Te Puke Sports showed they have back to back Baywide titles on their agenda when they gave Tauranga Sports a 42-11 trouncing on Saturday, March 31 in the PGG Wrightson Premier title race.

While the defending champions led by 14 at the half way break, they upped the ante in the second spell to finish the match with six tries. French recruit Fred Ovrabah opened his account for Te Puke with a try with the other touchdowns coming from Simon Rolleston, Nathan Harris, Sipa Moi Moi, Ben Ward and Gideon Uelese. Nick McCashin added 12 points with his boot, with the Tauranga points coming from a try to Johan Meintjers and two penalties by Lewis Hancock.

Te Puna continued their new season renaissance when they won a good tussle with Mount Maunganui at Blake Park. In spite of the home side winning the try scoring stakes three touchdowns to two - Te Puna got home for a 23-19 victory with club new recruit Te Aihe Toma kicking three penalties and converting both his sides touchdowns. Tyrone Heke and Tipu Clarke dotted down for Te Puna with Ray Burgess, Duncan Walker and Aaron Carroll scoring tries for Mount Maunganui.

Rotoiti also showed that they will be a real force in the Baywide premier ranks this season, running in nine tries on the way to beating Rangataua 58-14. Siegfreid Fisiihoi, who has moved into tighthead prop from the back of the scrum to chase representative honours this season, was in dynamic form grabbing three touchdowns.

After posting a 17 point advantage at half time, Whakarewarewa had to withstand a spirited comeback from Greerton Marist before the Rotorua team finally prevailed 37-27. Both sides picked up a bonus points for four tries (or better) apiece. Waikite posted their first win of the season winning a thriller against Opotiki 31-27 in the Eastern Bay.

Eastern Bay Division One teams Te Teko and Whakatane Marist, who have genuine designs on the Division One title, both suffered agonisingly close defeats. Rangiuru bounced back from a big loss last week to beat Te Teko 36-34, while Kahukura got past Whakatane Marist by a solitary point winning 32-31.

Former Baywide premier heavyweight Ngongotaha, continued their Baywide resurgence of recent years, winning the Rotorua derby with Marist St Michaels 27-12. Paroa posted a big win over fellow Eastern Bay side Ruatoki with a 57-3 win, while Poroporo proved too strong for Reporoa with a 47-12 victory.

Mount Maunganui Colts, who took the Western Bay challenge trophy from defending champions Te Puke Sports last week, continued their run of form defeating Te Puna 14-3 at Blake Park. Te Puke suffered their second successive loss being beaten by Tauranga Sports 26-18, while Rangataua ran away from Rotoiti 48-12 in the curtain raiser at Te Ariki Park.

Last season's Colts runner-up Greerton Marist, laid their ambitions on the line with a 81-13 victory over Whakarewarewa, Ruatoki made up for their senior side defeat getting past Kahukura 39-10, with Waikite winning a battle of attrition with Opotiki posting a 21-17 win.

Bay of Plenty Rugby Results 31 March 2012

Premier

Rotoiti 58 (Siegfreid Fisiihoi 3, Josevata Tawake 2, Samu Tavake, Whakataki Cunninghan, Quade Langeveltd, Manasa Bola; Cunningham 5 con pen) Rangataua 14 (Rodney Voullaire try; Adam McGarvey 3 pen) HT 27-8

Te Puke Sports 42 (Nathan Harris, Fred Ovrabah, Simon Rolleston, Sipa Moi Moi, Ben Ward, Gideon Uelese tries; Nick McCashin 3 con 2 pen) Tauranga Sports 11 (Johan Meintjers tries; Lewis Hancock 2 pen) HT 20-6

Te Puna 23 (Tyrone Heke, Tipu Clarke tries; Te Aihe Toma 3 pen 2 con) Mount Maunganui 19 (Ray Burgess, Duncan Walker, Aaron Carroll tries; Tom Fitzgerald 2 con) HT 14-5

Whakarewarewa 37 (Rawiri Tapiata, Theo Heta, Harold Koia, Chris Mills, Akira Mako tries; Maurice Stone 2 con, Tyson Repia 2 pen con) Greerton Marist 27 (Richard Nauer 2, Taylor Jones, Blair Tristram tries; Tristram 2 con pen) HT 24-7

Waikite 31 (Jason Puddles 2, Scott Davey, Jacob Marsters, Carlo Putaranui tries; Hamu Hudson 3 con) Opotiki 27 HT 26-8

Points Table: Rotoiti 10, Te Puke Sports 9, Te Puna 9, Whakarewarewa 7, Opotiki 5 Waikite 5, Tauranga Sports 2, Mount Maunganui 2, Greerton Marist 1, Rangataua 0.

Division One: Kahukura 32 Whakatane Marist 31, Ngongotaha 27 Marist St Michaels 12, Rangiuru 36 Te Teko 34, Poroporo 47 Reporoa 12, Paroa 57 Ruatoki 3.

Colts: Mount Maunganui 14 Te Puna 3, Tauranga Sports 26 Te Puke Sports 18, Rangataua 48 Rotoiti 12, Greerton Marist 81 Whakarewarewa 13, Ruatoki 39 Kahukura 10, Waikite 21 Opotiki 17.