The race for the last two places in the Baywide premier championship went right down to the wire on Saturday (7 June 2008).

In the final round of the section one competition Te Teko, Opotiki and Kahukura were chasing the last two top echelon positions. Eastern Bay side Te Teko took charge of their own destiny against Te Puke at Dunderdale Park.

In front of their vocal home supporters Te Teko booked their premier berth grinding out an 18-10 victory over Te Puke Sports. Scott Sutherland and Mikaere Ngamotu crossed for tries for the home side, with ever-reliable goal kicker Ryan Hahipene booting home two penalties and a conversion.

In a winner take all encounter for the last top eight position - Kahukura and Opotiki went head to head at Kuirau Park. In a match of real intensity throughout Opotiki sneaked home with a 19-17 victory to leave Kahukura with visions of “so close but so far away”.

Three tries apiece, told the story of a game that went all the way to the wire, with the difference being an extra conversion to Opotiki sharp shooter Sam Howe.

Whakarewarewa were taken all the way by Rangataua before clinching the first round trophy. Trailing by a point at the break, the home side edged past the Western Bay visitors in the second spell, to take out the game 22-18.

A minor surprise resulted in the Western Bay local derby with Mount Maunganui defeating Tauranga Sports 28-24. The result returns the Jordan Cup (Western BOP challenge trophy) to the Mount trophy cabinet.

In other top echelon matches Whakatane Marist defeated Waikite 25-22 with Rotoiti cementing fourth place getting past Te Puna 21-10.

While the section two top four was confirmed last week - Paroa caused a minor surprise holding third placed Ngongotaha to a 12 all draw. The other division one bound teams all posted victories. Rangiuru demolished Poroporo 62-5, Greerton Marist defeated Kawerau 40 nil with Arataki getting past Reporoa 30-7.

The formbook counted for little in the Colts competition with a number of surprises. Greerton Marist who were locked in fourth with Whakarewarewa amazed their loyal supporters with 35-5 win over the Rotorua side.

Te Teko was another to get past a more favoured team when the beat Rangataua 29 nil. Competition leader Mount Maunganui had little trouble with Waikite winning 77-10 with Tauranga Sports also posting a big victory beating Kahukura 89-0.

Bay of Plenty Baywide Results 7 June 2008

Section One:

Mount Maunganui 28 (Shane Manu, Lance MacDonald, Cory Aporo tries; Colin Bourke 2pen con, Danny Morrison con pen) Tauranga Sports 24 (Ray Brown, Toby Arnold, Matt Hodson, Steven Wallace tries; Eruera Haimona 2con).  HT: 10-8.

Te Teko 18 (Scott Sutherland, Mikaere Ngamotu tries; Ryan Hahipene 2pen con) Te Puke 10 (Craig Donovan try; Brett McLeod con pen).

Whakatane Marist 38 (Max Bullivant 2, Ryan Lambert, Peter Love, Julian Reid, Jeremy Bell tries; Craig Edwards 4con) Waikite 22 (Mike Miller 2, Tony Lawrence, James O'Neill tries; Joe Curtis 2con) 

Opotiki 19 (Hazley Moore, Nick McCain tries, penalty try; Sam Howe 2con) Kahukura 17 (Josh Rauluni, Robert Thomson, Mike Carle tries; Rauluni 1con) HT 12-7  

Whakarewarewa 22 Chris Van der Vlught, Tofu Pomale, Trent Vatselias tries; Kelly Haimona 2con, pen) Rangataua 18 (Paul Pou, Piripi Keno tries; John Ririnui 2pen con).  HT: 7-8.

Rotoiti 21 (Dustin Buckley, Matt Landers tries; Whakataki Cunningham con 3pens) Te Puna 10 (Daniel Schuster, John Brown tries) HT 13-5

Section Two: Rangiuru 62 Poroporo 5, Marist St Michaels 28 Judea 20, Greerton Marist 40 Kawerau 0, Paroa 12 Ngongotaha 12, Papamoa 64 Taneatua 0, Arataki 30 Reporoa 7.