posted by Tim Turner - 04/04/2008
Baywide Round 2 Preview With Baywide rugby teams having the jitters of the opening day of the season tucked away – the teams will settle down, to head along the long road to the championship titles, in August
This Saturday (5 April 2008) sees the future of Bay of Plenty rugby take to the fields, with the start of the Colts competition. Last season Rotoiti prevailed over Mount Maunganui in the Baywide Colts Final. Reports received this year, indicate plenty of genuine contenders, who wish to wear the crown of Baywide age group champions.
For the first time for a number of seasons a Baywide Under 19 competition will also take place this year. Thames Valley side Hauraki North will join Te Puna, Greerton Marist, Taneatua and Opotiki. This Saturday the five teams will gather at Greerton to participate in a one-day tournament. In section one, Whakarewarewa who were narrowly beaten by Tauranga Sports in the opening round, will have to face another Western Bay challenge this weekend. 2005 Baywide champions Mount Maunganui, had to overcome a determined first half assault from Kahukura last weekend, before powering away to win 48-7.
The standout performance in the match was provided by flying Mount winger Zane Butler - who scored five tries in the encounter. This weekend’s inter-city clash could go down to the wire with the victor sneaking home by a narrow margin.
Defending Baywide premier champions Tauranga Sports, hit the road for the first time this season, when they travel to the Eastern Bay to meet Te Teko. A trio of eager loose forwards was amongst the keys to success for Tauranga Sports last weekend.
One team that punched above its weight last season was Te Teko. While narrowly beaten by newly promoted Opotiki last weekend, the side is always hard to dislodge at home on Dunderdale Park.
In other top echelon encounters Rotoiti and Te Puke will resume their battles of recent years at Emery Park. Rangataua should be too classy for Whakatane Marist, Waikite should get past Kahukura with Opotiki likely to face a real test when they meet Te Puna.
The clash of section two should be the match-up between Rangiuru and Kawerau at Jamieson Park in Te Puke. Another key match will be game between Taneatua and Ngongotaha to be played in the Eastern Bay.
BOPRU Draws 5 April 2008Section One (All games 2.45pm) Waikite v Kahukura, Bellvue Road; Rotoiti v Te Puke Sports, Emery Park; Whakarewarewa v Mount Maunganui, Puarenga Park; Whakatane Marist v Rangataua, Rugby Park; Te Teko v Tauranga Sports, Dunderdale Park; Te Puna v Opotiki, Greerton Park.
Section Two (All games 2.45pm) Reporoa v Greerton Marist, Reporoa; Marist St Michaels, Marist Park; Paroa v Arataki, Lawson Park; Judea v Poroporo, Maharaia Winiata Park; Rangiuru v Kawerau, Jamieson Oval; Taneatua v Ngongotaha, Taneatua Domain.
Colts (All games 1pm) Rotoiti v Te Puke Sports, Emery Park; Waikite v Kahukura, Bellvue Road; Whakarewarewa v Mount Maunganui, Puarenga Park; Whakatane Marist v Rangataua, Rugby Park; Te Teko v Tauranga Sports, Dunderdale Park; Arataki v Te Puna, Grenada Park; Ngongotaha v Greerton Marist, Ngongotaha Domain.
