Although Tauranga's Nick Evemy has been equally impressive piling on 20 of his team's 60 points last weekend, Te Puke will need to keep a close eye on the classy player.
Whaka will be desperate to get back to their winning ways when they take on Greerton Marist at Puarenga Park, Rotorua tomorrow.
It's been five weeks on the trot without a win for the Kevin Lee coached side but Greerton won't be laying down for the Rotorua side after they had an impressive 45-34 win over Opotiki last weekend.
Rotoiti, who have been impressive this season thanks to new coach and former Steamers captain Wayne Ormond, will host Rangataua. It should be an easy win at home for the lakesiders, however Rangataua are a proud club and will be looking to make up for their disappointing 32-7 loss to Te Puna in the last round.
Te Puna host Mt Maunganui at Maramatanga Park tomorrow and will be hoping to cement their third spot on the points table.
In division one, Rangiuru who currently lead the division host Te Teko at Centennial Park, Paroa travel to Tuhoe country to play Ruatoki, Marist St Michael's host Ngongotaha in a local derby, Reporoa and Poroporo go head to head at Reporoa and Whakatane Marist host Kahukura at Rugby Park in Whakatane.
PGG Wrightson Baywide Rugby
Draw for June 2
Premier (2.45pm): Rotoiti v Rangataua, Emery Park; Sports Opotiki v Waikite, Princess Street Reserve; Tauranga Sports v Te Puke Sports, Tauranga Domain; Te Puna v Mt Maunganui, Maramatanga Park; Whakarewarewa v Greerton Marist, Puarenga Park.
Points: Te Puke Sports 46, Tauranga Sports 38, Te Puna 32, Rotoiti 31, Sports Opotiki 28, Whakarewarewa 24, Mt Maunganui 23, Greerton Marist 11, Rangataua 10, Waikite 7.
Division One (2.45am): Marist St Michael's v Ngongotaha, Marist Park; Rangiuru v Te Teko, Centenial Park; Reporoa v Poroporo, Reporoa; Ruatoki v Paroa, Tuhoe Park; Whakatane Marist v Kahukura, Rugby Park Whakatane.
Points: Rangiuru 44, Paroa 39, Kahukura 38, Te Teko 37, Whakatane Marist 27, Ngongotaha 25, Poroporo 19, Marist St Michael's 16, Reporoa 6, Ruatoki 2.
Colts: Marist St Michael's v Sports Opotiki, Rangataua *bye* ; Rotoiti v Mt Maunganui, Emery Park; Ruatoki v Greerton Marist, Tuhoe Park; Tauranga Sports v Kahukura, Tauranga Domain; Te Puna v Waikite, Maramatanga Park; Te Whakarewarewa v Te Puke Sports, Puarenga Park.
Points: Mt Maunganui 44, Greerton Marist 37, Tauranga Sports 34, Te Puna 32, Te Puke Sports 28, Sports Opotiki 24, Ruatoki 23, Waikite 20, Rangataua 19, Marist St Michael's 18, Whakarewarewa 13, Rotoiti 6, Kahukura 1.
- Greg Taipari
Football
WaiBop Federation teams who have been eliminated from the Chatham Cup play league games tomorrow while four teams will play their second round Cup games on Monday.
League leaders Taupo will defend the Challenge Shield for the first time in this tenure when they meet Tauranga Boys' College at Crown Park. The young college side play attractive football but Taupo should retain the shield and their unbeaten record.
Old Blues and Rotorua United both had disastrous starts to their campaigns but unlike United, who are yet to win a game, Old Blues have clawed their way up the ladder having won their last two games. With home advantage this will be a game Old Blues will have targeted to take maximum points from.
Otorohanga, who are second to bottom, host Claudelands Rovers who will be heavily favoured to win, while AFC Fury are at home against Melville United on Saturday before playing Tauranga Boys' College on Monday. The clash with Melville promises to be close but Fury will be favoured to beat Tauranga Boys'.
In Division two, Rotorua United host Cambridge who are chasing promotion, leaders Tauranga City meet West Hamilton at Links Ave, Clube Alegria host Te Awamutu and Tokoroa are at home against Katikati.
In the Chatham Cup rounds on Monday, Ngongotaha will be looking for another NRFL scalp when they meet Takapuna at Stembridge Rd. The Villagers fully deserved their 2-1 win over Western Springs in round one and there is sure to be a good crowd to see if they can progress further.
Whakatane Town also have a home game against NRFL/2 side Mangare, Waikato Unicol host Oratia and Tauranga City are at home against Central United from the NRFL Premier League.
Otumoetai make the trip north to play Waitemata and Melville are away to Ranui Swanson.
All Cup games kick off at 2pm.
Division One points: Taupo played 8, points 24, Claudelands (8) 18, Fury (9) 17, Melville (9) 16, Whakatane (8) Tauranga Boys' (8) Old Blues (8) Otumoetai (8) 10, Ngongotaha (8) Unicol (8) 9, Otorohanga (9) 5, Rotorua United (8) 3.
Division Two points: Tauranga City (8) 21, Cambridge (7) 18, Clube Alegria (9) 16, Katikati (8) 13, Te Awamutu (7) Tokoroa ((8) 8, West Hamilton (8) Rotorua United (8) 7, Matamata (8) 3.
- Brian Smith
League
Some of the top young league talent will be on display tomorrow for the New Zealand Maori Rugby League Rangatahi Tournament.
Up to 14 teams from around the country will take part in the two-day event at Puketawhero Park.
The tournament has two divisions 15s and 17s with some of the best young Maori talent the country has to offer in action.
Pride is on the line for each team with participants who may normally play side by side on a Saturday now on opposite sides for their iwi.
The 15s division first round gets under way at 9.30am with Taranaki taking on Te Awa Kairangi and Waikato against Whanganui, with Takutai Akau and Raukawa having a bye.
In the 17s division their first round kicks off at 10.45am with Te Mahurehure versus Nga Hau O Poneke, Te Atiawa taking on Bay of Plenty, Taranaki against Waikato and Te Arawa going head to head with Takutai Akau.
Before each match the teams lay down the challenge with a spine-tingling haka.
Sunday's matches are expected to get under way at 9am 15's division and 10.15am for the 17's division. Both finals 15's and 17's will be held at 2.15pm and 1pm respectively.
Draw, June 2:
15s: Round 1 (9.30am): Taranaki v Te Awa Kairangi, Waikato v Whanganui; Round 2 (12pm): Waikato v Raukawa, Taranaki v Takutai Akau; Round 3 (2.30pm): Te Awa Kairangi v Takutai Akau, Raukawa v Whanganui.
17s: Round 1 (10.45am): Te Mahurehure v Nga Hau O Poneke, Te Atiawa v Bay of Plenty, Taranaki v Waikato, Te Arawa v Takutai Akau; Round 2 (1.15pm): Waikato v Te Arawa, Takutai Akau v Taranaki, Te Mahurehure v Bay of Plenty, Nga Hau O Poneke v Te Atiawa; Round 3 (3.45pm): Te Mahurehure v Te Atiawa, Nga Hau O Poneke v Bay of Plenty, Waikato v Takutai Akau, Te Arawa v Taranaki.
Draw, June 3:
15s: Round 4 (9am) quarter-finals; Round 5 (11.30am) semifinals; Tournament final 2.15pm.
17s: Round 4 (10.15am) preliminary finals; Round 5 (1pm) final.
- Greg Taipari
Boxing
Some of the best young boxers from throughout New Zealand will converge on Taupo for the North Island Golden Gloves tournament tomorrow.
Rotorua boxing identity Rex Jenkins, who is the main organiser, said he was expecting up to 150 fighters for the two-day tournament being held at the Great Lake Convention Centre.
"That's up from last year, especially in the elite boxing," he said.
"It's a very strong competition considering it's only a North Island tournament. We have 37 bouts in this year's elites."
Jenkins said he was a little disappointed in the numbers of competitors in the cadets and junior divisions but the youth division was looking "pretty good".
"We have the youth boxing world cup later in the year so you'd expect some good numbers in that division."
There was a strong contingent representing Rotorua with seven fighters from Jenkins' gym and 11 from Rotovegas Boxing Gym.
One fighter Jenkins said he was particularly excited about competing tomorrow was his 14-year-old grandson, Bradley Jenkins.
"He's been looking good. I've been very pleased with him. He has been doing his homework [training] without complaint."
The tournament gets under way tomorrow, with the first session starting at 1pm and running until about 5pm. The second session begins at 7pm and finishes about 11pm.
Jenkins said the second day begins at 12pm running to about 3pm, with the final session starting at 6pm and wrapping up once all the finals are complete.
There will be door sales with family concession passes available, Jenkins said.
- Greg Taipari
