The time-honoured Jordan Cup is now in new hands, following a Mount Maunganui win on the weekend.

The cup changed hands at the Tauranga Domain on Saturday April 22 when Mount Maunganui relieved Tauranga Sports of the Western Bay Challenge prize.

Mount Maunganui were fired up and looking for redemption, after a first up 14 points loss to Te Puna, in their season opener the previous weekend. The visitors established their authority in the first half to lead 26-5 at the break.

While Tauranga Sports marshalled their troops in the second spell, the green and gold brigade replied with another fifteen points to take out the battle of the bridge contest, 41-19.

Round two of the Baywide title race opened on Friday night, with a Te Puke derby under lights, at Murray Salt Stadium. Te Puke Sports narrowly led Rangiuru, 12-5, after the first forty minutes of play.

With just five minutes in regular time remaining in the encounter, Rangiuru scored a converted try, to see the hosts holding a narrow five point advantage.

Te Puke halfback Jack Hollins head booted home a penalty goal before Alex Johnston crossed for five points, with time up on the clock. The resulting Hollins head conversion took Te Puke Sports to an extremely hard-fought 32-17 victory.

Te Puna remained unbeaten after they dispatched long-time rivals Rangataua at Maramatanga Park. The hosts led by eleven at halftime before Rangataua came back with two converted touchdowns. Te Puna banked an additional bonus point for four tries (or better) in their 31-17 win.

Greerton Marist defeated Judea 57-10 at Greerton headquarters, Whakarewarewa beat Katikati 86-10, with Ngongotaha getting past Rotoiti 34-8.

Eastern Districts went two from two in the Western Bay Development/Local Rugby competition, when they put on 43 unanswered points against Matakana Island.

The ED victory, also took them to the top of the Baywide promotion competition played within the Western Bay of Plenty contests. Their biggest opposition in their bid to play Baywide rugby next year, is Arataki, who beat Katikati 45 nil on Saturday.

A first half arm wrestle saw Tauranga Sports and Mount Maunganui tied at 12 points apiece in the curtain raiser at the Tauranga Domain. Tauranga Sports scored the only points of the second spell to take out the encounter 19-12.

Te Puna beat Rangataua 43-7 in the early action at Maramatanga Park, Te Puke Sports defeated Rangiuru 66-5 on Friday night, with Greerton Marist proving too strong for Judea with a 95-7 victory.

BOPRU Baywide Results – Week Two April 22 2023

Te Puke Sports 32 Rangiuru 17 (HT 12-5) Te Puna 31 Rangataua 17 (HT 14-3) Greerton Marist 57 Judea 10 (HT 31-5) Mount Maunganui 41 Tauranga Sports 19 (HT 26-5) Whakarewarewa 86 Katikati 10 (HT 34-5) Ngongotaha 34 Rotoiti 8 (HT 19-8)

Points Table: Te Puke Sports 10, Whakarewarewa 10, Te Puna 9, Greerton Marist 6, Tauranga Sports 5, Rangiuru 5, Mount Maunganui 5, Ngongotaha 5, Rangataua 4, Rotoiti 0, Judea 0, Katikati 0.

WBOPRS Development/Local Rugby Results

Te Puke Sports 66 Rangiuru 5, Te Puna 43 Rangataua 7, Greerton Marist 95 Judea 7, Tauranga Sports 19 Mount Maunganui 12, Eastern Districts 43 Matakana Island 0, Arataki 45 Katikati 0, Papamoa the bye.

Points Table (Provisional) Te Puke Sports 10, Eastern Districts 10, Greerton Marist 10, Te Puna 9, Rangiuru 5, Arataki 5, Tauranga Sports 4, Mount Maunganui 2, Rangataua 1, Papamoa 0, Matakana Island 0, Katikati 0, Judea 0.

Jordan Cup 2023

Today, the Jordan Cup is the WBOPRFS Premier Challenge Trophy, which the current holder puts on the line each time they play a fellow WBOPRFS Premier team, within the framework of the Baywide Rugby competitions.

The Jordan Cup engraving says 'presented to the Tauranga Rugby Union by Mr JH Jordan in 1913”. The first winner engraved in 1913 was Rangataua Rugby Football Club.

Rules of Engagement 2023

The Jordan Cup is played for in both home and away fixtures.

The Jordan Cup is not on the line in post-section games, with the holder of the Trophy at the end of the regular season being deemed the season winner.

Jordan Cup Results 2023

2022 Holder – Tauranga Sports

22 April Mount Maunganui 41 Tauranga Sports 19

Next Challenge

29 April Mount Maunganui v Rangataua, Te Ariki Park