Baywide finals take centre stage

The climax to the PGG Wrightson Baywide club rugby season will take place at the Tauranga Domain on Saturday when the five Baywide Finals are played out.

Taking centre stage in the main event on the number one field at 3pm - is the Premier Final between defending champions Te Puke Sports and Rotorua contenders Rotoiti.


Last year Te Puke Sports went from perennial bridesmaid to their first Baywide premier crown, when they came from behind to defeat Whakarewarewa 21-18, after trailing by nine at the break.

The premier final sets up a classic Bay of Plenty intercity contest, with Rotoiti making their first finals day appearance since 2006.

The two sides reached the final by contrasting routes during the season.

Te Puke led the way from season start in late March and never surrendered their competition lead throughout the regular season.

By comparison Rotoiti had a roller coaster ride with solid victories interspersed with a number of defeats.

The Rotorua side only confirmed their place in the playoffs, in the last round of the qualifying competition when they won a hard fought battle with Greerton Marist.

Several key players could decide the main attraction at the Tauranga Domain.

The obvious strategy from Rotoiti will be to keep mistake free in their own half, with Te Puke ace goal kicker Nick McCashin in outstanding form.

Just three weeks ago McCashin converted all twelve of his side's touchdowns against Whaka and added two tries for good measure.

Another Te Puke player to shine in recent weeks has been New Zealand Sevens player Jack Wilson who has pace to burn and is a finisher of real quality.

However Rotoiti will come to the Tauranga Domain, fully prepared for the rigours of battle on Super Saturday.

Few Bay players have more experience of the cauldron of high stakes rugby than Bay legend Wayne Ormond, who has returned to his roots to play and co-coach the Rotorua lakesiders this season.

With Ormond leading the way on the field, the Rotorua lakesiders will not lack the desire and motivation to give the title decider a huge shake.

Rotoiti also possess a goal kicker of rare ability with Whakataki Cunningham able to convert mistakes into points from most angles in his own half.

Rangiuru will be chasing a remarkable 19th straight victory this season, when they meet Paroa in the Division One championship decider, at 1pm on the Domain number one field.

Their sole defeat came against Paroa in the season opener on the March 24 before going on a remarkable winning sequence.

However Paroa are certain to want to take the Division One title back to the Eastern Bay and are certain to provide the Te Puke side with a huge challenge.

The two sides warmed up for Super Saturday with post section success last weekend, where Rangiuru got past Te Teko 25-10 with Paroa defeating Kahukura 31-20.

An all Western Bay final will take place in Division Two, where the prize is a berth in next seasons Division One competition.

Katikati won a battle of attrition with Edgecumbe on the Bay of Plenty border before emerging with an 11 nil victory.

The Arataki clash with Kawerau in the Eastern Bay went right to the wire, before the visitors grabbed a solitary point 14-13 win.

Another all Western Bay final will be fought out in the Colts grade between Tauranga Sports and Te Puna.

Last Saturday Tauranga Sports repelled a late Te Puke Sports charge on the line to take a 22-17 win, while Te Puna upset Mount Maunganui with a 42-27 victory in a high scoring affair at Blake Park.

A further Bay of Plenty inter-city contest will be fought out in the Senior Reserve Final, where Whakarewarewa will square off against Tauranga Sports.

Whaka ensured they would be the second Rotorua team on grand finals day, when they squeezed past Ngongotaha 22-21 in the playoffs, with Tauranga Sports getting home from archrivals Mount Maunganui 28-9.

PGG Wrightson Baywide Finals Day Rugby Draws August 4

Premier: Te Puke Sports v Rotoiti, Tauranga Domain One (3pm)

Division One: Rangiuru v Paroa, Tauranga Domain One (1pm)

Colts: Tauranga Sports v Te Puna, Tauranga Domain One (11am)

Division Two: Katikati v Arataki, Tauranga Domain Two (2.45pm)

Senior Reserve: Tauranga Sports v Whakarewarewa, Tauranga Domain Two (11.30am)

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