Unbeaten Baywide teams to meet in Rotorua

CHARGING: Hunter Mokomoko on attack for Te Puna against Tauranga Sports last Saturday. PHOTO: FILE

Baywide rugby by Peter White

The British and Irish Lions v Maori All Blacks sold-out clash at Rotorua International Stadium tomorrow night will captivate the interest of rugby fans around the world.

But 27km away at Emery Park, on the banks of Lake Rotoiti, another game of rugby with an earlier kick-off of 1.30pm should be just as intense with a smaller crowd in attendance.

Unbeaten Baywide Premier 1 sides Rotoiti and Te Puke Sports meet in the game of the round with the winner taking a major step forward to hosting a semifinal.

So far in the championship round Rotoiti have beaten Tauranga Sports 30-8 away and Mount Maunganui Sports 17-16 at home last Saturday, thanks to a try with the last play of the game.

Te Puke have had home wins over Te Puna 36-26 and Whakarewarewa 56-18 to sit in top spot on 10 points, a bonus point ahead of Rotoiti.

Te Puke Sports coach Craig Jeffries is under no illusions just how tough their assignment is to leave Emery Park with a win.

"Rotoiti are clearly the form team of the round with their two wins on the trot in the top eight," he said.

"We are going to be trying to close down their ability to accumulate points throughout the 80 minutes and at the same time, we are pretty keen to continue to grow our attack and really enjoy what we are doing out there.

"Clearly Rotoiti have a strong abrasive forward pack and exciting backs so we'll have to get the basics right if we want to be successful on Saturday."

Rotoiti coach Richard Francis said his team would focus mainly on accuracy across all facets of the game.

"But more importantly improve our performance and technique at the breakdown. Our recent strengths have been defence and set-piece so we to need to maintain this," he said.

Francis is well aware of how strong Te Puke are after Rotoiti lost 40-22 in the first-round match between the teams.

"Te Puke is showing good attacking structures and support play and we will need to be well prepared to combat this," he said.

"But we will stick to the old cliche, stick to the basics and focus on doing this well."
Greerton Marist (third) and Mount Maunganui Sports (fourth) meet at Greerton Park in another key clash with plenty riding on it.

Last weekend both sides came agonisingly close to wins without getting there. Greerton drew 24-all with Rangataua Sports while Mount Maunganui were tipped over by Rotoiti in that last-play thriller.

Across town at Maungatapu, Rangataua Sports host Te Puna in a game that promises to be high scoring with end-to-end attacking rugby. Last Saturday Te Puna defeated Tauranga Sports 43-37 after blowing a 37-5 halftime lead while Rangataua drew with Greerton.

Tauranga Sports should have too many guns for Whakarewarewa at Puarenga Park. If Tauranga produce the same precise, accurate rugby they did in that second half comeback against Te Puna then they should get over the line comfortably.