Baywide teams who can win the battle of attrition during July will book their berths in the semi-finals on the last Saturday of the month.

Wet, cold midwinter conditions, coupled with niggling injuries, present real challenges for the Baywide contenders in the premier, division one and colts title races.

With just four rounds remaining before the Bartercard Baywide semifinals on Saturday, July 30, there is real intensity on the teams that are sitting off the pace on the competition points standings.

A classic example of the intensity of the competition is provided in the premier match-up in the Eastern Bay of Plenty between Opotiki and Te Puna.

While the Eastern Bay side sits in sixth place on the standings, victory on Saturday would keep the side in contention for post section rugby with a loss likely to end their semi-final hopes.

One of the real danger men in the Opotiki team is loose forward Matt Henwood, who likes nothing better than to wreak havoc in the opposition backline.

The visitors will also be desperate for victory as they currently sit just one place from relegation to the second echelon next season.

Forward leader Aiden Kuka plays a big part in the Te Puna scrum and if the visitors can tame the Opotiki scrum, they could upset the home side.

The big game in the Western Bay of Plenty is the rematch of last year's premier final between defending champions Tauranga Sports and Mount Maunganui.

While Tauranga Sports has established a 12-point buffer at the top of the table – seven wins from their last eight games has taken Mount Maunganui into second position.

Tauranga Sports has a real game winner in former Poverty Bay player John Stewart, who has bagged a trifecta of touchdowns in each of his last two games.

With the ball in hand, the flying Tauranga winger simply waltzes his way past the opposition tacklers on his way to the try line.

The strength of Mount Maunganui is the number of long time club servants in their line-up.

Former Mount colts Troye and Chris Elvin have been in top form this season, with Zane Butler getting his name on the Mount's try tally several times this season.

Whakarewarewa, which lost all four games during June, will be desperate to get its semifinal aspirations back on track when they play Whakatane Marist in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. However, July belonged to the Marist representatives last year when they upset three of the top four teams.

Te Puke Sports should prove too strong for Waikite at Murray Salt Stadium in Te Puke, with Rangataua and Rotoiti likely to battle to the final whistle.

Division one leader Te Teko faces a real challenge this weekend when they travel to Rotorua to play Marist St Michaels. The Rotorua Marist team are real fighters and posted four nail-biting victories during June.

Paroa and Ruatoki will engage in a Eastern Bay local derby at Lawson Park, Kahukura should receive a stern challenge from Greerton Marist at Kuirau Park in Rotorua, Katikati travel to play Reporoa, while Rangiuru could continue there renaissance against Ngongotaha.

A top of the table clash awaits in the colts section one with competition leader and defending champions Te Puke Sports facing Greerton Marist in Te Puke.

Tauranga Sports and Mount Maunganui meet in a Western Bay derby, Te Puna should be too strong for Rangataua, with Marist St Michaels meeting Opotiki.

BOPRU Bartercard Baywide Draws 2 July 2011

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

Points Table: Tauranga Sports 59, Mount Maunganui 47, Te Puke 43, Whakarewarewa 39, Rangataua 39, Opotiki 31, Rotoiti 26, Waikite 25, Te Puna 19, Whakatane Marist 17,

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

Points Table: Te Teko 50, Greerton Marist 44, Marist St Michaels 44, Ngongotaha 41, Katikati 40, Kahukura 35, Rangiuru 30, Paroa 29, Reporoa 17, Ruatoki 7,

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

Points Table: Te Puke Sports 25, Greerton Marist 18, Te Puna 14, Mount Maunganui 11, Rangataua 10, Tauranga Sports 9, Marist St Michaels 7, Opotiki 5.

(Section Two) Whakatane Marist v Whakarewarewa, Rugby Park; Judea v Waikite, Maharaia Winiata Park; Edgecumbe v Ruatoki, Edgecumbe Domain; Rotoiti the bye.

Points Table: Ruatoki 18, Waikite 15, Edgecumbe 14, Rotoiti 10, Whakatane Marist 8, Whakarewarewa 6, Judea 2.