Ngongotaha's Leighton Simpkins in action during round one. Photo / File
Ngongotaha's Leighton Simpkins in action during round one. Photo / File
The dust has settled on round one of the Baywide rugby competition and Rotorua's six teams are well distributed among the new divisions.
Rotoiti and Whakarewarewa qualified for Premier 1, Ngongotahā and Waikite are in Premier 2 and Kahukura and Marist St Michael's are in Division 1.
Premier 2 promises to provide plenty of entertainment and it would take a brave pundit to pick a winner.
Ngongotahā go in as top qualifiers, having finished ninth in the round one Premier division. Tomorrowthey play Rangiuru who make their return to premier level rugby after sometime away.
Ngongotahā coach Jodie Wharekura was wary of the unknown when playing sides coming up from Division 1.
"We need to respect our opposition and start well. Facing Rangiuru at home will be a handful if we don't dominate the set piece. The Division 1 teams will be a real unknown so we need to make sure our weekly game preparation leaves no stone unturned."
Wharekura wanted his side to demonstrate patience when in possession and be mindful with their option taking.
"To deliver an improved performance, our option taking needs to be on point. We need to ensure that we are patient with the ball in hand and while on defence our communication is paramount.
"I expect my team to play at a level that is worthy of Premier 1 status. Week in, week out we must command accuracy with a high tempo game plan. Playing consistently as a unit will go a long way to achieving our desired outputs. Giving fair opportunity to all squad members will breed a competitive edge that will be infectious. If we can continue to improve our team culture even more, who knows what is ahead for us."
Waikite just scraped through to Premier 2. Sitting outside the top four in the last round of Division 1, they lost 32-31 to Opotiki but the two bonus points they picked up were enough to climb into fourth, one point ahead of local rivals Marist St Michael's.
Waikite player Ethan Taua-Draper celebrates a try against Kahukura in round one. Photo / File
Waikite coach Kevin Lee said his side's path to Premier 2 was made more challenging by other teams defaulting. Waimana and Poroporo both defaulted to them, which meant Waikite got the competition points for a win but lost the opportunity to pick up bonus points.
"For a default [the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union] gives four points when they should be giving five points. It's teams like Waimana that are getting beaten by 90-odd points by everybody else so it's just unfair rules that we're playing with," Lee said.
Despite the added challenge, he said it was good for the club as a whole to be playing in Premier 2. This weekend they take on Te Teko at home.
"Our focus is on trying to make the top four. We played Te Teko two weeks ago and managed to scrape through with a win. They had a lot more left in the tank - they'll have worked out what we're doing and we're trying to work out what they're doing.
"[Waikite's playing style] will depend on the weather, the field's a bit wet so we might just have to try to slow things down a bit. I think Premier 2 is going to be really competitive."
In Division 1, Kahukura host Murupara and Marist St Michael's host Poroporo.
Farmlands Co-operative Baywide Club Rugby Draw Premier 1 Saturday (Premier kickoff: 2.45pm, Development kickoff: 1pm): Greerton Marist v Whakarewarewa at Greerton Park Rangataua v Te Puna at Te Ariki Park Rotoiti v Tauranga Sports at Emery Park Mount Maunganui Sports v Te Puke Sports at Blake Park
Premier 2 Saturday (Premier kickoff: 2.45pm; Development kickoff: 1pm): Waikite v Te Teko at Bellvue Road Rangiuru v Ngongotaha at Centennial Park Whakatane Marist v Arataki at Rugby Park Opotiki v Paroa at Princess Street Reserve
Division One Saturday (Kickoff: 2.45pm): Kahukura v Murupara at Kuirau Park Ruatoki v Papamoa at Tuhoe Park Marist St Michael's v Poroporo at Marist Park Waimana v Judea at Waimana Domain
