Rugby: Whaka show signs of promise

Both of Rotorua's premier rugby sides suffered losses at the weekend. Pictured is Whaka captain Doug Edwards (with ball) in action this season. Photo / Ben Fraser

Whakarewarewa came close to exacting some revenge against Te Puke in front of their home supporters in Rotorua, but fell just short losing 23-15.

Heavyweights Te Puke defeated Whaka on Saturday during their round three fixture in the Baywide premier competition at Puarenga Park - repeating the same result from last season's semifinal.

Whaka only trailed by one point with about 15 minutes to go in the match before Te Puke's Grayden Sheres crossed for a try to help his team get home.

"We were a bit disappointed, I guess for us there was a few missed opportunities," Whaka coach Kopae Irihei said.

"Te Puke have been a strong side for the last couple of years and are one of the benchmark teams in this competition. We certainly had opportunities and when you play against teams like that, you have to take them."

He said a positive to take from the match was his team's scrum and lineout.

When the two sides met in their semifinal last year, Whaka had a chance to win the match but Te Puke's forward pack simply dominated the scrum.

"We have struggled [at set pieces] in the past couple of years and I think this year we have really hit that on the head."

Meanwhile, Rotoiti played their first match at home on Saturday but were beaten by a good Te Puna outfit 30-13. Rotoiti will be well aware of the potential of missing the top eight this season, having already lost two matches, and will be fired up to get a victory next weekend against Te Puke.

Whakarewarewa 15 (Ryubyn Vaipo 5 pen) lost to Te Puke 23 (Ryan Lambert, Grayden Sheres tries; Luke Campbell 2 con, 3 pen).

Baywide round three:

Premier: Tauranga Sports 20 Rangataua 5, Te Puke Sports 23 Whakarewarewa 15, Mount Maunganui 23 Greerton Marist 16, Te Puna 30 Rotoiti 13, Opotiki 28 Paroa 6, Whakatane Marist 26 Arataki 5.

Development grade: Tauranga Sports 62 Rangataua 7, Te Puke Sports 48 Whakarewarewa 5, Mount Maunganui 45 Greerton Marist 0, Te Puna 45 Rotoiti 10, Opotiki 57 Paroa 12, Arataki 28 v Whakatane Marist 26.

Division One: Rangiuru 23 Ruatoki 19, Waikite 17 Katikati 8, Te Teko 8 Ngongotaha 8, Kahukura 32 Papamoa 10, Judea 19 Poroporo 9, Marist St Michael's bye.