Rugby: Teams gear up to battle for playoffs

Te Puke Sports winger Curtis Deane makes a break against Tauranga Sports last Saturday. Photo / Andrew Warner

The battle to make next Saturday's playoffs is the intriguing factor in tomorrow's final round of pool play in the Bayfair Baywide Premier and Division 1 competitions.

With Premier leaders Te Puke Sports and Tauranga Sports locked in to host semifinals next week, the onus is on Mount Maunganui Sports (40 points), Rotoiti (37) and Whakarewarewa (34) to fight it out for the final placings.

Mount Maunganui will take one of the two spots, with Rotoiti facing a tough away match at Rangataua and Whakarewarewa is expected to take maximum six points off bottom team Waikite.

Tauranga Sports will be looking to redeem themselves at home against Mount Maunganui, following their humiliating loss to Te Puke Sports last weekend.

Tauranga Sports coach Mike Rogers says that loss "will sharpen our focus ahead of what is always a great game against Mount Maunganui.

"We are back at Tauranga Domain this weekend which will be great after two away games. The key for us will be to get our set piece right and play with tempo. We have a club supporters and sponsors day at the club which we are really looking forward to."

Mount Maunganui coach Rodney Voullaire is looking forward to the battle of the bridge. "The match is another opportunity for us to continue to build for the semifinals, which the team are very much looking forward to," he said.

"We will be focusing on maintaining the same style of rugby we have been playing over the past couple of weeks, and will be looking to attack up front. The game will be a good test for the semifinals."

In Division 1, the top four will be decided tomorrow.

Rangiuru host Kahukura at Centennial Park in a key game. Rangiuru are tied at the top of the table with Te Teko, while Kahukura are in fifth one point behind fourth-placed Arataki.

The teams are coached by two of the all-time Bay of Plenty legends in Hika Reid and Ron Preston. "Kahukura will be wanting the win to keep them in contention for top four this weekend," Rangiuru coach Reid said. "We will also be wanting the win to ensure we have a home semifinal. It should be a great watch this weekend.

"We will be sticking to our game plan. We haven't perfected it just yet, but once we have, it will hopefully be right ..."

Kahukura coach Preston knows it could be their last game of the season. "We will put everything into it as we have nothing to lose We had a much improved performance against Te Teko a few weeks ago, we will be looking to up our performance again against Rangiuru this weekend."

Bayfair Baywide draws, tomorrow
Premier/Development: (Premier kick-off 2.45pm, Development 1pm) Greerton Marist vs Opotiki at Greerton Park; Paroa vs Te Puna at Lawson Park; Rangataua vs Rotoiti at Te Ariki Park; Tauranga Sports vs Mount Maunganui at Tauranga Domain; Waikite vs Whakarewarewa at Bellvue Road; Whakatane Marist vs Te Puke Sports at Rugby Park.

Division 1: Galatea vs Arataki at Galatea Domain; Judea vs Reporoa at Maharaia Winiata Park; Ngongotaha vs Marist St Michael's at Ngongotaha Domain; Poroporo vs Katikati at Poroporo Park; Rangiuru vs Kahukura at Centennial Park; Ruatoki vs Te Teko at Tuhoe Park.

Premier points:Te Puke Sports 46, Tauranga Sports 45, Mount Maunganui Sports 40, Rotoiti 37, Whakarewarewa 34, Rangataua 22, Greerton Marist 21, Te Puna 21, Whakatane Marist 16, Opotiki 14, Paroa 5, Waikite 0.