The Bay of Plenty club rugby season that started in the last weekend in March, will come to a conclusion on Saturday (7 August 2010), when the Bartercard Baywide rugby championships, are fought out at the Tauranga Domain.

As always the Premier final at 3pm will take centre stage, when Tauranga Sports and Mount Maunganui meet on the number one field at the Domain. The two Western Bay teams, have been the frontrunners in the two rounds of qualifying competition, with both sides winning through to the Grand Final after securing home semi-finals victories last weekend.

Tauranga Sports will make history on Saturday if they win the final prize, with the side based at the Tauranga Domain, taking aim at their fourth successive Baywide Premier crown.

At the start of each season, Mount Maunganui is the club that the other contenders rate as one of the teams to overcome in the annual title race. However 2005 was the last time the side from the southern side of the harbour bridge, emerged victorious in the Premier championship.

One win apiece is the record on the season ledger card of the two teams. In late April Tauranga Sports drew first blood winning 32-24, with the result reversed in June with Mount Maunganui emerging victorious 18-12.

The entrée to the Premier final is no less intriguing, with former Baywide heavyweight Waikite going to battle with Rangiuru. The two sides dominated the Division One round competition, putting a substantial gap on the chasing teams.

Waikite have a extra reason to wish to annex the Div One title, as they are one of just two teams to post a season unbeaten record, Last year Rangiuru won their first piece of Baywide silverware winning the Division Two title, and are desperate to win back to back Baywide titles.

The first regular season meeting by Saturday’s protagonists, was convincingly taken out by Waikite 33-10 with the second match-up resulting in a 27 all draw.

Te Puke Sports Colts, who will also take an unbeaten record into the Baywide age group final, are seeking vindication after losing to Ngongotaha in last years Grand Final. Their opponents are Tauranga Sports who won the Baywide Colts crown in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

On the two occasions the pair have met this season, Te Puke have won both encounters taking the first 27-7, and winning the second 32-13. While Te Puke booked a finals berth three weeks ago, Tauranga Sports had to win a titanic struggle with Greerton Marist last weekend posting an 8-5 victory to make the final stanza.

Another team chasing back to back Baywide titles is Katikati, who won the Division Three championship last year. The club from one of the extremities of the Bay of Plenty, only returned to Bay of Plenty rugby last year, after several seasons playing in Thames Valley.

Poroporo who stands in the way of a Katikati victory, will fly the flag for the Eastern Bay of Plenty. The Eastern Bay club won the local senior competition, before defeating Judea and Kawerau in Div Two post section play.

An inter-city battle will take place in the Senior Reserve championship. Former second echelon Baywide title holders Mount Maunganui will meet Whakarewarewa in the early game on Domain Two.

BOPRU Bartercard Baywide Finals Draw 7 August 2010
Premier (3pm) Tauranga Sports v Mount Maunganui, Tauranga Domain No1.

Division One (1pm) Waikite v Rangiuru, Tauranga Domain No1.

Division Two (2.15pm) Katikati v Poroporo, Tauranga Domain No2.

Colts (11am) Te Puke Sports v Tauranga Sports, Tauranga Domain No1.

Senior Reserve (12.15pm) Mount Maunganui v Whakarewarewa, Tauranga Domain No2.