While the top five in the Baywide top echelon re-inked their premier championship invitations on Saturday (31 May 2008) - the mid table clash between Rangataua and Te Teko, produced one of the best games seen at Te Ariki Park, for many a day.

The Rangataua policy of throwing the ball around with abandon paid dividend with four tries. Wiremu Houia, Timoti Gardiner, Anaru Taute and John Ririnui touched down for five points apiece.

Te Teko were always in the game and crossed for three tries - however three penalties to John Ririnui, and two conversions from the boot of Glen Strang, saw Rangataua get home 36-19. The game which was vital to both sides top eight ambitions sees Rangataua book a premier championship berth, with Te Teko needing to win next weekend

Comprehensive victories told the story of the top five. Section one competition leader Whakarewarewa ran riot over Opotiki posting 71 unanswered points against the Eastern Bay team. Aliki Kisina galloped up the try scoring records dotting down five times, with Trent Vatselias grabbing three tries.

Second placed Tauranga Sports, who are lurking three points behind Whaka, had a field day against Kahukura at the Tauranga Domain. Thirteen Tauranga tries, told the story of a game that was one-way traffic, as they took out the encounter 89-7. Matt Hodson who has speed to burn grabbed three touchdowns, with Jason Karauria, Eru Haimona and David Johnson picking up a brace apiece.

In spite of a multitude of injuries, third placed Mount Maunganui returned home from Rotorua, with a good 55-18 win against Waikite under their belt. Rotoiti and Te Puke Sports, who sit comfortably in fourth and fifth place on the point’s table, also earned bonus points when they also posted solid victories. Te Puke Sports waltzed away from Te Puna 42-10 on Friday night with Rotoiti getting past Whakatane Marist 30-10.

In section two, Greerton Marist suffered their first loss of the season, when their colours were lowered by Ngongotaha. A fourteen-point lead to the Rotorua side at the break saw Greerton come back into the encounter, before Ngongotaha wrapped the match up 27-18.

In spite of the loss by Greerton both teams have qualified for division one that kicks off in two weeks. The two other teams from section two to earn promotion were also confirmed on Saturday

Both Arataki and Rangiuru made sure of playing in the second echelon championship with solid victories. Arataki defeated Kawerau 25-7 while Rangiuru won the Western Bay derby against Papamoa 36-17.

Other section two teams to win were Reporoa who defeated Judea 22-16, Poroporo who squeezed past Paroa 10-9 and Marist St Michaels who put Taneatua to the sword 41-7.

Bay of Plenty Rugby Baywide Results 31 May 2008

Tauranga Sports 89 (Matt Hodson 3, Jason Karauria 2, Eruera Haimona 2, David Johnson 2, Steven Wallace, Sio Atelemo, Ray Brown, Callum Armstrong; Haimona 10cons, Wallace 2cons) Kahukura 7 (Charles Hubbard try; Josh Rauluni con) HT 49-0

Whakarewarewa 71 Aliki Kisina 5, Trent Vatselias 3, Pauli Asaeli, Teu Nafe, Joe Savage tries; Kelly Haimona 7cons, Asaeli con) Opotiki 0. HT 40-0

Rangataua 36 (Wiremu Houia, Timoti Gardiner, Anaru Taute, John Ririnui tries; Glen Strang 2cons, Ririnui 3 pens) Te Teko 19 (Tipu Burgess, Junior Stowell, Dan Godbold tries; Ryan Hahipene 2cons)

Te Puke 42 (Alan Jarvis-Cook 2, PJ Gidlow, Craig Donovan, Brett McLeod tries; McLeod 3 pens 4 cons) Te Puna 10 Daniel Schuster try; Quentin Gardiner con pen) HT 18-3

Mount Maunganui 55 Waikite 18 (Mackie Jones 2, Tumoana Wijohn tries; John Wiringi pen)

Rotoiti 30 (Hakarangi Tichbourne, Whakataki Cunningham, Zac Hohneck, Glen Martin tries; Cunningham 2cons, Martin 2pens) Whakatane Marist 10 (Thomas Haney try; Greg Smith pen con)

Section Two: Ngongotaha 27 Greerton Marist 18, Reporoa 22 Judea 16, Poroporo 10 Paroa 9, Rangiuru 36 Papamoa 17, Marist St Michaels 41 Taneatua 7, Arataki 25 Kawerau 7.