Long weekend top table clash

It will be the battle of the big guns as Tauranga Sports take on Te Puke in the PGG Wrightson Baywide premier rugby tomorrow.

Te Puke have swept aside all who have come before them this season and Tauranga are no exception going down 42-11 way back in round two of this year's competition.


With home ground advantage and Tauranga's recent form – a 60-15 thrashing of Whaka last weekend, the home side will fancy their chances of giving Te Puke their first defeat of the season.

But they will need to topple Te Puke's mighty forward pack and shut down first five-eight Nick McCashin, who has been in dynamic form this season.

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 Mount 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 Centenial Park, Paroa travel to Tuhoe country to play Ruatoki, Marist St Michael's host Ngongotaha in a local durby, 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, 2012.

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 table; 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 table; 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 table; 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.

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