The desperation stakes of July Baywide rugby hit home in the Premier division on Saturday - with two nail-biters at the top of the standings and two sides moving out of the relegation zone.

While PGG Wrightson competition leaders Te Puke Sports, returned home from the 'House of Pain” in Opotiki with a one-point victory, they were taken to the edge of defeat by a fired-up home side. Opotiki led 10-6 at half time courtesy of a Matt Henwood try and the conversion and a penalty goal slotted by Sam Howe.

Ten minutes into the second spell, New Zealand sevens player Jack Wilson crossed for the visitors. In a desperate battle, Te Puke managed to hold Opotiki scoreless in the second spell, to escape with an 11-10 win. The Opotiki defeat was the sides first at home during the current season.

Tauranga Sports, who sit in second place on the standings, were worn down by Rangataua in a battle of attrition at Te Ariki Park. In spite of Tauranga Sports running in two tries to the homes team solitary touchdown, the difference was the three penalty goals kicked by Rangataua's Adam McGarvey, as the home team took out the encounter 14-12. The Tauranga tries were awarded to Jeremy Cave and Steve Honey, with Moiri Hika crossing for Rangataua. The Rangataua win took the Western Bay side out of the relegation zone with two matches remaining in round robin play.

A battle royal took place in the second half at Maramatanga Park, with seven tries touched down, with both sides desperate for victory. While Te Puna led 13-3 at the break no one was prepared for the non stop attacking of the second spell. Hautonga Connell powered over for Te Puna after just two minutes, with the immediate reply coming from a Whaka touchdown awarded to Peter Smith.

The third Te Puna try of the encounter by Te Aihi Toma stretched the home sides lead to 31-15 before Whaka came back with three touchdowns to Maurice Stone, Rawiri Tapiata and Chris Miller. With the scoreboard showing a 34-32 advantage to the home team, a last desperate attack from Te Puna was rewarded, with fullback Darrell Houia crossing for his sides bonus point 39-32 victory.

Rotoiti cemented their place in the top four with a four try 22-11 win, against Mount Maunganui at Emery Park. With Te Puke Sports and Tauranga Sports guaranteed semi-final berths, the remaining two places in the post section will be fought out between Opotiki, Rotoiti and Te Puna, with just a solitary point separating the trio. Greerton Marist was the second side to move out of the relegation zone, when they ran away from Waikite 53-8 in Rotorua - with Waikite almost certain to play division one rugby next season.

Ngongotaha continued their second half of the season resurgence, when they played Eastern Bay side Poroporo at the Ngongotaha Domain. The 32-15 Ngongotaha win cemented their place in the top four. Marist St Michaels won the battle of the Marist sides getting past Whakatane Marist 25-20 in Rotorua. Paroa were too strong for Kahukura winning 39-17, Te Teko steam rolled Ruatoki 58-7, with Rangiuru winning by default.

Tauranga Sports went to the top of the standing in the Colts standings, when they provided a minor upset beating Mount Maunganui 19-5. The Mount loss was just there second of the season. Te Puna remained in contention for the age group title with a solid 27-15 win defeating of defending champions Te Puke Sports, while Greerton Marist held Marist St Michaels scoreless in there 20 nil victory.

In the Colts second section Rangataua beat Opotiki 59-12 in the early game at Te Ariki Park, Kahukura posted a big win over Rotoiti with Waikite winning by default

PGG Wrightson Baywide Rugby Results 7 July 2012

Premier:

Rangataua 14 Moiri Hika try; Adam McGarvey 3 pen) Tauranga Sports 12 (Jeremy Cave, Steve Honey tries; Nick Evemy con) HT 3-7

Greerton Marist 53 (Karl Perrott 2, Richard Nauer, Brendan McKeown, Ryan Abbott, Wayne Slater, Blair Tristram tries; B Tristram 3 con pen, Alex Jessop con) Waikite 8 (T Williams try, S Thompson pen)

Te Puna 39 (Lance MacDonald, Hautonga Connell, Te Aihi Toma, Darrell Hoiua tries; D Houia 5 con 2 pen) Whakarewarewa 32 (Peter Smith, Maurice Stone, Rawiri Taiapata, Chris Miller tries; M Stone 3 con 2 pen) HT 13-3

Rotoiti 22 (Sigfreid Fisiihoi, Matt Landers, Beau Keil, Sunshine Fraser tries; Whakataki Cunningham con) Mount Maunganui 11 (Zane Butler try; Ben Lloyd pen, Matt Golding pen)

Te Puke Sports 11 (Jack Wilson try; Nick McCashin 2 pen) Opotiki 10 (Matt Henwood try; Sam Howe pen con) HT 6-10

Points Table: Te Puke Sports 70, Tauranga Sports 61, Opotiki 49, Rotoiti 49, Te Puna 48, Whakarewarewa 42. Mount Maunganui 39, Greerton Marist 20, Rangataua 18, Waikite 8.

Division One: Marist St Michaels 25 Whakatane Marist 20, Paroa 39 Kahukura 17, Te Teko 58 Ruatoki 7, Ngongotaha 32 Poroporo 15, Rangiuru won by default.

Colts – Section One: Tauranga Sports 19 Mount Maunganui 5, Greerton Marist 20 Marist St Michaels 0, Te Puna 27 Te Puke Sports 15 – Section Two; Rangataua 59 Opotiki 12, Kahukura 50 Rotoiti 0, Waikite won by default.

For Further Information Contact

Neil Alton BOPRU Operations Manager 07 574 2046