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Home / Rotorua Daily Post / Sport

Baywide rugby goes into cut-throat mode

By Stuart Whitaker
Rotorua Daily Post·
1 Jun, 2017 08:31 PM4 mins to read

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ON THE CHARGE: Rotoiti No 8 Jesse Acton in action in last week's derby win over Whakarewarewa. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER

ON THE CHARGE: Rotoiti No 8 Jesse Acton in action in last week's derby win over Whakarewarewa. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER

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Phase two of the Baywide Premier rugby competition is promising to be a cut-throat affair.

After the first 11 rounds, the top eight teams from the premier division start their quest for the Baywide trophy. And if the first 11 rounds have demonstrated anything, it's that on their day, any of the top eight are capable of beating any other.

Tomorrow, Whakarewarewa are at home to Greerton Marist, while Rotoiti travel to Tauranga Sports.

In this season's first meetings, Greerton triumphed 36-27 over Whaka, while Rotoiti held Tauranga Sports to a 17-17 draw.

If the old adage that you are only as good as your last game is true then Rotoiti will be heading to Tauranga Domain full of confidence after their heroics of last weekend.

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The lakeside team, playing their third game in eight days, prised the Tai Mitchell Shield from the clutches of neighbours Whakarewarewa in a pulsating game that saw them recover from a halftime deficit of 14-5.

Coaches Richard Francis and Willie Royal played an astute tactical game, naming a strong bench for the game and hitting the visitors with reserves who had plenty of impact after the break.

Royal said the coaching team and the players were pretty happy after the win and the way the team played.

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"That's given us a bit of momentum going into this week against Tauranga Sports," he said.

"Mental preparation is a big part of moving forward now.

"The top eight is a big comp and everyone can beat each other and it is hard to get your team up week after week. But if we can find some consistency and win a couple of away games then that will be good for us."

Royal said the team had avoided any significant injury issues in recent weeks.

"We may have one or two niggles, but nothing major so we'll probably have a full squad for this week's game."

He said the draw earlier in the season indicated how tomorrow's game was likely to go.

"To beat Tauranga you've got to be on the ball for 80 minutes. It's going to be another tight affair and the team that can capitalise on their opponent's mistakes will get up."

The second meeting between Greerton and Whakarewarewa is at Puarenga Park, but Whakarewarewa coach Joe Savage isn't about to be lulled into a false sense of security by having home advantage.

"We are not going to rest on that, anything can happen on the day. It certainly does help us and we have won all our home games so far, so I hope that continues on, but don't want to rest on that."

He felt the last meeting was a game Whaka could have won.

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"We had the team last time to beat them, even with a few ring-ins they had last time. We know what they've got now and from what I've seen, we are more than capable of winning this game comfortably barring any surprises, but you have to be on your game every week."

Savage has a few injury concerns and is still awaiting a physio report to see who of his first-choice players will be available.

"But in saying that, it's another opportunity for players coming through who haven't had much game time and I'm pretty confident they will be able to fill the roles."

He said winning was crucial now the competition had hit the second phase.

"We need to get our confidence back by winning games rather than playing well and just losing. You can't rest on performing well, you have to be winning games to stay in this competition."

The bottom four from the first round premiership have this weekend off and will join the top four from the Division 1 to form the eight-team Premier 2 that kicks off next Saturday.

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Baywide Premier 1 and Premier 1 Development: Premier kick-off: 2.45pm, Development kick-off: 1pm:
Mount Maunganui Sports v Rangataua at Blake Park, Te Puke v Te Puna at Murray Salt Stadium, Whakarewarewa v Greerton Marist at Puarenga Park, Tauranga Sports v Rotoiti at Tauranga Domain.
Baywide Division 1: Kick-off: 2.45pm:
Marist St Michael's v Te Teko at Marist Park, Kahukura v Waimana at Kuirau Park, Ruatoki v Ngongotaha at Tuhoe Park, Rangiuru v Katikati at Centennial Park, Waikite v Opotiki at Bellevue Road, Papamoa v Judea at Gordon Spratt Reserve.

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