posted by Tim Turner - 04/04/2008
Baywide Round 1 Review : Tauranga Sports and Whakarewarewa, who fought out last seasons Baywide Premier Final, laid down the gauntlet to the other championship contenders, on the opening day of the 2008 season.
Whaka made the early running in the encounter at the Tauranga Domain to lead 10-3 at the break. In the second spell the Tauranga forward pack knuckled down and started to take the ascendancy in the match.
A third try to the home team leveled the score at 20 all after the conversion attempt hit the posts. With clock ticking down Toby Arnold slotted a penalty to give Tauranga Sports a narrow 23-20 victory - in a match where both sides made solid contributions to the encounter. Mount Maunganui winger Zane Butler, had a game he wont forget in a long time, as he ran in five tries as his team defeated Kahukura 48-7 at Blake Park. Three first half tries to the flying Mount winger saw the home side holding a 25 nil advantage at half time.
Touchdowns to Richie Manu and Dave Afu with to further tries to Butler saw the Mount finish with a 48-7 victory. Charles Hubbard crossed for Kahukura with Terry Vaipo kicking the conversion.
The expected game of attrition between Rangataua and Te Puna lived up expectations, with Rangataua grabbing the thriller 22-17 at Te Ariki Park. While Rangataua ran in three tries to two - Te Puna were always in contention in a game that could have gone either way.
Perennial Baywide semi-finalists Te Puke Sports made their usual good start to the season with a comfortable 32-10 victory over Whakatane Marist.
The Eastern Bay local derby between Te Teko and Opotiki was another close encounter before Opotiki wrapped up the match 26-22. At Emery Park Rotoiti showed that they would again be a force to be reckoned with this season when they dispatched Waikite 24-12.
Bay of Plenty Rugby Baywide Results 29 March 2008Section One: Tauranga Sports 23 (Bruce Olsen, Mike Rogers, Matt Hodson tries; Toby Arnold 2 pens con) Whakarewarewa 20 (Trent Sweeney, Trent Vatselias, Cory Aporo tries; Kelly Haimona con pen). HT: 3-10. Rangataua 22 (Anaru Taute, Jason Hona, Barry Parkinson tries, Doug Joseph pen & con, Glen Strang con) Te Puna 17 (John Paeranga, Jeremy Bidois tries; Quinton Gardiner 2 cons & pen) Mount Maunganui 48 (Zane Butler (5) Richard Manu, Dave Afu tries; 5 cons & pen) Kahukura 7 (Charles Hubbard try; Terry Vaipo con) Te Puke Sports 32 (Jimi Roberts (2) Brett McLeod, Jason Kovwenhoven tries; McLeod 3 con & 2 pens) Whakatane Marist 10 (try; Craig Edwards con & pen) Opotiki 26 (Rhys Simpson 2 tries; Sam Howe 2 con, 3 pen & dg) Te Teko 22 (Dan Godbold, Anthony Studer, Ryan Hahipene tries; Hahipene 2 pens & con)Rotoiti 24 Waikite 12
Section Two:
Rangiuru 25 Ngongotaha 20, Greerton Marist 20 Arataki 14, Judea 13 Papamoa 7, Kawerau 15 Paroa 7, Taneatua 40 Poroporo 12, Reporoa 16 Marist St Michaels 10.
