The first round of the PGG Wrightson Baywide Premier rugby competition that kicked off at the weekend saw defending Baywide champion Te Puke Sports prevail in a close fought encounter against long-time rival Mount Maunganui.

Played at Blake Park, the visitors ran up a 15 point lead in the first spell with Te Puke ace goal kicker Nick McCashin slotting five penalties.

The sole try of the encounter came from Mount's Scott Bradley in the second half, with Bradley also adding two penalty goals as Te Puke Sports ran out 15-11 victors.

Last year's beaten Baywide finalist Whakarewarewa came back from a 12 point deficit to earn a 22-all draw with Tauranga Sports at Puarenga Park.

With 10 minutes remaining in the match Tauranga Sports had established a 22-10 lead, before Whaka stormed back into the game with two touchdowns.

The Whakarewarewa tries were awarded to Akira Mako, Courtney Mita, Maurice Stone with Ken Tupuola, Matt Biu, Philip Togo Togo Rua crossing the advantage line for Tauranga Sports.

Western Bay side Te Puna decisively won their battle with arch-rival Rangataua at Rangataua headquarters.

After leading 15-3 at the break, the visitors to Te Ariki Park posted another 20 points in the second spell, to take out the encounter 35-8.

New Te Puna recruits Daniel Quade and Lance MacDonald grabbed touchdown with Joseph Connal, Daniel Schuster and Tapene Mika also dotting the ball down.

Daiyu Ishimori scored the sole Rangataua try.

Opotiki's 53-12 win over Greerton Marist suggested that the Eastern Bay side will be a genuine playoff contender this season, while Rotoiti with Wayne Ormond in a player/coach role waltzed away from Waikite 57-18.

The Eastern Bay Division One derby was taken out by Te Teko who beat near neighbours Whakatane Marist 21-8 at Rugby Park in Whakatane.

Marist St Michaels, who were the big improvers of the second echelon last season, had a good battle with Poroporo before grabbing a 28-20 victory.

At extremities of the Bay of Plenty in Reporoa Kahukura defeated the home team 26-5, with Ngongotaha proving too strong for Ruatoki winning 23-13, while Paroa got home against Rangiuru 24-5.

The first real upset of the season came when defending Colts titleholders Te Puke Sports were beaten by Mount Maunganui 31-10.

As well as laying down the gauntlet to the other age group contenders, Mount Maunganui relieved Te Puke of the Oliver Cup, which is the Western Bay challenge trophy.

Greerton Marist who finished second in the Colts division last season started with a big 46-17 win over Opotiki in the Eastern Bay.

Other Colts side to emerge from the opening round with wins were Te Puna who defeated Rangataua, Tauranga Sports got past Marist St Michaels, Waikite proved too strong for Rotoiti with Whakarewarewa taking the honours against Kahukura.

BOPRU Baywide Rugby Results March 24

Premier

Whakarewarewa 22 (Akira Mako, Courtney Mita, Maurice Stone tries; Tyson Repia pen con, M Stone con) Tauranga Sports 22 (Ken Tupuola, Matt Biu, Philip Togo Togo Rua tries; Nick Evemy 2 con pen) HT 15-7

Te Puke Sports 15 (Nick McCashin 5 pen) Mount Maunganui 11 (Scott Bradley try 2 pens) HT 15-5

Te Puna 35 (Joseph Connal, Daniel Quade, Daniel Schuster, Tapene Mika, Lance MacDonald tries; Daryl Houia 2 pen 2con) Rangataua 8 (Daiyu Ishimori try; Paroa Harris pen) HT 15-3

Opotiki 53 (Tareha Walker 2, Richard Piriniki 2, Dean Elmiger, Maia Penn, Luke Morris tries; Sam Howe 6 con 2 pens) Greerton Marist 12 Brendan McKeown, Blair Tristram try con)

Rotoiti 57 (Seigfried Fisiihoi 3, Willie Sueili 2, Sam Tavaki, Joe Gotz, Manasana Bole tries; Whakataki Cunningham 7 con pen) Waikite 18,

Division One

Marist St Michaels 28 Poroporo 20, Te Teko 21 Whakatane Marist 8, Ngongotaha 23 Ruatoki 13, Paroa 23 Rangiuru 3, Kahukura 24 Reporoa 5.

Colts

Te Puna 30 Rangataua 20, Mount Maunganui 31 Te Puke Sports 10, Tauranga Sports 17 Marist St Michaels 9, Greerton Marist 46 Opotiki Sports 17, Waikite 45 Rotoiti 21, Whakarewarewa 39 Kahukura 30.