Rugby: Single point loss sees Rotoiti out of play-offs

Tauranga Sports Development centre George Honey in action against Mount Maunganui Sports on Saturday. Photo / Miki Nakagawa

Rotoiti entered the last round of the Bayfair Baywide Premier qualifying competition in fourth place but were bundled out of the play-offs when Rangataua got home by a solitary point in a thriller at Te Ariki Park on Saturday.

The Rotorua visitors made the early running to lead 17-11 at halftime. Rangataua fought back in the second spell to eventually take the match 28-27. Daiyu Ishimori, Tute Grant and Chase Tiatia scored tries for the winners with Rangataua's ace goal-kicker John Ririnui slotting three penalties and two conversions. Papa Wharewera grabbed a double for Rotoiti with Beau Kiel dotting down for the visitor's third try.

The Rangataua victory means that Whakarewarewa have leapfrogged local rivals Rotoiti in the standings and will take the fourth play-off position.

Whakarewarewa grabbed six tries in their 40-0 win over Waikite. Te Rangi Fraser took his record season try-scoring tally to 20 and has scored at least one try in all eleven Baywide rounds.

Te Puke Sports finished as top qualifier in the Baywide Premier title race and will host Whakarewarewa at Murray Salt Stadium in Te Puke. On Saturday they defeated Whakatane Marist but trailed 9-7 at half time. Te Puke upped the ante in the second spell to take out the encounter 32-21. The Te Puke tries were awarded to Tim Bond, Connor Hirini, Jono Kitto, Curtis Deane, and David Whitecliffe-Davies with Dan Hollinshead slotting three conversions and two penalty goals.

Tauranga Sports defeated Premier title holders Mount Maunganui 24-3 and they will meet again next weekend at the Tauranga Domain in the other semifinal.

In other round eleven action, Greerton Marist posted a big win over Opotiki, running in thirteen tries on their way to a 87-5 victory, with Caleb Hall scoring four tries. Te Puna outgunned Paroa 66-7 in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, with two tries each to Shahn Eru, Wally Mill and Aiden Kuka.

Meanwhile Rangiuru grabbed a Division One home semifinal next weekend after repelling a solid challenge from Kahukura to win 32-27 at Centennial Park. Arataki grabbed the fourth play-off berth when they ran over Galatea 65-22.

While Katikati and Judea missed the play-offs, they both finished in solid positions in the middle of standings. On Saturday Reporoa were trounced by Judea 87-7, with Katikati going down to Poroporo 50-3, who finished in third place.

Four Western Bay teams will fight out the Baywide Development title. Te Puke Sports host Greerton Marist while Tauranga Sports host Mount Maunganui at Tauranga Domain in next Saturday's semifinals.