Mount Maunganui, which languished in seventh place on the Bartercard Baywide Premier points ladder at the start of May, has been the big mover in recent weeks.

The Mount side started its renaissance with a narrow 30-28 victory over archrival Te Puke Sports and has gone on to grab five wins from its last six encounters. It is now showing the form that took it all the way to last season's grand final against Tauranga Sports.

The strength of the Mount side in recent years has been its (reserve) bench and with players of the quality of Sam Jurisich, Mata McGrath and Shane Manu, the team has class throughout its 22-man line-up.

Today, the Mount is at home at Blake Park to a side that that has shown real determination to stay in contention for a semi-finals berth.

Opotiki's real test of its top four aspirations will come when they run out onto Blake Park to face the home side.

Last weekend they ran over WaIkite 34-5 with two of the rising stars of Bay of Plenty rugby grabbing two tries apiece.

Te Amo and Te Hata Wilbore showed the progress that they have made in the Premier ranks this season, with each touching down twice.

Another to increase his points tally last week was Opotiki kicker Sam Howe who has added 68 points to his team's total this season.

Defending champion Tauranga Sports has established a 10-point lead at the top of the standings.

This weekend it will be heavily favoured to advance its tally when they travel to Rotorua to meet Waikite. However, the Rotorua side, which returned to the premier ranks by way of annexing the division one championship last season, always put up a spirited fight at their Bellvue Road headquarters.

First round front-runner, Whakarewarewa, has slipped down the ladder in June, losing its last three contests. The Whaka quest for a semi-final berth will get no easier this weekend, when Te Puke Sports pays a visit to Puarenga Park.

Te Puke delivered a message to the other contenders last Saturday, when they ran away from Rangataua 32-5.

The first round meeting between Whaka and Te Puke was taken out by Te Puke 22-19 in the Western Bay of Plenty.

In other premier match-ups, Rotoiti and Te Puna could have a hard fought battle at Emery Park, while Whakatane Marist, which beat Rotoiti 12-10 in its catch-up game on Tuesday night, will want to continue its momentum against Rangataua.

The real interest in division one is near the top of the table was two points separate four teams.

The winner of the Ngongotaha and Greerton Marist will take a significant step towards a semi-final berth, with Katikati and Marist St Michaels, which are also in the logjam going head-to-head in the Western Bay of Plenty.

Competition leader Te Teko will be heavily favoured to dispatch Kahukura, Rangiuru will want to continue there recent winning form against Ruatoki, while Paroa should be too strong for Reporoa.

Defending Colts titleholders Te Puke Sports, which are making no race of the age group competition, should keep their season unbeaten record, when they host Tauranga Sports at Murray Salt Stadium. Greerton Marist, which edged out Te Puna by a solitary point last week should prove too good for Rangataua, with Mount Maunganui and Te Puna likely to defeat Marist St Michaels and Opotiki respectively.

BOPRU Bartercard Baywide Draws June 25

Premier (2.45pm) Whakarewarewa v Te Puke Sports, Puarenga Park; Rotoiti v Te Puna, Emery Park; Waikite v Tauranga Sports, Bellvue Road; Mount Maunganui v Opotiki, Blake Park; Rangataua v Whakatane Marist, Te Ariki Park.

Points Table: Tauranga Sports 53, Mount Maunganui 43, Te Puke 39, Whakarewarewa 38, Rangataua 34, Opotiki 31, Waikite 25, Rotoiti 25, Whakatane Marist 16, Te Puna 15.

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

Points Table: Te Teko 45, Ngongotaha 41, Marist St Michaels 40, Greerton Marist 39, Katikati 39, Kahukura 34, Paroa 25, Rangiuru 25, Reporoa 17, Ruatoki 7,

Colts - 1pm (Section One) Te Puke Sports v Tauranga Sports, Murray Salt Stadium; Rangataua v Greerton Marist, Te Ariki Park; Marist St Michaels v Mount Maunganui, Marist Park; Opotiki v Te Puna, Princess Street Reserve

Points Table: Te Puke Sports 20, Greerton Marist 13, Mount Maunganui 11, Te Puna 10, Rangataua 10, Tauranga Sports 9, Opotiki 5, Marist St Michaels 2.

(Section Two) Rotoiti v Whakatane Marist, Emery Park; Waikite v Whakarewarewa, Bellvue Road; Ruatoki v Judea, Tuhoe Park; Edgecumbe the bye.

Points Table: Ruatoki 14, Edgecumbe 14, Waikite 10, Whakatane Marist 6, Whakarewarewa 6, Rotoiti 5, Judea 0.