Long-awaited title success

Weeks of mud, sweat and tears will come to an end for two teams tomorrow as they both eagerly try to lift the Bayfair Baywide Premier Club Rugby trophy and break lengthy title droughts in the process.

Tomorrow's final between Mount Maunganui Sports and Whakarewarewa at Tauranga Domain sees a heavyweight clash, epitomising what's been a tough 2014 premier competition.


Mount Maunganui Sports captain David Smart and Whakarewarewa captain Doug Edwards reach for the Bayfair Baywide Premier Club Rugby trophy. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

Both finalists defied the odds in the semifinals, winning their respective matches away from home and against higher-ranked opponents in Te Puke and Tauranga Sports.

For both teams it's a long time between drinks for premier bragging rights – the Mount last winning in 2005 and Whakarewarewa 2006. It's also the Rotorua men's first appearance in the finals since 2011.

Mount Maunganui captain David Smart says the side is feeling good heading into the most important match of the season after falling short 21-16 to Tauranga Sports in last year's final.

'It's silly not to be confident when we are going into a hard final like this, but we have prepared well this year,” says Smart.

'It's quite good to see both Whaka and ourselves making it through from third and fourth. I do believe we are both good teams and deserve to be in the finals.”

Whakarewarewa finished third in the regular season, boasting one of the best offences in the competition, meaning the Mounties will have their work cut out defensively.

Whakarewarewa captain Doug Edwards admits 2011 is a long time to wait for the club's next finals appearance, describing the meeting as a bit of 'unfinished business”.

The ledger might be squared at one win a piece heading into the final, but previous encounters count for nothing with it comes to finals footy, says Edwards.

'They are a good team with threats all over the park.

'We need to turn up mentally prepared and with the intensity needed in the final.”

Lifting the trophy come the end of the match would be a proud moment for the newly selected Bay of Plenty Steamer, not just for himself but for Rotorua.

'To come home with it would be a fantastic lift for our community.”

The final at the Tauranga Domain starts at 2.45pm.

Bayfair Baywide Premier Club Rugby:

Premier final – Mount Maunganui v Whakarewarewa at 2.45pm.

Premier Development final – Tauranga Sports v Greerton Marist at 12.45pm.

First Division semifinals

Paroa v Kahukura at Lawson Park

Arataki v Waikite at Arataki Park

Baywide Second Division semifinals

Ruatoki v Papamoa at Ruatoki

Judea v Waimana at Judea

Baywide Senior Reserve semifinals

Ngongotaha v Poroporo at Ngongotaha

Tauranga Sports v Arataki at Tauranga Domain

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