The first weekend in July, brings the business end of the PGG Wrightson Baywide Rugby title races, with just three rounds remaining before the playoffs.

In the premier division there is real fight in the middle of the table for two post section places.

Defending champions Te Puke Sports and Tauranga Sports have a break on the other contenders and barring massive upsets have booked berths in the semi-finals.

With a potential 15 points on offer in the last three rounds, just nine points separate five teams.

Eastern Bay representatives Opotiki currently hold down a third with a four-point buffer from Rotoiti, with Te Puna, Whakarewarewa and Mount Maunganui lurking just off the pace.

One of the key match-ups today will take place at Emery Park, where Rotoiti will be at home to Mount Maunganui. While Mount Maunganui lies in seventh place, they will provide plenty of headaches for Rotoiti's playoffs hopes if they post an away from home victory.

The Mount team is built upon loyalty to the green and gold uniform, with Chris and Troye Elvin and Zane Butler having been to the forefront of the Mount premier unit, for a number of seasons.

The Rotoiti side, who come from the extremities of Rotorua, also have a number of long-time club stalwarts such as Joe Fenton who is sharing the coaching duties with Wayne Ormond this season.

Another key encounter will be fought out at Te Puna HQ at Maramatanga Park, where the home side will square off against Whakarewarewa.

Te Puna has been amongst the season front-runners, while Whakarewarewa has had a rollercoaster ride with solid wins punctuated with defeat. The first time that the two sides met, the honours were taken out by Te Puna in a high scoring match, with the visitors to Puarenga Park posting a 42-32 victory.

Opotiki face an up-hill challenge when competition leaders Te Puke Sports visit the Eastern Bay of Plenty town. Rangataua host Tauranga Sports at Te Ariki Park, with Greerton Marist able to remove relegation concerns if they defeat Waikite in Rotorua.

There is just as much intensity in Division One, with just a solitary point separating fourth to sixth place on the standings.

Top of the table Rangiuru and Paroa appear headed for the playoffs with Kahukura also in good shape. While Ngongotaha hold down fourth at present, Eastern Bay contenders Te Teko and Whakatane Marist lurk just a solitary point behind the Rotorua team.

Ngongotaha will be wary of Poroporo who will travel to play the Rotorua team on the out skirts of the Sulphur City. The Eastern Bay team have caused several upsets during their Division One campaign and always come ready for battle. Te Teko should have little trouble with Ruatoki, with Whakatane Marist involved in a clash with fellow Marist club Marist St Michaels.

Rangiuru who sit top of the table should post their 15^th straight victory when Reporoa visit Centennial Park in Te Puke, while Paroa could have a battle on their hands against Kahukura.

A battle of the bridge will highlight the Colts championship, when Mount Maunganui and Tauranga Sports put their round two unbeaten records on the line, in the curtain raiser at the Tauranga Domain.

The formbook would suggest that Mount Maunganui should prevail after they defeated their archrivals 36-5 earlier in the year, however the Tauranga side have racked up some impressive performances in recent weeks.

In other Colts championship round encounters, Te Puna and defending champions Te Puke Sports will provide the entrée to the main game at Maramatanga Park, with a Marist derby taking place between Marist St Michaels and Greerton Marist.

PGG Wrightson Baywide Rugby Draws 7 July 2012

Premier (2.45pm) Rangataua v Tauranga Sports, Te Ariki Park; Waikite v Greerton Marist, Bellvue Road; Te Puna v Whakarewarewa, Maramatanga Park; Rotoiti v Mount Maunganui, Emery Park; Opotiki v Te Puke Sports, Princess Street Reserve.

Points Table: Te Puke Sports 66, Tauranga Sports 60, Opotiki 48, Rotoiti 44, Te Puna 43, Whakarewarewa 40. Mount Maunganui 39, Greerton Marist 15, Rangataua 14, Waikite 8.

Division One (2.45) Rangiuru v Reporoa, Centennial Park; Marist St Michaels v Whakatane Marist, Marist Park; Paroa v Kahukura, Lawson Park; Ruatoki v Te Teko, Tuhoe Park; Ngongotaha v Poroporo, Ngongotaha Domain.

Points Table: Rangiuru 69, Paroa 61, Kahukura 51, Ngongotaha 43. Te Teko 42, Whakatane Marist 42, Marist St Michaels 30, Poroporo 27, Reporoa 9, Ruatoki 7.

Colts (1pm)

Section One: Tauranga Sports v Mount Maunganui, Tauranga Domain; Marist St Michaels v Greerton Marist, Marist Park; Te Puna v Te Puke Sports, Maramatanga Park.

Points Table: Mount Maunganui 8, Tauranga Sports 8, Te Puna 5, Te Puke Sports 5, Greerton Marist 2, Marist St Michaels 0

Section Two: Rangataua v Opotiki, Te Ariki Park; Rotoiti v Kahukura, Emery Park; Waikite v Ruatoki, Bellvue Road; Whakarewarewa the bye.

Points Table: Opotiki 10, Waikite 10, Ruatoki 9, Rangataua 7, Kahukura 5, Whakarewarewa 0, Rotoiti 0.