Rugby: Refs draw battle lines for clash of fierce foes

Mount Maunganui flanker Matty Axtens in full cry against Te Puke Sports last Saturday. Photo / File

Early-season rust should have been scraped away for round three of the Western Bay premier and development competitions which kicks off tomorrow.

The early matches were mostly blighted by poor technique at the breakdown which resulted in far too many penalties. This led to frustration among players, spectators and officials and thwarted open flowing rugby.

The players now know that referees are taking a stern line on players leaving their feet or not releasing the tackled player before they fly in hunting for a turnover.

Tomorrow's main game is the Battle of the Bridge featuring Mount Maunganui Sports and Tauranga Sports. The fierce rivalry should produce the usual physical confrontation plus plenty of try-scoring action with several Steamers players in action across both teams.

The game is at Mount Maunganui College rather than Blake Park because of supposed maintenance work on Sir Gordon Tietjens Field. But in an odd twist, the NZ Under-15 boys' and North Island under-19 girls' sevens tournaments that finish today are being played on the main pitch at Blake Park that looks in perfect condition.

Mount Maunganui coach Rodney Voullaire says his team are looking forward to tomorrow's clash after they defeated Te Puke Sports at the same venue last week.

"We had a tight game against Te Puke. We need to build on that win by focusing on what we are doing," he said. "We need to work on coming together as a unit and then play as a unified team. This game is definitely an important game to win and will be a tight battle."

Tauranga Sports coach Mike Rogers says it is a game his players always look forward to.

"It is our big home derby match and is typically played in really good spirits with attractive rugby from both teams," he said.

"Mount Maunganui is a big challenge for us. They were the only team that we didn't beat in 2014 and gave us a real hiding at Tauranga Domain in the second round."

WBOP club rugby, tomorrow: Mount Maunganui v Tauranga Sports at Mount Maunganui College; Te Puke Sports v Te Puna at Murray Salt Stadium; Rangataua v Greerton Marist at Te Ariki Park (Development kick-off 1pm; Premier kick-off 2.45pm).