Rugby: Ngongotaha brace for bruising derby

Ngongotaha's Willy Saywell and his side aim to come out on top in local fiery match-up. Photo / Stephen Parker

In what is being billed as the "battle of the mountain" Ngongotaha will host what is expected to be an extremely physical derby clash.

They take on Waikite in round six of the Premier 2 competition tomorrow.

Ngongotaha will be looking for their first back-to-back wins in the competition after last weekend's 39-5 crushing of Marist St Michael's whilst Waikite aim to bounce back from a 24-42 home defeat at the hands of Arataki.

Ngongotaha manager Jared Grace said the side were eagerly anticipating the "family clash" and he expected a bruising and battling contest.

"For many this is the highlight match of the season because there are lots of family connections between the two clubs," he said. "And we are always hardest amongst our own so both sides will hold nothing back.

"We have to be prepared for a very demanding and confrontational match. That's why it will be so important to make sure we retain the ball and value possession."

Ngongotaha beat Waikite 7-5 in the first half of the season and finished six points ahead of tomorrow's opposition at the end of round one.

But Waikite head coach Carl Marsters said his side had "greatly improved" since the Division 1 clash and the game would be won out wide.

"It will be a thrilling battle of Rotorua and we are similar teams in many respects so I expect a very close match up," he said.

"We will be muscling it up through the centre and hopefully releasing it quickly out wide."

The game is one of the closest Rotorua derby match-ups this season with Ngongotaha in sixth place, level on seven points with Waikite in seventh.

Meanwhile, first placed Whakarewarewa take on second placed Paroa away, looking for their fifth win in a row since moving down from Premier 1.

Bottom of the table Marist St Michael's will look to record their second win when they travel to third placed Arataki.

Tomorrow's draw

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.

Baywide Division 1:
Kick-off 2.45pm
Papamoa v Katikati, Gordon Spratt Reserve; Ruatoki v Edgecumbe, Tuhoe Park; Kahukura v Rangiuru, Kuirau Park; Te Teko v Judea, Dunderdale Park.