The top two finishing spots in the Baywide regular season are well and truly up for grabs, with four teams sitting with just a solitary loss apiece, in the race for a home semi-final with four rounds of the regular season remaining.

Te Puna faced off with Rotoiti in perfect weather conditions in front of the usual full house at Maramatanga Park, on Saturday (27 May 2023). Te Puna number 14 Harris Williams stood out in what was an early kicking battle.

Te Puna made inroads into the Rotoiti defence, while Te Aihe Toma attempted numerous show-and-go moves, only to be met by strong Rotoiti shoulders.

Eventually Rotoiti began to tire and Te Puna's relentless attack took its toll, with Te Puna running out the victors, 68 nil. Te Puna prop, Taumutu Nohotima, was adjudged his sides player of the day.

Te Puke Sports cemented their place in the top four in a hard-fought battle with Judea at Murray Salt Stadium.

A blazing Te Puke Pirates attack in the first half, saw the hosts with a comfortable 29-5 lead at the halftime break in play. The second half belonged to a resurgent Huria side, who entered the second half full of determination and hit it up hard and fast, scoring 19 points.

The final result on the Pirates scoreboard showed a close 39-24 win to the home side. Te Puke Sports pivot, Jack Hollinshead, playing his 50th game in the gold, black and red strip, celebrated his achievement with a touchdown in the opening minutes of the encounter.

Tauranga Sports remained top dog on the current standings, after beating Rangiuru 53-38, in a high scoring encounter at Centennial Park. Mount Maunganui re-inked their second place credentials, with an 89-7 rugby lesson, handed to Ngongotaha.

Greerton Marist beat a game Katikati side 36-20 while Rangataua lost an absorbing battle with Whakarewarewa 28-16.

Matakana Island had a successful foray from the Island, when they travelled to meet Papamoa at the Gordon Spratt Reserve, in the Western Bay of Plenty competition. The visitors led by seven at the break before returning home with a 12-10 win on their ledger card.

Te Puna maintained their unbeaten record after dispatching Arataki 26-12 in the early action at Maramatanga Park. Eastern Districts, posted their sixth bonus point victory in beating Rangataua 45-26, to remain the favourite to earn the Western Bay Baywide promotion spot.

Greerton Marist posted 90 unanswered points against Katikati, Rangiuru and Tauranga Sports were unable to be separated with 22 points apiece, with Te Puke Sports defeating Katikati 52 nil.

Baywide Colts action, resulted in Greerton Marist getting past Taupo United 24-21 in a arm-wrestle in the Great Lakes region, with Mount Maunganui beating Te Puke Sports 69-0, on Friday night.

BOPRU Baywide Results – Week Seven 27 May 2023

Te Puke Sports 39 Judea 24 (HT 29-5) Greerton Marist 36 Katikati 20, Whakarewarewa 28 Rangataua 16 (HT 7-3) Te Puna 68 Rotoiti 0 (HT 33-0) Mount Maunganui 89 Ngongotaha 7 (HT 33-7) Tauranga Sports 53 Rangiuru 38 (HT 27-12)

Points Table (Provisional) Tauranga Sports 30, Mount Maunganui 29, Te Puke Sports 29, Te Puna 28, Whakarewarewa 25, Greerton Marist 22, Rangiuru 22, Ngongotaha 10, Rangataua 8, Rotoiti 6, Judea 2, Katikati 0.

WBOPRS Development/Local Rugby Results

Te Puke Sports 52 Judea 0, Greerton Marist 90 Katikati 0. Eastern Districts 45 Rangataua 26, Te Puna 26 Arataki 12, Rangiuru 22 Tauranga Sports 22, Matakana Island 12 Papamoa 10, Mount Maunganui the bye.

Points Table (Provisional) Eastern Districts 30, Te Puna 27, Te Puke Sports 25, Arataki 23, Tauranga Sports 23, Mount Maunganui 21, Greerton Marist 21, Rangiuru 18, Papamoa 10, Matakana Island 9, Rangataua 8, Katikati 1, Judea 0.

WBOPRS Baywide Promotion Competition (Provisional) Eastern Districts 30, Arataki 23, Papamoa 10, Matakana Island 9.

BOPRU Colts Results

Mount Maunganui 69 Te Puke Sports 0, Greerton Marist 24 Taupo United 21, Te Puna v Kahukura – no result available.

Jordan Cup Results 2023

2022 Holder – Tauranga Sports

22 April Mount Maunganui 41 Tauranga Sports 19

29 April Mount Maunganui 59 Rangataua 0

6 May Mount Maunganui 75 Judea 7

13 May Mount Maunganui 57 Te Puke Sports 8

Next Challenge

10 June Mount Maunganui v Katikati, Blake Park

BOPRU Baywide Draw 3 June 2023 (2.45pm)

Tauranga Sports v Te Puke Sports, Tauranga Domain; Rangiuru v Greerton Marist, Centennial Park; Judea v Whakarewarewa, Maharaia Winiata Park; Katikati v Te Puna, Moore Park; Rangataua v Ngongotaha, Te Ariki Park; Rotoiti v Mount Maunganui, Emery Park;

WBOPRFS Development/Local Rugby Draw 3 June (1pm)

Tauranga Sports v Te Puke Sports, Tauranga Domain; Rangiuru v Greerton Marist, Centennial Park; Katikati v Te Puna, Moore Park; Rangataua v Matakana Island, Te Ariki Park; Eastern Districts v Mount Maunganui, Paengaroa Domain; Papamoa v Arataki, Gordon Spratt Reserve; Judea the bye.

BOPRU Colts Competition 3 June (1pm) – No games