Te Puna took a solid step to avoiding relegation from the Bartercard Baywide Premier competition, when they defeated competition leaders Tauranga Sports at Maramatanga Park on Saturday.

File pic. See results below review.

In what could only be described as a true arm wrestle, the team from the outskirts of Tauranga City were playing in memory of Te Puna President and long time club stalwart Mick Bidois who recently passed away. Te Puna took first use of a strong breeze, and continually kept the defending Baywide Premier champions in their own half with long raking kicks and forward attacks.

The only try of the encounter came after just ten minutes, when 2010 Steamers half back Chad Tuoro crossed for a try for Te Puna. The home side continued to take the game to the visitors in the first half, and took a 5 nil lead into the half time break.

Te Puna quickly adapted to playing into the strong wind in the second spell, keeping the ball in the forward pack. A series of Tauranga forays had some reward when Nick Evemy kicked a penalty goal mid way through the second half.

The remaining quarter in the match was a battle of attrition, with Tauranga making concerted attacks, which saw Te Puna defend their line with real commitment. A jubilant Te Puna side threw their hands in the air in absolute joy, when the referee signaled full time, with the home side taking out the match in a old fashioned scoreline of 5-3. One of the keys to the Te Puna victory was the outstanding workrate produced by lock Temania Tata.

Perennial Premier bridesmaids Te Puke Sports, booked a semi-final berth when they accounted for arch rivals Mount Maunganui 21-10 at Blake Park. The visitors took to Mount Maunganui from the opening whistle, and led 16 nil at the break. While the home side came back to post ten points in the second spell, Te Puke went on to take out the game 21-10.

Te Puke Sports Gideon Uelese grabbed a double, which has taken his try tally to six since the start of June, with Andrew Tuise scoring his team's third touchdown. The Mount Maunganui points came from a try awarded to Sam Mayes, with Sam Jurisich slotting a penalty and a conversion. The Te Puke win also relieved Mount Maunganui of the Jordan Cup, which is the Western Bay Challenge prize.

Whakarewarewa took a big step to reaching the semi-finals, when they dispatched Rangataua who are there nearest challenger. The Rotorua side didn't take full advantage of the gale behind their backs in the first half, taking a 7 nil lead into the break courtesy of a try to Trent Sweeny, converted by Whaka super boot Kelly Haimona.

The second Whaka touchdown came after just six minutes in the second spell, when Harold Koia crashed over. - Rangataua replied with a try to Moeahu Flavell, converted by Rory McConnochie. With five minutes remaining the home side led 12-7, before Kelly Haimona pounced on a loose ball to touch the ball down, followed by a try from Dave Marinkovich which resulted in Whakarewarewa taking out the encounter 24-7.

Whakatane Marist who are locked in a race with Te Puna to avoid relegation, lost some ground to the Western Bay side in spite of a 20 all draw with Waikite. With two rounds in the regular season remaining Te Puna are four points clear of the Eastern Bay side, with the relegation likely to be decided when the two clubs meet on the 23 July 2011. Opotiki won a nailbiter against Rotoiti winning 19-17 at Emery Park.

Division One leaders Te Teko ran riot against Reporoa in the Eastern Bay of Plenty posting a 90-14 win, while Greerton Marist laid down their own challenge cementing second place with a emphatic victory over Marist St Michaels 48-15 at Greerton Park.

In other Div One match-ups Katikati kept their semi-final aspirations alive with a 22-7 victory over Paroa, Rangiuru ended any hope of Kahukura making the top four when the Te Puke side won 32-12, with Ngongotaha getting past Ruatoki 15-8.

In the final Colts Section One regular season games before next weekends quarterfinals, Te Puke Sports re-inked their credentials as top qualifier with a 35-10 win against Mount Maunganui, Marist St Michaels upset Te Puna 19-8, with Tauranga Sports getting past Rangataua 42-22 in a high scoring encounter.

Bay of Plenty Bartercard Baywide Rugby Results 9 July 2011

Premier

Te Puna 5 (Chad Tuoro try) Tauranga Sports 3 (Nick Evemy pen) HT 5-0.

Whakarewarewa 24 (Trent Sweeney, Harold Koia, Kelly Haimona David Marinkovich tries; Haimona 2 con) Rangataua 7 (Moeahu Flavell try; Rory McConnochie con) HT 7-0.

Te Puke Sports 21 (Gideon Uelese 2, Andrew Tuise tries; Simon Rolleston 2 pen) Mount Maunganui 10 (Sam Mayes try; Sam Jurisich pen con) HT 16-0.

Waikite 20 (Timiona Wijohn 2, Huma Hudson tries; Craig Langveldt pen con) Whakatane Marist 20 (Craig Edwards, Alamoti Te Pou, J Brown tries; Edwards pen con) HT 8-0.

Opotiki 19 Rotoiti 17 (Sikeli Vorenasu, Rob Mc Cann tries; Vorenasu 2 con pen)

Points Table: Tauranga Sports 58, Mount Maunganui 52, Te Puke 52, Whakarewarewa 49, Rangataua 40, Opotiki 39, Rotoiti 31, Waikite 27, Te Puna 23, Whakatane Marist 19,

Division One: Katikati 22 Paroa 7, Greerton Marist 48 Marist St Michaels 15, Rangiuru 31 Kahukura 13, Ngongotaha 15 Ruatoki 8, Te Teko 90 Reporoa 14.

Colts (Section One) Marist St Michaels 19 Te Puna 8, Tauranga Sports 42 Rangataua 22, Te Puke Sports 35 Mount Maunganui 10 (Section Two) Whakarewarewa 19 Rotoiti 0, Edgecumbe 30 Judea 8, Whakarewarewa 19 Rotoiti 0.