Te Puna and Mount Maunganui will fight out the 32nd Baywide Premier title next weekend, after both teams won home semi-finals on Saturday, albeit in completely contrasting circumstances.

The 2023 Baywide Championship title decider, to be played out at Maramatanga Park, is a replay of last year final where Mount Maunganui won 27-26 at Blake Park.

Both Mount Maunganui and Te Puna clubrooms were in celebratory moods on Saturday night, with the two clubs Western Bay Sub-Union and Colts sides, also winning through to the local club rugby finals day.

Te Puna made the early running at home at Maramatanga Park in their semi-final matchup with Te Puke Sports, to lead 20-8 at the break.

The visitors fired up in the second spell to hit the lead, before Te Puna nailed a penalty with the clock ticking down, with the scoreboard reading Te Puna 26 and Te Puke Sports 25.

With full-time showing on the clock, Te Puke Sports were awarded a penalty goal attempt which slid outside the posts.

However, the referee awarded a second attempt because of a Te Puna indiscretion, which also missed, with the huge crowd of Te Puna supporters giving a very big sigh of relief.

Mount Maunganui, with a strong Blake Park wind behind them, took the game away from Tauranga Sports in posting 25 unanswered points in the first half.

Tauranga Sports attacks on their line in the second forty minutes were repelled by strong Mount Maunganui defensive patterns.

The hosts added a converted try to book a finals berth with a comprehensive 32 nil victory.

The Te Puna Development side will go into their Western Bay of Plenty Competition final against Mount Maunganui with their season unbeaten record still intact, after defeating Tauranga Sports 26-12.

Te Puna led by 14 points, with Tauranga Sports coming back into the encounter, before the Blue and Black brigade clinched a finals appearance with a narrow 26-22 victory.

Mount Maunganui hit the road to the Paengaroa Domain to square of with Eastern Districts in the other semi-final.

The game was up for grabs throughout, with the visitors holding a narrow two-point advantage with ten minutes remaining in the game.

A Mount converted try in the dying minutes of the match saw them return home with a 27-18 win.

Eastern Districts season isn't done as they have a vital appointment with the Rotorua local competition champion, with a 2024 Baywide berth awarded to the winner.

Mount Maunganui ensured a BOPRU Colts home final after they accounted for Taupo United 34-10, in the early action at Blake Park. They will meet Te Puna who had a real battle with Greerton Marist, emerging with a 26-21 victory.

BOPRU Baywide Results – Week Twelve Semi-Finals 1 July 2023
Te Puna 26 Te Puke Sports 25 (HT 20-8) Mount Maunganui 32 Tauranga Sports 0 (HT 25-0)

WBOPRS Development/Local Rugby Semi-Finals
Mount Maunganui 27 Eastern Districts 18, Te Puna 26 Tauranga Sports 22

BOPRU Colts Results
Mount Maunganui 34 Taupo United 10, Te Puna 26 Greerton Marist 21

Jordan Cup Results 2023
2023 Season Holder – Mount Maunganui

BOPRU Baywide Finals Draw July 8 2023 – (2.45pm)
Te Puna v Mount Maunganui, Maramatanga Park

WBOPRFS Development/Local Rugby Finals Draw July 8 2023 – (1pm)
Te Puna v Mount Maunganui, Maramatanga Park

BOPRU Colts Competition Finals Draw July 8 – (1pm)
Mount Maunganui v Te Puna, Blake Park

Barry Leabourn