Te Puke Sports are celebrating after returning home from the Te Puna fortress at Maramatanga Park, with the prized "scalp" of the blue and black brigade, after a tussle that went down to the wire.

The visitors led by three at the halfway stage of the encounter on Saturday, courtesy of a Allen Holland touchdown, and the subsequent conversion and a penalty booted home by Jack Hollinshead.

The encounter was well and truly on the line with five minutes left on the clock, with the visitors holding a narrow 23-17 advantage.

Te Puke then ran in two tries, both converted by Hollinshead, which resulted in Te Puke Sports taking out a 37-17 victory.

Whakarewarewa, joined Te Puke Sports at the top of the standings after a titanic struggle with Greerton Marist, at Whaka headquarters at Puarenga Park.

A converted first half try, resulted in the Western Bay side leading seven nil at the break in play.

The Rotorua side took the game to the visitors in the second spell and were rewarded with a 21-14 win.

After four weeks of the regular season, Te Puke Sports and Whaka are the only two unbeaten sides in the Baywide title race.

Mount Maunganui will take the Jordan Cup (WBOPRS Challenge Trophy) into next weekend's big game against Te Puke Sports, after defeating Judea 75-7 at Blake Park.

Mount fullback Taylor Haugh impressed with his pace and positioning, which led to a number of Mount Maunganui five-pointers.

Nine-time Baywide champions Tauranga Sports reminded the other title contenders that they are right in the mix to book a post section spot, after beating Rangataua 50-10.

Other Western Bay team results saw Rangiuru triumph over Ngongotaha 36-21, with Katikati defeated by Rotoiti.

Papamoa laid down the gauntlet to the other sides seeking a place in the Baywide promotion series, played within the Western Bay of Plenty Sub-Union competition.

The Papamoa troops ventured to Arataki Park to square off with the home team, who had played Baywide rugby last year. Arataki made a solid start and led seven-nil after the first forty minutes.

The second spell belonged to Papamoa, who held Arataki scoreless, and breached the Arataki defence to post a 10-7 win.

Eastern Districts banked maximum points for the fourth successive week, in the Western Bay combined competition, with a 35-12 victory over the Greerton Marist Development team.

Tauranga Sports beat Rangataua 27-10, Mount Maunganui posted a cricket score against Judea, while Te Puna held on to second place in the combined title race after getting past Te Puke Sports 19-12.

BOPRU Baywide Results – Week Four 6 April 2023

Tauranga Sports 50 Rangataua 10 (HT 17-0) Rotoiti 65 Katikati 5 (HT 31-5) Mount Maunganui 75 Judea 7 (33-7) Rangiuru 36 Ngongotaha 21 (HT 24-0) Te Puke Sports 37 Te Puna 17 (HT 10-7) Whakarewarewa 21 Greerton Marist 14 (HT 0-7)

Points Table: Te Puke Sports 19, Whakarewarewa 18, Mount Maunganui 15, Tauranga Sports 15, Te Puna 13, Rangiuru 11, Ngongotaha 10, Greerton Marist 7, Rotoiti 6, Rangataua 4, Judea 1, Katikati 0.

WBOPRS Development/Local Rugby Results

Tauranga Sports 27, Rangataua 10, Te Puna 19 Te Puke Sports 12, Eastern Districts 35 Greerton Marist 12, Papamoa 10 Arataki 7; Mount Maunganui defeated Judea; Matakaka Island v Katikati - no result posted, Rangiuru the bye.

Points Table (Provisional) Eastern Districts 20, Te Puna 18, Arataki 16, Te Puke Sports 15, Mount Maunganui 12, Greerton Marist 10, Tauranga Sports 10, Papamoa 9, Rangiuru 5, Rangataua 1, Judea 0. Matakana Island 0, Katikati 0.

WBOPRS Baywide Promotion Competition (Provisional) Eastern Districts 20, Arataki 16, Papamoa 9. Matakana Island 0.

Jordan Cup Results 2023

2022 Holder – Tauranga Sports

April 22 Mount Maunganui 41 Tauranga Sports 19

April 29 Mount Maunganui 59 Rangataua 0

May 6 Mount Maunganui 75 Judea 7

Next Challenge

May 13 Mount Maunganui v Te Puke Sports, Murray Salt Stadium

Baywide Draw May 13 2023 (2.45pm)

Katikati v Tauranga Sports, Moore Park; Judea v Rangataua. Maharaia Winiata Park; Rangiuru v Rotoiti, Centennial Park; Greerton Marist v Ngongotaha, Greerton Park; Whakarewarewa v Te Puna, Puarenga Park; Te Puke Sports v Mount Maunganui, Murray Salt Stadium.

WBOPRFS Development/Local Rugby Draw May 13 (1pm)

Katikati v Tauranga Sports, Moore Park; Judea v Rangataua. Maharaia Winiata Park; Rangiuru v Arataki, Centennial Park; Greerton Marist v Papamoa, Greerton Park; Matakana Island v Te Puna, Matakana Island; Te Puke Sports v Mount Maunganui, Murray Salt Stadium; Eastern Districts the bye.

- Barry Leabourn