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.

Through much of the encounter the visitors had a narrow ascendancy, leading 11-7 at the break, and holding a three-point advantage with time up on the clock in the second spell. A Whaka mistake saw Eru Haimona calmly slot the penalty attempt, to see the match finish with shared points.

For Tauranga Sports Heath Haua and Alex Jessup crossed for tries, with Kelly Haimona and Tofu Pomale dotting down for Whaka.

The recent renaissance of Mount Maunganui came to a temporary halt at Blake Park, when Rangataua came to call. The visitors opened the scoring with a try after just six minutes. The Mount reply was a touchdown at the quarter way stage - with a try apiece and a Rangataua penalty, taking the score to 13-10 to Rangataua at the break.

In what is rarely seen in the modern era, the second Rangatua conversion attempt was successfully charged down by the Mount centre.

Rangataua posted seventeen unanswered points in the second spell, taking out the encounter 30-10, and regaining the Jordan Cup (Western BOP Challenge Trophy). Adam McGarvey led the way for the winners with two tries.

At Murray Salt Stadium in Te Puke, the home side posted a solid bonus point win over Opotiki. After a real arm wrestle in the first half, where Te Puke Sports led just 7-3 at the break, they cut loose in the second half to win 40-15. For the victors Josh Harrison and Nick McCashin picked up two tries apiece. Te Puke Sports now sit at the top of the leader board, courtesy of the Whaka and Tauranga Sports draw.

In what was a high scoring encounter at Rugby Park in Whakatane, Rotoiti got their championship aspirations back on track, with a solid 55-22 victory over Whakatane Marist.

Te Teko made their intentions clear in Division One, when they provided Kahukura with their first defeat in Baywide rugby this season. The Eastern Bay side who were unlucky not to make the top echelon championship, proved too strong for the Rotorua side winning 41-10.

In a Western Bay local derby Te Puna at home proved too strong for Arataki winning 30-6 - with Waikite posting their second successive victory, defeating Greerton Marist 30-9. Former Baywide heavyweight Ngongotaha had a real arm wrestle with Reporoa before grabbing a 17-14 win.

Eastern Bay side Ruatoki, who have emerged as genuine Division Two contenders, continued their good form defeating Judea 41-5. Papamoa ran away from Kawerau 51-10, Rangiuru won the Te Puke local derby beating Eastern Districts 20-7, with Marist St Michaels getting past Paroa 14-3.

Two upset results dominated the Colts competition. Ngongotaha who had led point’s table were defeated for the first time this season. losing to Te Puke Sports 20-18 in game that was up for grabs throughout. Opotiki returned home to the Eastern Bay, with the scalp of defending Colts titleholders Mount Maunganui after posting a 14-10 victory.

In other Colts action Whaka had a real battle with Tauranga Sports before emerging victorious 23-18, Rotoiti ran away from Te Teko 46-12 with Waikite, Greerton Marist, and Te Puna all posting victories.

Bay of Plenty Bartercard Baywide Rugby Results 20 June 2009
Premier:
Rangataua 30 (Adam McGarvey 2, Timoti Gardiner, J Cater tries; John Ririnui 2 pens 2 cons) Mount Maunganui 10 (Mata Tukuafa, Steven Wallace tries) HT 13-10.
Te Puke Sports 40 (Josh Harrison 2, Nick McCashin 2, Rameka Poihipi, Jimmy Roberts tries; McCashin 5 pens) Opotiki (J Thompson, M Mafi tries; Sam Howe pen Con) 15 – HT 7-3.
Rotoiti 55 Whakatane Marist 22 (Alamoti Te Pou 2, Jarred Mexted, Kiti Boag tries; Craig Edwards con)
Tauranga Sports 18 (Heath Haua, Alex Jessup tries; Eru Haimona 2pens con) Whakarewarewa 18 (Kelly Haimona, Tofu Pomale tries; Haimona 2pens con) HT 11-7 to Whaka.

Division One: Te Teko 41 Kahukura 10, Te Puna 30 Arataki 6, Ngongotaha 17 Reporoa 14, Waikite 30 Greerton Marist 9.

Division Two: Ruatoki 41 Judea 5, Papamoa 51 Kawerau 10, Rangiuru 20 Eastern Districts 7, Marist St Michaels 14 Paroa 3.

Division Three: Galatea 98 Eastern Pirates 0, Katikati 26 Edgecumbe 5, Waimana 12 Apanui 7, Matakana Island defeated Murupara.

Colts: Waikite 58 Whakatane Marist 0, Whakarewarewa 23 Tauranga Sports 18, Opotiki 14 Mount Maunganui 10, Te Puke Sports 20 Ngongotaha 18, Greerton Marist 63 Taneatua 3, Te Puna 60 Marist St Michaels 17, Rotoiti 46 Te Teko 12, Kahukura won by default.

Senior Reserve
Rotorua
Waikite 24 Taupo7, Whakarewarewa 64 Ngongotaha 13, Kahukura 25 Reporoa 17.
Western BOP
Te Puke Sports 31 Greerton Marist 19, Mount Maunganui 13 Rangataua 10.