Tauranga Sports still have vivid memories of last year’s second round match-up with Rangataua, in the Bartercard Baywide Premier Rugby competition, when they were beaten 36-27 by the fellow Western Bay side.

This Saturday (11 June 2011) Rangataua will be chasing a second straight round two victory over their archrivals. An extra incentive will be provided with the Jordan Cup (Western BOP Challenge Trophy) being on the line again – after Rangataua relieved Tauranga Sports of the prestigious piece of silverware in last years second round encounter.

This weekends combatants at Tauranga Sports headquarters both sit in the top four. The defending champions have a seven-point margin from Whakarewarewa, with Rangataua lurking one place further back.

Loyalty and long service abound in both sides. Former New Zealand Sevens star Matua Parkinson who is winding down his illustrious career with Rangataua, always brings a take no prisoners approach to Baywide games.

Many of the players that wear the Rangataua Black uniform have gradated from the clubs Colts side. No better example is presently provided than Timoti Gardiner, who can run at pace in the backline and is extremely dangerous with the ball in hand.

Tauranga Sports hooker Alan McRobbie who has come through the Tauranga Clubs age group pathway, has being making his mark against the best Baywide rakes this season, Cullum Armstrong who have been given the captains mantle on several occasions is another Tauranga Sports former Colt.

Second placed Whakarewarewa, who were upset in the wet by Te Puna last weekend, will want to make amends when they travel to the Eastern Bay to meet Opotiki. The game at the Princess Street Reserve in Opotiki is likely to be a forward battle with both sides possessing solid packs.

While Te Puna sit near the bottom of the points ladder, they will want to show that last weeks upset victory against Whaka was no fluke, however Waikite at home at Bellvue Road will provide a real test. Slipping down the point’s ladder will provide Rotoiti with all the motivation that they require when Mount Maunganui pays a visit to Emery Park, while Te Puke Sports could have a good tussle with the improving Whakatane Marist.

The top of the table Division One clash at Moore Park in Katikati, between the home side and Ngongotaha should attract the biggest crowd see in the extremities of the Western Bay this season. The two sides who sit equal with Te Teko at the top of the points table, come from different spectrums of Bay of Plenty rugby.

Ngongotaha were one of the real Baywide heavyweights in the past winning a number of Premier championship titles. Katikati who played in Thames Valley competitions for a number of years, have had a dramatic return to Baywide rugby earning promotion to Division one in just two seasons.

Te Teko should thrill their home crowd supporters at Dunderdale Park when Rangiuru pay a visit, Ruatoki at home at Tuhoe Park could give Greerton Marist a real shake, Marist St Michaels will be favoured to defeat Reporoa, with the Paroa and Kahukura clash likely to go down to the wire.

Baywide Colts competition leader Te Puke Sports, will put there season unbeaten record on the line against Rangataua, who have won two from two in the second round. Tauranga Sports will host Marist St Michaels, Opotiki are to travel to the Western Bay to meet Mount Maunganui, with Greerton Marist likely to provide Te Puna with a real challenge.

BOPRU Bartercard Baywide Draws 11 June 2011
Premier (2.45pm) Opotiki v Whakarewarewa, Opotiki Reserve; Waikite v Te Puna, Bellvue Road; Rotoiti v Mount Maunganui, Emery Park; Whakatane Marist v Te Puke Sports, Rugby Park; Tauranga Sports v Rangataua, Tauranga Domain.
Points Table: Tauranga Sports 45, Whakarewarewa 38, Rangataua 34, Mount Maunganui 33, Te Puke Sports 30, Rotoiti 24, Waikite 21, Opotiki 21, Te Puna 14, Whakatane Marist 12.

Division One (2.45pm) Ruatoki v Greerton Marist, Tuhoe Park; Reporoa v Marist St Michaels, Reporoa; Te Teko v Rangiuru, Dunderdale Park; Paroa v Kahukura, Lawson Park; Katikati v Ngongotaha, Moore Park.
Points Table: Te Teko36, Ngongotaha 36, Katikati 36, Greerton Marist 35, Kahukura 32, Marist St Michaels 32, Rangiuru 21, Paroa 19, Reporoa 13, Ruatoki 3.

Colts - 1pm (Section One) Tauranga Sports v Marist St Michaels. Tauranga Domain; Mount Maunganui v Opotiki, Blake Park; Greerton Marist v Te Puna, Greerton Park; Te Puke Sports v Rangataua, Murray Salt Stadium
Points Table: Te Puke Sports 10, Rangataua 9, Mount Maunganui 5, Te Puna 5, Greerton Marist 5, Tauranga Sports 4, Marist St Michaels 1, Opotiki 1.

(Section Two) Whakatane Marist v Waikite, Rugby Park; Whakarewarewa v Edgecumbe, Puarenga Park; Rotoiti v Judea, Emery Park; Ruatoki the bye.
Points Table: Ruatoki 10, Edgecumbe 9, Whakarewarewa 5, Waikite 4, Whakatane Marist 1, Rotoiti 0