Bartercard Baywide Rugby Preview 8 July 2010

With three of the top four sides suffering defeat in the Bartercard Baywide Premier division last weekend, there is a new sense of urgency in several of the top echelon match-ups this Saturday (10 July 2010)

There is likely to be no more vital encounter this weekend, than the game between Rotorua archrivals Whakarewarewa and Rotoiti. Both sides have experienced a roller coaster ride in the Premier title race this season.

Rotoiti who were in the top two for the early rounds, have slipped of the pace a little, and haven’t posted a victory since the last weekend in May. However they still sit in third place, and have a ten-point advantage from Whakarewarewa.

By contrast Whaka made comparative slow start to the season, mixing some big wins with a several surprise defeats. Making the Whaka sides mission more difficult, is that they must pay a visit the cauldron at Emery Park, where a multitude of passionate Rotoiti supporters will be on hand.

Another key match-up will take place at Murray Salt Stadium, where Te Puke Sports who sit in fourth place, host Mount Maunganui. The visitors have been in rampant form in recent weeks and lurk just behind competition leaders Tauranga Sports.

A Mount Maunganui victory, would put real pressure on Te Puke Sports who are perennial semi-finalists, especially if Whaka and Rangataua post victories.

In the Western Bay one of the real long-time rivalries, will be fought out at Maramatanga Park, when Te Puna host Rangataua. In recent years there has been little to separate the two teams when they meet, with the home side often gaining the ascendancy.

Competition leaders Tauranga Sports, who will be seeking to rebound from last weekends loss to Mount Maunganui, will be wary of Whakatane Marist who upset Rotoiti last week. Eastern Bay pride will be on the line when Te Teko and Opotiki meet at Dunderdale Park.

In Division One, the Waikite teams unbeaten run could be under siege from Kahukura, who have climbed up the point’s ladder in recent weeks. Second placed Rangiuru will engage in a local derby with Greerton Marist.

Former Baywide heavyweight Ngongotaha will be favoured to defeat Marist St Michaels, with Paroa and Ruatoki likely to have a close encounter at Tuhoe Park.

Colts front-runners Te Pukes Sports will meet Greerton Marist for the second time in three weeks. The first encounter resulted in Te Puke Sports annexing the Baywide first round crown, when they beat their championship rivals 22-15 at Murray Salt Stadium.

Tauranga Sports and Mount Maunganui will go head to head in the curtainraiser at the Tauranga Domain, with former Colts titleholders Ngongotaha favoured to beat Opotiki.

BOPRU Bartercard Baywide Draws 10 July 2010

Premier (2.45pm) Rotoiti v Whakarewarewa, Emery Park; Tauranga Sports v Whakatane Marist, Tauranga Domain; Te Puna v Rangataua, Maramatanga Park; Te Teko v Opotiki, Dunderdale Park; Te Puke Sports v Mount Maunganui, Murray Salt Stadium.
Premier Points Table
Tauranga Sports 60, Mount Maunganui 57. Rotoiti 48, Te Puke Sports 45, Whakarewarewa 38, Rangataua 37, Opotiki 28, Te Puna 27, Whakatane Marist 26, Te Teko 16.

Division One (2.45pm) Greerton Marist v Rangiuru, Greerton Park; Waikite v Kahukura, Bellvue Road; Ruatoki v Paroa, Tuhoe Park; Marist St Michaels v Ngongotaha, Marist Park; Reporoa the bye.
Points Table
Waikite 66, Rangiuru 59, Kahukura 39, Ngongotaha 39, Greerton Marist 36, Reporoa 30, Paroa 28, Ruatoki 20, Marist St Michaels 19.

Colts (1pm)
Division One: Greerton Marist v Te Puke Sports, Greerton Park; Tauranga Sports v Mount Maunganui, Tauranga Domain; Opotiki v Ngongotaha, Opotiki Reserve.
Division Two: Te Teko v Te Puna, Dunderdale Park; Marist St Michaels v Rangataua, Marist Park; Rotoiti v Whakatane Marist, Emery Park; Whakarewarewa the bye.

For further information contact:
Mike Rogers BOPRU Operations Manager
DDI 07 927 1316 029 478 4292