Tauranga Sports four-year reign as Bartercard Baywide Premier Champions came to and end at the Tauranga Domain on Saturday (30 July 2011), when Whakarewarewa overpowered the home side in semi-final action.

Whakarewarewa full back Kelly Haimona, who was sitting on 190 points entering the post section decider, opened the scoring with a penalty goal after just four minutes. The first of the six Whaka tries came when Hayden Beard finished off his sides attack with a touchdown at the fifteen minute mark.

Tauranga Sports first points came from a Nick Evemy penalty, with Haimoana replying with two penalties for the visitors. Akiro Mako ran over for the second Whaka try, after Rawiri Tapiata stretched the Tauranga defence with a 50-metre gallop.

Cullum Armstong grabbed the home sides first try, before a further Whaka reply with Aleki Kisini dotting down to result in his side taking a 28-13 advantage into the half time break.

Just two minutes into the second half Doug Edwards strolled over for the Whaka fourth touchdown. A try to Tauranga winger John Stewart, was followed by Dave Marinkovich grabbing a fifth try for the visitors. Trent Sweeney nailed the game for Whaka with a further touchdown, to give his side an unassailable 52-20 lead with the clock ticking down.

Two late consolation five pointers to Tauranga, which were awarded to Nick Evemy and John Stewart, resulted in Whaka taking out the encounter 52-30, and booking a berth in the Bartercard Baywide Premier Final next weekend.

Whakarewarewa's opponents in the Baywide Final are Te Puke Sports, who got home in a one-point thriller against archrivals Mount Maunganui, at Murray Salt Stadium in Te Puke. The visitors were ahead 12-3 at the half way stage of the game, after Sam Jurisich nailed three penalty goals and Mount fullback Tutere Waenga dropkicked a staggering 55-metre field goal.

After just two minutes in the second spell Gideon Uelese intercepted the ball and ran 40 metres to dot the ball down for Te Pukes first try. Eight minutes later it was the turn of Sipa Moimoi to score a second try for Te Puke Sports. With the successful conversion and a further penalty from the boot of Nick McCashin Te Puke Sports led 20-12 entering the last quarter.

Mount Maunganui came right back into the battle, when Mata McGrath crossed for a touchdown with the Jurisich conversion putting his side just a solitary point in arrears of the home team. However the Mount were unable to break through the Te Puke defence, and with a penalty attempt missing the uprights on full time - Te Puke Sports posted their ninth straight win taking out the game 20-19, and booking a place next weekends Premier Grand Final.

The Division One title decider will be fought out between top qualifier Te Teko, and Greerton Marist who finished second in the regular season competition. For the second weekend in a row Te Teko were involved in a real dog fight with Katikati, before the Eastern Bay side emerged with a narrow 13-19.

It was even tighter at Greerton Park, where Greerton Marist and Ngongotaha were locked together at 27 all after regulation time. While the home side bolted to a 20-5 lead at the break, Ngongotaha stormed back to tie up the encounter after eighty minutes. A Greerton Marist try in extra time was enough for them to take out the game 32-27, and grab a Div One Finals place against Te Teko.

The Division Two final game, which has the prize additional prize of promotion to Division One next season, will see Western Bay side Arataki meet Poroporo, after the two teams defeated Galatea and Matakana Island respectively.

Senior Reserve titleholders Mount Maunganui have the opportunity to win successive crowns after reaching the Final next weekend, when they defeated fellow Western Bay rivals Tauranga Sports 32-29 in a nail biter. Mount Maunganui will face Ngongotaha who got past fellow Rotorua side Waikite 15-6.

One of the real grassroots clubs in the Bay of Plenty had rare championship celebrations on Saturday night. The Ruatoki Colts side annexed the Baywide Colts Section Two title at Tuhoe Park on Saturday, when they defeated Waikite 21-15 in the Colts second echelon championship.

Bay of Plenty Bartercard Baywide Rugby Semi-Final Results 30 July 2011

Premier

Whakarewarewa 52 (Hayden Baird, Akira Mako, Aleki Kisini, Doug Edwards, Dave Marinkovich, Trent Sweeney tries; Haimona 5 con 4 pen) Tauranga Sports 30 (John Stewart 2, Cullum Armstrong, Nick Evemy tries; Evemy 2 pen 2 con) HT 28-13.

Te Puke 20 (Gideon Uelese, Sipa Moimoi tries; Nick McCashin 2 pen 2 con) Mount Maunganui 19 (Mata McGrath try; Sam Jurisich 3 pen con, Tutere Waenga dg) HT 3-12.

Division One: Te Teko 13 Katikati 9, Greerton Marist 32 Ngongotaha 27.

Division Two: Poroporo 23 Matakana Island 3, Arataki 24 Galatea 20.

Senior Reserve: Mount Maunganui 32 Tauranga Sports 29, Ngongotaha 15 Waikite 6.

Colts Section Two Final: Ruatoki 21 Waikite 15.