Tauranga Sports is one of three Bartercard Baywide Premier championship contenders that posted an emphatic statement on Saturday.

The defending Baywide champion not only reversed the first round defeat by Whakarewarewa, but also laid down the challenge to the other title contenders with a forceful 37-17 victory over the second placed Rotorua side.

Played in the cauldron of Puarenga Park in the Sulphur City, the game belonged to Tauranga Sports backs John Stewart and Chris Noakes. Both players, who are new recruits to the Tauranga side this season, stamped an indelible mark on the encounter.

Stewart, who has pace to burn on the extremities of the Tauranga backline, ran in three touchdowns, while Noakes punished the Whaka mistakes with six penalties goals from eight attempts, and added two conversions for good measure.

Tauranga Sports led 19-3 at the break before David Marinkovich and Aliki Kisina touched down a try apiece to get Whaka back into the encounter. However, Noakes continued to punish the Whaka mistakes to help his team to an authoritative victory.

The Wilbore twins of Te Amo and Te Hata really stamped their mark on Opotiki's 34-5 win against Waikite in the Eastern Bay country town. Two tries apiece to two of the most promising emerging talent in Baywide rugby, provided testament to the silky skills of the two youngsters.

Kevin Waterson re-inked his team's bonus point win with a fifth touchdown, with Sam Howe adding three conversions and a penalty goal. The Eastern Bay side's latest victory has kept their playoff chances alive.

The third side to post a decisive result was Te Puke Sports, which posted a four tries to one win against long time Western Bay rival Rangataua 34-7.

Te Puke applied the pressure from the opening whistle, and had a 22-nil advantage at halftime.

They continued to turn the screws in the second half in spite of a try to Rangataua's Siaosi Longi, and went to post a significant 27 point victory.

Mark Nicolaas led the way for the home side with two touchdowns, with Nathan Harris and Andrew Tuise also touching the ball down, while Nick McCashin converted three tries and added two penalty goals.

Mount Maunganui ground out a 27-17 win against Te Puna at Maramatanga Park. After leading 13-3 at the half way stage they ran in two further tries, before Te Puna came back with the last two tries of the game. The match-up in the Eastern Bay between Whakatane Marist and Rotoiti, which was cancelled because of the weather, has been rescheduled for Tuesday.

Te Teko had a real battle with Ngongotaha, in the division one top of the table clash played at the Ngongotaha Reserve. The 19-15 victory reflected a match that went down to the last whistle of the game.

Katikati snatched a 15-all draw from Kahukura to keep their semi-final aspirations alive, Rangiuru upset Greerton Marist 23-20, Marist St Michaels grabbed another close encounter defeating Paroa 12-5, with Reporoa winning 13-9 at home against Ruatoki.

Colts front-runner Te Puke Sports maintained its season unbeaten record with a solid 32-6 win over Marist St Michaels in the championship title race.

Greerton Marist sneaked home from Tauranga Sports 11-10, Te Puna got past Mount Maunganui 13-7 in the curtain raiser at Maramatanga Park with, Opotiki holding off a spirited challenge from Rangataua to win 17-10.

BOPRU Bartercard Baywide Rugby Results June 18

Premier

Mount Maunganui 27 (Zane Butler 2, Sam Mayes, Tutere Waenga tries; Matt Golding 2 con, Sam Jurisich pen) Te Puna 13 (Heywood Kuka, Whanarau Peita tries; Darrell Houia pen) HT 13-3

Tauranga Sports 37 (John Stewart 3 tries; Chris Noakes 6 pens 2 con) Whakarewarewa 17 (David Marikovich, Aliki Kisina tries; Kelly Haimona 2 con pen) HT 19-3

Te Puke Sports 32 (Mark Nicolaas 2, Nathan Harris, Andrew Tuise tries; Nick McCashin 3 con 2 pens) Rangataua 7 (Siaosi Longi try; Rory McConnichie con) HT 22-0

Opotiki 34 (Te Amo Wilbore 2, Te Hata Wilbore 2, Kevin Waterson tries; Sam Howe 3 con pen) Waikite 5 (Hamu Hudson)

Whakatane Marist v Rotoiti not played.

Points Table: Tauranga Sports 54, Mount Maunganui 43, Te Puke Sports 39, Whakarewarewa 38, Rangataua 34, Opotiki 31, Waikite 25, Rotoiti 24, Te Puna 15, Whakatane Marist 12.

Division One: Rangiuru 23 Greerton Marist 20, Marist St Michaels 12 Paroa 5, Reporoa 13 Ruatoki 9, Kahukura 15 Katikati 15, Te Teko 19 Ngongotaha 15

Colts (Section One): Te Puna 13 Mount Maunganui 7, Opotiki 17 Rangataua 10, Te Puke Sports 32 Marist St Michaels 6, Greerton Marist 11 Tauranga Sports 10 (Section Two) Waikite 17 Edgecumbe 3, Ruatoki v Rotoiti and Judea v Marist St Michaels not played.