Bartercard Baywide Rugby Preview 22 July 2010

The business end of a long Bartercard Baywide season has arrived, with the top four to go on to contest the Premier and Division One semi-finals, set in concrete after results are posted this Saturday (24 July 2010).

A game apiece in Rotorua and the Eastern Bay, will determine the fourth qualifier in the Premier Division. With defending champions Tauranga Sports, Mount Maunganui, and Te Puke Sports having booked post section berths – the destiny of Rotoiti is very firmly in their own hands.

Currently sitting in fourth place with just one round remaining, the scenario is simple - defeat Opotiki at home at Emery Park, and grab the last semi-final place. However the side from the Eastern Bay have gone through a real revival in July. Victories against Te Puke Sports, Te Teko and Whakarewarewa suggest that Rotoiti will have to produce there A game on Saturday.

By contrast the Lakesiders who were the early season front-runners, haven’t posted a win since the last weekend in May. Last weekend they had the opportunity to nail a post section place after scoring a last gasp try, however the missed conversion attempt resulted in a one-point loss to Tauranga Sports.

If Rotoiti fall at the last hurdle Rangataua could grab the last position. Facing bottom placed Te Teko, the Western Bay sides way to the semi-final is that Opotiki must eliminate the Rotorua side, and Rangataua defeat Te Teko.

In the other Premier encounters Tauranga Sports visit Maramatanga Park to meet Te Puna, Whakarewarewa host Mount Maunganui, and Te Puke Sports and Whakatane Marist go head to head at Murray Salt Stadium.

With Waikite and Rangiuru guaranteed Division One home semi-finals, there will be a dogfight for the last two places. While Kahukura presently sit in third place, they will have no influence on the final makeup of the top four, as they sit on the sideline courtesy of the last round bye.

Ngongotaha will be favoured to secure a semi-final berth when they meet Ruatoki. The key to the top four, is the Greerton Marist home game against Reporoa, who have been the big improvers on the points ledger in recent weeks.

A Greerton victory would see the Marist side advance, while a Reporoa win would let Kahukura through the back gate.

The cutthroat nature of the Baywide Colts top six, where just the top two finishers will go on to contest the Grand Final, provides a extra edge to this weekends results.

The match-up between Te Puke Sports and Ngongotaha is a replay of last season championship decider. Victory to Te Puke will not only continue their unbeaten season record, but should also confirm place on Finals day.

With just one point between Greerton Marist and Mount Maunganui, the winner of their game will take a big step towards a place in the championship decider, with just one round remaining. Opotiki will have the home advantage when Tauranga Sports visits the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

BOPRU Bartercard Baywide Draws 24 July 2010

Premier (2.45pm) Te Teko v Rangataua, Dunderdale Park; Te Puna v Tauranga Sports, Maramatanga Park; Whakarewarewa v Mount Maunganui, Puarenga Park; Rotoiti v Opotiki, Emery Park; Te Puke Sports v Whakatane Marist, Murray Salt Stadium.
Points Table
Tauranga Sports 66, Mount Maunganui 62. Te Puke Sports 51, Rotoiti 49, Rangataua 45, Whakarewarewa 43, Opotiki 37, Whakatane Marist 34,Te Puna 28, Te Teko 19.

Division One (2.45pm) Ruatoki v Ngongotaha, Tuhoe Park; Waikite v Marist St Michaels, Bellvue Road; Rangiuru v Paroa, Jamieson Oval; Greerton Marist v Reporoa, Greerton Park; Kahukura the bye.
Points Table
Waikite 74, Rangiuru 63, Kahukura 44, Ngongotaha 43, Greerton Marist 42, Reporoa 35, Paroa 33, Ruatoki 21, Marist St Michaels 19.

Division Two (2.45pm) Katikati v Murupara, Moore Park; Eastern Pirates v Kawerau, Neil Hunt Park; Poroporo v Judea, Poroporo Park.

Colts (1pm)
Division One: Opotiki v Tauranga Sports, Opotiki Reserve; Mount Maungnaui v Greerton Marist, Blake Park; Ngongotaha v Te Puke Sports, Ngongotaha Domain.
Points Table: Te Puke Sports 14, Ngongotaha 7, Tauranga Sports 7, Greerton Marist 6, Mount Maunganui 5, Opotiki 4.

Division Two: Marist St Michaels v Whakarewarewa, Marist Park; Te Puna v Rangataua, Maramatanga Park.

Senior Reserve: Mt Maunganui v Kahukura, Blake Park (2.45pm) Whakarewarewa v Ruatoki, Puarenga Park (1pm) Opotiki v Rangataua, Opotiki (2.45pm).

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