The Farmlands Cooperative Society Limited Baywide Senior Men's Club Rugby kicked off this weekend with the Premier, Premier Development and Division One teams.

The clubs came together as players, referees, team management and supporters and held a moment's silence prior to kick off at Saturday's matches, acknowledging last Friday's sad events in Christchurch.

The Division One Round 1, Week 1 matches kicked off at 2.45pm on Saturday March 23, except for Poroporo which playing Ruatoki at the Poroporo Rugby Club at 7pm on March 21.

The Whakatane versus Papamoa match was held at Rugby Park, Marist St Michaels versus Ngongotaha at Marist Park, Waikite versus Reporoa at Waikiti Rugby Club, Kahukura versus Murupara at Kuirau Park, and Judea versus Paroa at the Judea Rugby Club.

Te Puna played Te Puke at the Maramatanga Park, Arataki versus Tauranga Sports at Arataki Park, Greerton Marist versus Rangiuru at Greerton Park, Rotoiti versus Rangataua at Emery Park, Whakarewarewa versus Te Teko at Puarenga Park, and Opotiki versus Mount Maunganui at Princess Street Reserve.

Senior Rugby in the Bay of Plenty includes Baywide Premier, Premier Development, Division 1 & 2 and a Women's competition. Western, Central and Eastern Bay of Plenty Sub-Union competitions also run for Senior teams.

The 2019 season started on March 23 and is sponsored by Farmlands Co-operative.

Club rugby provides an important pathway for selection into the Steamers, the Volcanix and other Bay of Plenty representative teams. From the Bay's larger established clubs to the small rural clubs, with 37 clubs all over the Bay of Plenty, there is an opportunity for all to be involved in community rugby.

Farmlands Co-operative Baywide Club Rugby Results 23.03.2019

Farmlands Co-operative Baywide Premier:
Opotiki 7 v Mount Maunganui 53
Te Puna 15 v Te Puke 41
Arataki 27 v Tauranga Sports 30
Greerton Marist 22 v Rangiuru 22
Rotoiti 7 v Rangataua 42
Whakarewarewa 54 v Te Teko 21

Farmlands Co-operative Baywide Premier Development:
Opotiki 26 v Mount Maunganui 22
Te Puna 30 v Te Puke 27
Arataki 13 v Tauranga Sports 36
Greerton Marist 21 v Rangiuru 43
Rotoiti v Rangataua (Rangataua win by default)
Whakarewarewa 31 v Te Teko 7

Farmlands Co-operative Baywide Division 1:
Poroporo 3 v Ruatoki 29
Whakatane Marist 37 v Papamoa 21
Judea 12 v Paroa 15
Kahukura 31 v Murupara 14
Waikite 34 v Reporoa 10
Marist St Michael's 8 v Ngongotaha 12