United keen to end season on high

LAST GAME: Rotorua Utd take on Old Blues at Neil Hunt Park today. PHOTO/FILE A_170716bf34.JPG

Rotorua United coach Ian Walker wants his side to enjoy their final outing in this season's WaiBOP Premiership this afternoon.

Rotorua Utd play Old Blues at Neil Hunt Park, looking to consolidate sixth place in the league.

It is extremely unlikely they will be able to move up to fifth - they would need a massive win and for fifth placed Otumoetai to slip up three times for that to happen - but finishing with a win will ensure they don't slip down to seventh.

"I just want them to go out and go hard - obviously we'd like to go out and win the last one and put more points on the board. We've had a win and a draw in the last two games, but we are quite low on numbers," he said.

Walker had to call on members of the club's under 19 team to play in last weekend's 1-1 draw with Papamoa, but those players are competing in a national secondary school tournament next week so are not available today.

"It will be a scratch 11 on the park, but that's okay, we were last week as well."

When Rotorua played Old Blues earlier in the season the points were also shared - a 2-2 draw the result.

"Last time it was close and this will be a tough one," said Walker. "They are going alright and are sitting close to us on the league so it will be whoever wants to go hard on the day - but our boys are up for it and will be keen to get the three points."

The game kicks off at 2.45pm.

■ After taking top spot in the WaiBOP Premiership Division 1 with a win at Hamilton's Northern Utd, Rotorua's women's team travel to Tauranga tomorrow to take on Otumoetai. The game is at Fergusson Park and kicks off at 12.30pm.