Mount Maunganui will receive a real test of their championship contender status, when they play Whakarewarewa at Whaka headquarters today, Saturday.

Chris Elvin leading from the back of the scrum

Two loyal Mount Maunganui players, who will relish the challenge of playing Whaka at home, are the Elvin brothers. Chris who captains the team from the back of the scrum leads by example, while Troye who wears the number 9 jersey makes sure that the Mount backline receives quality ball.

The return of Warren Smith has beefed up the Mount engine room this season. The Mount are well served in the goal-kicking department, with 2010 Steamer Dan Waenga and Sam Jurisich, both match winners in close encounters.

Whakarewarewa led the standings in the Premier first round all season, until Tauranga Sports took the first round trophy courtesy of a bonus point last weekend. The second round, which kicks of this Saturday, is likely to be a battle of attrition, with genuine game winners making the difference between defeat and victory.

Over recent seasons no players has snatched more games away from the opposition, than Whakarewarewa kicking ace Kelly Haimona. The Mount visitors to Puarenga Park will need to be mistake free in the Whaka half, with the home side kicker having added 84 points to his sides points tally this season.

The first round match-up between the two teams, produced a 22-10 victory to Whakarewarewa at Blake Park.

Defending Premier titleholders Tauranga Sports, will travel to Te Puke Sports headquarters at Murray Salt Stadium, to resume their long standing rivalry. The season opening game between the pair produced a comprehensive 25-6 win to Tauranga Sports - however the Te Puke based side have since moved steadily up the point's table, to sit firmly in the logjam in the middle of the standings.

Rangataua who suffered a shock defeat to Waikite last week meet fellow Western Bay side Te Puna at Te Ariki Park, Opotiki will host Whakatane Marist in a Eastern Bay derby, with Rotoiti needing to beat Waikite to reverse their recent downward fall.

A top of the table Division One clash will take part at Moore Park in Katikati, when competition leaders Greerton Marist face Katikati. Te Teko who suffered their first loss of the season last week, should have little trouble with bottom of the table Ruatoki at Tuhoe Park.

Rotorua near neighbour Marist St Michaels and Kahukura, who are separated by a solitary point, should have a battle royal at Marist Park. Their first round meeting produced a battle of attrition that was narrowly taken out by Kahukura 27-25.

Eastern Bay side Paroa, who have had a rollercoaster ride to end the first stanza in seventh place, have the home ground advantage against Rangiuru. While Ngongotaha will be expected to prevail over Reporoa, the team from the extremities of the Bay will be playing in front of their many loyal fans.
A Marist battle will take place in the Colts Division One, when Greerton Marist travels to Rotorua to meet Marist St Michaels. Other top echelon age group matches see Opotiki host Te Puke Sports, Te Puna will be at home to Tauranga Sports, with Mount Maunganui expected to prevail against Rangataua.

BOPRU Bartercard Baywide Draws 28 May 2011

Premier (2.45pm) Opotiki v Whakatane Marist, Opotiki Domain; Rangataua v Te Puna, Te Ariki Park; Rotoiti v Waikite, Emery Park; Whakarewarewa v Mount Maunganui, Puarenga Park; Te Puke Sports v Tauranga Sports, Murray Salt Stadium.

Points Table: Tauranga Sports 35. Whakarewarewa 34, Mount Maunganui 27, Rangataua 25, Te Puke Sports 25, Waikite 21, Opotiki 21, Rotoiti 20, Te Puna 10, Whakatane Marist 8.

Division One (2.45pm) Ruatoki v Te Teko, Tuhoe Park; Marist St Michaels v Kahukura, Marist Park; Paroa v Rangiuru, Lawson Park; Katikati v Greerton Marist, Moore Park; Reporoa v Ngongotaha, Reporoa.

Points Table: Greerton Marist 34, Katikati 28, Ngongotaha 27, Te Teko 26, Kahukura 26, Marist St Michaels 24, Paroa 18, Rangiuru 16, Reporoa 13, Ruatoki 2.

Colts (1pm) (Section One) Marist St Michaels v Greerton Marist, Marist Park; Opotiki v Te Puke Sports, Opotiki Reserve; Te Puna v Tauranga Sports, Maramatanga Park; Mount Maunganui v Rangataua, Blake Park (Section Two) Judea v Whakarewarewa, Maharaia Winiata Park; Ruatoki v Whakatane Marist, Tuhoe Park; Edgecumbe v Rotoiti, Edgecumbe Domain; Waikite the bye.