Whakarewarewa's Eru Smith-Wano, pictured competing for the ball against Rotoiti, when the teams met in March. Photo/File
Whakarewarewa's Eru Smith-Wano, pictured competing for the ball against Rotoiti, when the teams met in March. Photo/File
Get out your knives and forks, there is a footy feast on the menu at Puarenga Park today.Rotoiti and Whakarewarewa's premier men's and women's rugby teams will all play each other in what is sure to be a thrilling day of local match-ups.
To add more heat to what is always a fiery match-up, a win for the Rotoiti men will see them retain the Tai Mitchell Shield as well as secure a spot in the semi-finals.
The top of the table could not be closer; Rotoiti sit in fourth on 19 points, Mount Maunganui are third with 20, Te Puke are second with 21 and Rangataua are first, also on 21 points but with a superior points difference.
STRONG FORWARDS: Rotoiti's Luke Cassidy offloads against Te Puna last weekend. PHOTO/BEN FRASER
A win will guarantee Rotoiti a place in the semi-finals while, if other results go their way, they could still finish as high as first.
A top-two finish will secure a home semi-final, a potentially huge advantage for a Rotoiti side which always puts on a show in front of their home crowd.
Boasting a powerful pack, all four of Rotoiti's tries in their 29-20 win over Te Puna last week were scored by their forwards.
Rotoiti coach Richard Francis said defence and a strong performance up front would be key factors in producing a winning performance.
"For our team it will be crucial we have a solid defence and show our dominance in the forwards.
"We know Whakarewarewa have a strong kicking game and have skilful backs which we will need to contain.
"We will look to win our own ball at set piece and play a disciplined game and try to play a 15-man game," Francis said.
The Tai Mitchell Shield. Photo/File
While a spot in the semi-finals was at the forefront of Rotoiti's ambitions, Francis also spoke of the importance of retaining the Tai Mitchell Shield.
"This is our first defence since winning our taonga. The shield means so much to our club because Tai Mitchell was from Rotoiti, Ngati Pikiao."
It has been a tough second round for Whakarewarewa, who sit at the bottom of the table without a win, but there is no doubt they will be fired up for a shot at the shield.
Coach Joe Savage said he and his team had the greatest respect for their visitors this weekend and had identified the need to play the game at their speed.
"What we have identified with Rotoiti is that they have very strong ball carriers and our inefficiencies are at our contact point.
"The focus for us will be getting players to the ground as quick as possible allowing us to play a tempo ball and tempo style game.
"This will allow us to get them running around the park a bit more and hopefully expose their weaknesses out wide," Savage said.
He said Whakarewarewa wanted to finish the season on a high and winning the Tai Mitchell Shield was a great way to do that.
"We are not focusing too much on Rotoiti and where they stand and I am sure they will respect that we will give them a good game, make them work hard.
"We are not there to just give it to them that's for sure, although we want to see them do well we want [to win] that shield back and instil a lot of mana back into our club and our team."
