Bartercard Baywide Rugby Review 11 July 2010

Whakarewarewa and Rangataua were the big movers on the points table, on a day where the top three teams in the Bartercard Baywide Premier title race, suffered defeat

The battle between the two Rotorua heavyweights was taken out by Whakakrewarewa who defeated Rotoiti 30-17 at Emery Park. The visitors were in charge in the first spell taking a 16-7 advantage into the half time break.

Whakarewarewa continued to pile on the pressure in the second spell running in two further touchdowns. Whaka kicker Kelly Haimona was in fine touch adding fifteen points courtesy of three conversions and three penalty goals.

The Whakarewarewa win returned the Tai Mitchell Shield, which is a long time Rotorua rugby trophy, to the Whaka trophy cabinet

Western Bay contenders Rangataua moved within striking distance of the top four, when they just got home against long time local rivals Te Puna, at Maramataga Park. In recent years the encounters between the two sides have been in doubt until the final whistle, with Saturdays (10 July 2010) game being little different.

Te Puna took a grip on the game leading 20-15 in the second spell, before Rangataua crossed for a try, with just a few minutes remaining in the match. With the conversion sailing between the posts the visitors then held on to take out the game 22-20.

Whakatane Marist, took advantage of competition leaders Tauranga Sports being without their senior representative players, to earn their most significant victory of the season. The additional challenge of meeting the defending Baywide champions at home at the Tauranga Domain, didn’t faze the Eastern Bay side who won 29-23.

Second placed Mount Maunganui, were another side to have a numbers of their senior team members sit on the sideline because of Steamers duty the day before. However Te Puke Sports meant business from the opening whistle, and led all the way posting a 30-20 victory.

Te Puke Sports took the Jordan Cup (Western BOP challenge trophy) from Mount Maunganui, and now sit comfortably in third place on the points ladder

Te Amo Wilbore who is one of the rising stars of age group rugby in the Bay of Plenty, led the way with three touchdowns, as Opotiki defeated a game Te Teko 32-29 in a real nail biter at Te Teko headquarters.

In the Division One competition, Waikite and Rangiuru both posted reasonably narrow wins over Kahukura and Greerton Marist respectively - to still sit well clear of the other teams on the points ledger.

Former Premier champion Ngongotaha moved into third position when they waltzed away from Marist St Michaels 23 nil, with Paroa winning the Eastern Bay derby against Ruatoki 29-22.

While the final score in the Baywide Colts game, between competition leaders Te Puke Sports and Greerton Marist would suggest an easy Te Puke victory - Te Puke only broke clear in the last quarter to post a 31-17 victory.

Greerton led 10 nil early in the match, before the scores were locked at 10 all at half time. At 21-17 Te Puke held a narrow lead, before they broke clear in the last quarter to take out the match 31-17.

Bartercard Baywide Rugby Results 10 June 2010

Baywide Premier
Whakarewarewa 30 (Steven Schenk, Kelly Haimona, Hayden Baird tries; Haimona 3 pens 3 con) Rotoiti 17 (Joseveta Tawake, Maka Royal tries; Joe Fenton con pen, Sikeli Voranasu pen con)
Opotiki 32 (Te Amo Wilbore 3, Francis Cameron tries; Sam Howe 3 con 2 pens) Te Teko 29
Te Puke Sports 30 (Simon Rolleston, Conrad Donaldson, Mark Nicolaas, Aaron Sutherland tries; Sutherland 2 pen 2 con) Mount Maunganui 20 (Zar Lawrence 2, Peter Maisey tries; Maisey dg Sam Jurisich con)
Rangataua 22 (Tali Veikoso, Tamaiti Fraser, Quinton Gardiner tries; Alex Jessop pen con, John Ririnui con) Te Puna 20 (Aiden Kuka, Taimonia Tata, Vance Bidois tries; Darrell Houia pen con)
Whakatane Marist 29 (Tom Grant, A Tetou tries; Craig Edwards 5 pens 2 cons) Tauranga Sports 22
Premier Points Table
Tauranga Sports 61, Mount Maunganui 57. Te Puke Sports 50, Rotoiti 48, Whakarewarewa 42, Rangataua 41, Opotiki 33, Te Puna 28, Whakatane Marist 30, Te Teko 17.

Division One: Rangiuru 25 Greerton Marist 22, Waikite 24 Kahukura 16, Paroa 29 Ruatoki 22, Ngongotaha 23 Marist St Michaels 0.
Points Table
Waikite 70, Rangiuru 63, Ngongotaha 44, Kahukura 39, Greerton Marist 37, Reporoa 30, Paroa 33, Ruatoki 21, Marist St Michaels 19.
Colts:
Division One: Te Puke Sports 31 Greerton Marist 17, Opotiki 13 Ngongotaha 11, Tauranga Sports 28 Mount Maunganui 13.
Division Two; Te Puna 24 Te Teko 20, Marist St Michaels 14 Rangataua 10, Rotoiti won by default.

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