The Bartercard Baywide Premier title race was split wide open on Saturday (27 June 2009) with two upsets, a draw and a close encounter.

In Opotiki the home side provided plenty of thrills for their supporters, when they defeated defending Baywide champions Tauranga Sports 25-18. Languishing at the bottom of the leader board without a point, Opotiki upset the formbook to grab a win, that keeps their championship semi-final aspirations alive.

Round two of the Baywide Bartercard Baywide Premier championship played on Saturday (20. June 2009), showed the intensity of the race to the presentation of the top echelon silverware in August.

At the Tauranga Domain, the two heavyweights of Baywide rugby in the last decade, battled to an 18 all draw. Home side Tauranga Sports and Whakarewarewa were involved in a game that was an arm wrestle throughout.

Squad is

Forwards: Tanerau Latimer - captain (Rangiuru) James McGougan, Marcel Cummings-Toone, Culum Rettalick, Luke Braid (Tauranga Sports) Joe Savage, Matt Vant Leven (Whakarewarewa) Josh Hohneck, Zac Hohneck, Josh Olsen (Rotoiti) John Moore (Ngongotaha) Ted Tauroa, Colin Bourke (Mount Maunganui) John Pareanga (Te Puna) Josh Katene (Te Teko) Solomon King (Te Puke Sports)
Backs: Junior Poluleuligaga (Te Puna) Josh Hall, Phil Burliegh (Tauranga Sports) Mike Delaney, Cory Aporo, Zar Lawrence, Lance MacDonald (Mount Maunganui) Jason Hona (Rangataua) Wayne Hughson (Whakarewarewa) Clinton Toopi (Whakatane Marist) Nick McCashin, Nigel Hunt (Te Puke Sports)
Loan Players - Andre Ellison, Ben Smith
Head Coach: Greg Smith            Assistant Coach: Steve Miln       Manager: Sean Horan

Tanerau made it onto the field for 20 minutes in the opening test against France on Saturday and looks set to start the second test this coming Saturday. Despite defeat for the All Blacks, Latimer was prominent in the area where the starting loose forward trio were lacking - at the breakdown. Good luck to Lats this weekend.