Rugby League: Pacific reassert dominance

HARD LOSS: Pacific smashed Pikiao 60-6 on Saturday. Pikiao's Rocky Ahuriri (front) is pictured playing against Pacific earlier this season. PHOTO/BEN FRASER

PACIFIC have put an emphatic stop to a recent form slump by smashing Pikiao 60-6 in Tokoroa.

A downpour around the region on Saturday led to two games being rained out in Rotorua, but all other games went ahead in the Bay of Plenty Coastline senior rugby league competitions.

The rain had disappeared by the time Pacific (Tokoroa) and Pikiao (Rotorua) took the field at Memorial Park on Saturday afternoon, a repeat of last year's premier grand final.

Competition leaders Pacific went into the match having lost two of their last three matches. Pacific coach Paniora Daniels said they had spoken about picking up intensity and urgency ahead of the match against Pikiao, and he was pleased with his side's performance.

"The last couple of weeks we have had a few injuries but we have not been playing our best footy, and it was about the urgency and intensity," he said.

"I think it is that time of the year where it is cold and wet and the motivation is at its lowest so we had a bit of a hui [before our match against Pikiao] and reset our goals again."

He said they had also played to honour club legend Rick Bennion, whose funeral was held on Saturday morning. "We had one of our oldest members pass away and that meant our guys were playing in memory and celebration of his life ... He is one of the legends of the club.

"So it was a bit unfortunate for Pikiao they got us on that day. There was a lot of emotion."

Only two rounds are left before the playoffs in the premier, reserve grade and division one senior competitions. Daniels said their main goal in the last two rounds of the competition would be to keep up their intensity.

He acknowledged Pikiao were missing a few players on Saturday. "Pikiao will be a different team in the semis. We are pretty wary of that. Every team lifts when it gets to the knockout stages."

In the other premier games, Otumoetai beat Mangakino 36-12, while the match between Ngongotaha and Taupo was rained out at Puketawhero Park.

- Premier table: Pacific 22, Taupo 18*, Otumoetai 16, Pikiao 11, Mangakino 6, Ngongotaha 3*.

* Their latest match was abandoned due to rain.