Rotoiti battle it out for play-off spot

Rotorua Daily Post

15 Jul, 2016 04:11 AM3 mins to read

Rotoiti player Chanse Perham and his side face tough opposition today as they battle it out for a top four play-off spot.

The battle for top four play-offs spots is the major focus tomorrow with just two rounds left to play in all Baywide rugby divisions.

In Premier 1 Mount Maunganui Sports are clear on 23 points and should host one home semifinal.

Rangataua Sports are second on 18 with Rotoiti (16), Tauranga Sports (15), Te Puke Sports (12), Te Puna (10) with Greerton Marist (5) and Whakatane Marist (5) to follow.

The fixtures tomorrow have Tauranga Sports at home to Te Puna, Mount Maunganui hosting Greerton Marist and Whakatane Marist travelling to Rangataua.

But the clash between Te Puke and Rotoiti at Murray Salt Stadium is being billed as the closest match-up.

Rotoiti will be looking for their third win in a row, including last weekend's 52-27 home victory over Greerton Marist.

Te Puke look to get their first back-to-back wins in the competition after a 25-22 away win over Whakatane Marist last Saturday.

Rotoiti vice-captain Joe Royal said the side were confident of getting a positive result but had to be be wary against tough opposition.

"Te Puke have been a pretty tough side all competition and it's a big game that all of us are excited about," he said.

"But the boys will have to take their confidence from the last two games where they have fought for the win.

"We are not looking too far ahead, if we get over the Te Puke hurdle and see how the other results go then hopefully things will go our way.

"Currently the team's focus is just a one game at a time mentality."

Te Puke coach Craig Jeffries said much was at stake for both sides and was well aware of the Rotorua team's strengths.

"There is a lot riding on it but the big picture doesn't really come into it at the moment as we are just trying to win the next game," he said.

"The boys will lift as home games are always really important to us. We like to protect our patch. We have to win and anything else is basically end of the season for us. We don't want to have to rely on any other team's misfortune to promote us."

"Their forwards are generally really good and they have a couple of big game players in (lock) Baden Wardlaw and (flanker) Zak Hohneck. They are bloody good footballers and they base a lot of their play around those better players.

"So it has to be in the backs for us but their backline is not too shabby either. They are going pretty well and we were lucky to beat them in the first round."

Additional reporting Peter White.

Saturday's games:

Baywide Premier 1
Kick-off 2.45pm/Development kick-off 1pm

Te Puke Sports v Rotoiti, Murray Salt Stadium

Mount Maunganui v Greerton Marist, Blake Park

Rangataua v Whakatane Marist, Te Ariki Park

Tauranga Sports v Te Puna, Tauranga Domain

Baywide Premier 2
Kick-off 2.45pm/Development kick-off 1pm

Ngongotaha v Waikite, Ngongotaha Domain

Paroa v Whakarewarewa, Lawson Park

Arataki v Marist St Michael's, Arataki Park

Poroporo v Opotiki, Poroporo