Rotoiti lose home advantage in rearranged game

Rotoiti's Abe Tito clashes with Te Puke flanker Connor Woodman in last Saturday's loss to Te Puke Sports.

Rotoiti will be hoping their second trip to the Te Puke district in four days will prove to be more fruitful than the first.

Tonight sees the re-arranged game between Rotoiti and Paroa take place under lights at the Eastern Districts Club in Paengaroa.

The original staging of the game was abandoned after a potentially serious injury suffered by Rotoiti prop Arapo Whata.

The injury was not as bad as was first feared, and Whata made his comeback in the Baywide loss at Te Puke Sports on Saturday, standing in as hooker.

Rotoiti players had a recovery session on the pool on Sunday, but coach Richard Francis said yesterday that until last night's training he wouldn't know the extent of any fresh injuries and what impact that might have on the team he can name.

What is certain is that he will still be without regular hooker Willie Royal who is suspended and back up Raniera Whakataka who is with the Bay of Plenty Academy side in Samoa.

"Tonight we'll see how the injuries are and what sort of team we can field," he said. "We
won't be at full strength, but we'll just power on."

Francis is expecting another tough battle.

"Saturday's game was pretty physical and it's going to be a pretty hard one to turn around for another physical battle because Paroa are another physical team up front but we've just got to get up off the canvas."

Having to rearrange the game to an evening fixture, though, means Rotoiti have had to give up home advantage with the game moved to a ground with lights.

"It's a neutral ground, but we'd much rather play it at home."

Next Saturday is the Rotorua derby at Emery Park.