The Premier Baywide rugby competition, typified by tight tussles in the opening two rounds, promises much more of the same this weekend.

Seven of the ten matches played in the two rounds so far have been decided by seven points or less, suggesting the unparalleled preseason training regimes put in place by a number of clubs are paying dividends in the form of stoic defences that have been difficult to breach.

Promoted Paroa, which got its first win in the premier division with a hard fought 24-21 result against Greerton Marist at home last week, will look to keep the ball rolling against a Whakarewarewa side beaten handily by Tauranga Sports in round two.

Paroa have proven the competition's early surprise package of the opening two rounds after narrowly going down to Te Puke Sports 24-18 on opening day.

Whakarewarewa, which lost many of the forward exchanges against Tauranga Sports, will likely need an improved effort up front against an impressive Paroa pack to bank the points and establish a place in the top four.

Whakarewarewa coach Maurice Stone admits to not knowing too much about his side's opposition aside from one or two players, but believes, based on results through two rounds, that any side is capable of knocking over any other on a given day.

'We've got to make sure we get our own possession,” says Stone.

'Tauranga Sports held on to the ball for long periods last week, so we've got to sort that out.”

The return of Peter Smith at prop should go some way to solidifying a scrum that battled early against Tauranga Sports, allowing Whakarewarewa to unleash a dangerous back division led by standout winger Chanse Perham, who looked dangerous with what little ball came his way in round two.

'It'll be a good gauge of where we are at, and, in a competition as tight as this, you really need to win your games at home,” says Stone.

A win would lift either side out of the logjam in the middle of the table, with Stone saying wins in the opening round of the competition will likely prove crucial come finals time.

Winless Greerton Marist, who succumbed away from home to a fired up Paroa outfit in front of a raucous crowd in round two, will look to get their campaign on track at home against an impressive Te Puna side unlucky not to have tipped over defending champions Te Puke Sports last week.

The sides lost their respective round two clashes by a total of six points and Greerton Marsit, which has a points differential of just -10 despite losing both matches so far, will be especially keen to come away from the contest with something other than a bonus point.

Greerton Marist coach Kane Parker says his side is in for a big test this week against a Te Puna side sporting a big pack and more structure than in years gone by.

The cavalry, though, is coming.

'We've got through the first two weeks with a few players missing, but a number of them are back this weekend.”

Six first choice backline players are back on board, meaning Parker's side is likely to be vastly different to the one that suffered close loses in the earlier rounds.

He believes his young side were extremely unlucky not to have taken the points against Paroa, adding stern words from the leadership group and vigorous training sessions during the week have left his players in good shape heading into the weekend.

Mount Maunganui will look to keep their season rolling against Rotoiti following a last gasp come from behind victory against a desperately unlucky Rangataua side last weekend.

The Mounties, on the back of a controlled display from pivot Matt Golding, ran down their rivals in the final twenty minutes at the picturesque Te Ariki Park, and will be looking to continue that form at home against Rotoiti, which squeaked by Opotiki 24-22 last week.

The sides are two of five teams locked in the middle of the table on five points after the opening two rounds, with early season points likely to be of upmost importance later in the season in determining the semi-final and relegation races.

Competition frontrunners Tauranga Sports will be looking to keep their unblemished record intact on a tough away trip to Opotiki.

The Tauranga based side were clinical in putting Whakarewarewa to the sword in the second half of their round two meeting, and will be again looking to create space on the outside through their hard running centre combination.

But the trip to Princess Street Reserve is one that few players look forward to, which is not likely to change this season following Opotiki's 30-10 dismantling of Rangataua in round one.

The locals will likely be up for a big one against the competition leaders, adding to a match that is sure to have a little extra spice come kick-off time.

Life without stand-out fullback Nick McCashin begins for Te Puke Sports at Murray Salt Stadium on Saturday against a winless Rangataua side still licking its wounds after a narrow home loss to Mount Maunganui last week.

A massive adjustment in game plan will be required from the hosts, who not only relied on the peerless McCashin for goal and open field kicking, but also playmaking and marshalling the defensive line.

In his final game for the club last Thursday night under lights in Te Puna, it was McCashin who flew across in cover to deny what looked like a certain try that would have tipped the game in Te Puna's favour.

In Simon Rolleston and Carlos Savage at first five-eighth and halfback, Te Puke look to have the quality to cope with McCashin's absence, but that is not to say that other sides will not look to exploit the large hole left by the departing Steamer.

Rangataua – one of only two teams without a win after two rounds in a congested competition – will come out all guns blazing after dominating large parts of their home loss to Mount Maunganui last week.

Division One:

Division One action is headlined by two clashes between four sides locked within one point at the top of the table.

Rangiuru will host competition leaders Ngongotaha in one high profile match-up, while Poroporo will do battle at home against Kahukura.

At the other end of the scale, winless Marist St. Michael's are set to play hosts to fellow struggles Katikati, while Waikite is at home to Te Teko.

Whakatane are the only well performing side to be granted an easier prospect this weekend, at home to Ruatoki at Rugby Park.

Colts:

This weekend marks the beginning of Colts rugby, with Western Bay of Plenty teams to face off before joining the Eastern and Rotorua sides for the Baywide competition beginning in early-May.

The sides will be chasing the Tangitu Cup over the next five weeks, while the Western Bay Challenge prize of the Oliver Cup – currently held by Te Puna – will also be on the line.

A bolstered Mount Maunganui side will begin their campaign at home against Te Puke Sports, while the Greerton side will play 2012 Baywide champions Te Puna for the Oliver Cup at Greerton Park.

The Katikati age group side has defaulted for their game against Tauranga Sports that was to be held at Tauranga Domain.

Premier: (All games to start at 2.45pm on April 6)

Greerton Marist v Te Puna (Greerton Park 1)

Mount Maunganui v Rotoiti (Blake Park 1)

Opotiki v Tauranga Sports (Princess Street Reserve 1)

Te Puke Sports v Rangataua (Murray Salt Stadium 1)

Whakarewarewa v Paroa (Puarenga Park 1)

Division One: (All games to start at 2.45pm on April 6)

Marist St Michael's v Katikati (Marist Park 1)

Poroporo v Kahukura (Poroporo Park 1)

Rangiuru Snr A v Ngongotaha (Centenial Park 1)

Waikite v Te Teko (Bellvue Road 1)

Whakatane Marist v Ruatoki (Rugby Park 2)

WBOP senior: (All games to start at 1pm on April 6)

Greerton Marist Snr B v Te Puna Sen B (Greerton Park 2)

Matakana v Eastern Districts (Matakana Island 1)

Mount Maunganui Snr B v Arataki (Blake Park 2)

Rangiuru Snr B v Judea (Oval 3)

Tauranga Sports Snr B v Katikati (Tauranga Domain 2)

Te Puke Snr B v Rangataua Snr B (Murray Salt Stadium 1)

WBOP Colts (All games to be played at 1pm on April 6)

Greerton Marist Colts v Te Puna Colts (Greerton Park 1)

Mount Maunganui Colts v Te Puke Sports Colts (Blake Park 1)

Bye: Tauranga Sports Colts