In spite of tasting defeat for the first time this season, Whakarewarewa remains top of the table in the Bartercard Baywide Premier competition.

Opening the Easter holiday split round, Whakarewarewa faced Te Puke Sports under lights at Murray Salt Stadium, on Thursday evening.

The game was up for grabs in the second half after Te Puke held a narrow 10-7 advantage at the halfway stage.

The second spell was just as tight with Te Puke Sports finally clinching its second victory of the season, taking a narrow 22-19 win.

For the second time this season Mark Nicolaas grabbed two tries for Te Puke, with Ryan Lambert also touching down.

While Whaka also touched down three times courtesy of tries to Liam Coleman, Tetihi Vercoe and Aleki Kisina – the winning advantage was an additional penalty goal slotted by Te Puke kicker Nick McCashin.

The second Thursday evening encounter under lights at Maramatanga Park saw Rotoiti sneak home when they got past Te Puna 15-13. The first spell belonged to Te Puna, which led 10-3, after Aiden Kuka crossed for his side's only try of the game with Gray Gardiner adding the conversion and a penalty goal.

Two Rotoiti second half tries to Carl Gage and Matt Landers, and a conversion from Sikeli Vorenasu, were enough for the visitors to sneak home by two points. Te Puna picked up its fourth bonus point of the season.

Defending Premier champion Tauranga Sports piled on the points in the second half to defeat Waikite 41-17 in the Western Bay of Plenty on Good Friday.

While the home team won the try scoring stakes by four touchdowns to two, Tauranga first five Lewis Hancock showcased his sharp-shooter kicking skills with 21 points from five penalties and three conversions.

In the Eastern Bay of Plenty, Mount Maunganui scraped home by a solitary point from Opotiki after trailing by six with less than five minutes remaining in the match.

With the clock ticking down, Opotiki led 22-16 before Sam Mayes crashed over for the try with Sam Jurisich calmly slotting the conversion with the game finishing with a 23-22 advantage to Mount Maunganui.

Rangataua had to survive a spirited challenge from Whakatane Marist before prevailing 24-16.

Down 8-nil at the break, Rangataua rang the player changes in the second half to be rewarded with touchdowns to Josh Te Kani, Moeha Flavell and Siaosi Iongi.

The Eastern Bay side ran in two tries with Craig Edwards adding two penalties and a conversion.

While Te Teko continued its unbeaten run in division one, it was given a severe workout by fellow Rotorua side Kahukura. The 28-19 victory posted by Te Teko, reflected a match that was up for grabs throughout most of the contest.

Div one newcomer, Katikati, had a real battle with Marist St Michaels before grabbing an 8-5 win in Rotorua. Greerton Marist proved too good for Ngongotaha winning 30-17, Reporoa sneaked home from Paroa 13-12, with Rangiuru getting back on track with a solid 43 nil win against Ruatoki at Tuhoe Park.

Defending Baywide Colts titleholders Te Puke Sports, which received its sternest challenge of the season, still proved too strong for Mount Maunganui, posting a 23-3 victory. Te Puke also retained the Oliver Cup, which is the Western Bay challenge trophy.

Opotiki had an old fashioned battle with Greerton Marist before prevailing 25-10, with Te Puna, Tauranga Sports, Marist St Michaels, Rotoiti and Edgecumbe all emerging victorious.

BOPRU Bartercard Baywide Results 21/23 April 2011

Premier

Tauranga Sports 41 (Jeff Thwaites, Scott McCormick, John Stewart, Francisco Appleton tries; Lewis Hancock 5 pen 3 con) Waikite 17 (Jermaine Webby, Tumoana Wijohn tries; Mika Richards 2 cons, Quaide Langveldt pen) HT 14-10.

Rangataua 24(Josh Te Kani, Moeha Flavell, Siaosi Iongi tries; Riki Tipuna 3 pens) Whakatane Marist 16 (Kiti Poanaga, Walter Aramoana tries; Craig Edwards 2 pens con) HT 0-8.

Rotoiti 15 (Carl Gage, Matt Landers tries; Sikeli Vorenasu pen con) Te Puna 13 (Aiden Kuka try; Gray Gardiner 2 pens con) HT 3-10.

Te Puke Sports 22 (Mark Nicolaas 2, Ryan Lambert tries; Nick McCashin pen con, Simon Rolleston con) Whakarewarewa 19 (Liam Coleman, Tetihi Vercoe, Aleki Kisina tries; Kelly Haimona 2 con) HT 10-7.

Mount Maunganui 22 (Sam Hughes, Sam Mayes tries; Sam Jurisich 3 pen 2 con) Opotiki 22 (Hasley Moore try, Te Hata Wilbore pen con, Greg Smith 4 pens)

Premier Points Table

Whakarewarewa 20, Rotoiti 17, Tauranga Sports 16, Rangataua 14, Mount Maunganui 13, Waikite 12, Opotiki 10, Te Puke Sports 10, Te Puna 8, Whakatane Marist 0.

Division One: Greerton Marist 30 Ngongotaha 17, Katikati 8 Marist St Michaels 5, Reporoa 13 Paroa 12, Te Teko 28 Kahukura 19, Rangiuru 43 Ruatoki 0.

Colts (Blue) Te Puna 60 Whakatane Marist 7, Te Puke Sports 23 Mount Maunganui 3, Rotoiti 29 Waikite 10.

(Gold) Tauranga Sports 70 Judea 0, Marist St Michaels 23 Rangataua 15, Edgecumbe 93 Whakarewarewa 5, Opotiki 25 Greerton Marist 10.