Hukanui sitting bottom of the table. Hamilton City Tigers travel to Taupo tomorrow to take on the Phoenix who are always a tough prospect at home a win for both the Tigers and the Sharks would give them a share of the lead with current leaders Taniwharau having a bye.

Points Tables:

Black section: Taniwharau 7, Hamilton City Tigers 6, Pacific 6, Taupo Phoenix 5, Hukanui 2.

Blue section: Ngaruawahia 9, Pikiao Warriors 9, Tauranga Whalers 6, Otumoetai Eels 5, Turangawaewae 4, Hamilton Hornets 3.

Baywide rugby

It's Whakarewarewa's last throw of the dice to reach this year's PGG Wrightson Baywide premier semifinals, when they play Eastern Bay high flyers Opotiki tomorrow.

The long-established Rotorua club has had a roller coaster ride in the Baywide top echelon this season, however if they can defeat Opotoki at Puareanga Park, they will keep their slim post-section hopes alive.

The return to the club of former All Black Caleb Ralph after several years' absence, could be just the tonic that Whaka need to revive their season. Last weekend in his first outing for Whaka in the current season, Ralph scored a try in his side's narrow loss to arch rivals Rotoiti and showed his silky skills on a number of occasions. Whaka goal kicker Maurice Stone is a potential match winner and the visitors to Whaka headquarters will need to be wary of making mistakes in the Whaka half.

Opotiki cemented third place in the title race last weekend when they got past Te Puna in the Western Bay. Their victory came from three first half breakaways which all resulted in Opotiki touchdowns. The electric pace of Te Amo and Te Hata Wilbore has played a big part in the Opotiki fortunes this season. Opotiki have their own match winner in Sam Howe, who against Te Puna added a further 12 points with the boot to his season tally.

An encounter with entirely different connotations for the two sides will take place between Greerton Marist and Te Puna at Greerton Park. Te Puna, who can still make the post section play-offs, will be desperate for a win to keep in touch with the top four.

Greerton Marist, who have been in the relegation zone from season start, will be equally as desperate to post a win on the weekend. Victory will take them a vital step nearer to playing Premier rugby next season, while a defeat could take their survival chances down to the last game of the season.

Defending champions Te Puke Sports, who have just one loss, could have a real challenge to face at Murray Salt Stadium. Rotoiti have bounced back into the top four and showed against Whaka last week that they have the hunger to make the playoffs.

Second-placed Tauranga Sports will be expected to pick up a bonus point against cellar dweller Wakite at Tauranga Domain tomorrow, while Mount Maunganui and Rangataua will contest a Western Bay local derby at Blake Park.

With Rangiuru, Paroa and Kahukura, having established sizeable break on the other contenders, the fourth semifinal place will be fought out between Te Teko, Ngongotaha and Whakatane Marist. Whakatane Marist should improve their standing on the points ladder when they meet bottom-placed Ruatoki at Rugby Park in Whakatane.

Paroa are likely to provide Te Teko with a stern challenge at Dunderdale Park, with Ngongotaha needing to bring their A game when they square off against Kahukura at Kuirau Park. Rangiuru should prove too strong for Poroporo while the formbook suggests that Marist St Michaels will overcome the Reporoa challenge in Reporoa.

Colts high-flyer Mount Maunganui who have a home semifinal firmly on their agenda, play the defending age group champions at Blake Park. Te Puke Sports who made a slow start to their championship defence, have found the form that took them to the Baywide title last season, and could make life difficult for the home side.

Greerton Marist and Te Puna could provide an action packed curtain raiser at Greerton Park with Tauranga Sports favoured to beat Marist St Michaels. In Division Two Rangataua host Waikite at Te Ariki Park, Ruatoki will be favoured to defeat Rotoiti, with Whakarewarewa expected to receive a stern challenge from Opotiki.