Victory for Whakarewarewa and Rangataua is vital this Saturday (17 July 2010) to keep their Bartercard Baywide Premier semi-final aspirations alive. Whaka are sitting six points off fourth placed Rotoiti, with Rangataua a point further back.

With just two rounds remaining before the semi-finals - defeat would almost certainly eliminate the contenders from the title race.

Whakarewarewa who travel to the Eastern Bay of Plenty to take on Opotiki, made an unusually slow start to the season. However the Rotorua side have posted three wins in the last four weeks to move closer to a playoff spot.

Standing in their way of moving up the points ladder this weekend is Opotiki, who showed when they defeated Te Puke Sports 15-6 two weeks ago, that they are a real force at home in front of their passionate supporters.

Rangataua are another side that make their home ground a virtual fortress. This weekend Te Puke Sports will have to withstand the concerted vocal efforts of the Te Ariki Park crowd.

The visitors to Rangataua headquarters, have quietly worked their way into third place on the point’s ledger. Last weekend they beat long-time rivals Mount Maunganui to regain the Jordan Cup (Western BOP challenge trophy), which will be on the line on Saturday.

Defending Premier champions Tauranga Sports, will face a desperate challenge from Rotoiti, who need to find winning form to ensure a place in the post section action. The Rotorua Lakeside team, who made much of the early season running, have not won a match since the last weekend in May.

The record book would suggest that second placed Mount Maunganui should easily account for Te Teko who sit at the bottom of the table. However the Eastern Bay side have proved a tough nut to overcome in many of their games, with the opposition just getting home for victory. Whakatane Marist who has had a recent revival in fortunes will be favoured to defeat Te Puna at Rugby Park in Whakatane.

While Waikite and Rangiuru have already booked Division One home semi-final berths, there is likely to be a dogfight for the last two spots. With Ngongotaha scheduled to meet Waikite, there is an opportunity for Kahukura and Greerton Marist, to leapfrog their way in front of the side from the extremities of Rotorua.

Greerton Marist should prove too good for Marist St Michaels who sit at the bottom of the table, with Kahukura favoured to defeat Ruatoki at Kuirau Park. In the other Div One encounter Rangiuru could have their hands full with Reporoa, who have posted a couple of significant victories in recent weeks.

The Baywide Colts top six is a cutthroat competition, with just the top two finishers going on to contest the Baywide Final on the 7th August 2010.

Te Puke Sports are desperate in their desire to finish one place better than last season. Last years beaten finalists have posted an unbeaten record this season, going fifteen games without defeat. This weekend Te Puke will play archrivals Mount Maunganui, at home at Murray Salt Stadium.

The other Colts top six matches see Tauranga Sports hosting last seasons champions Ngongotaha, with Greerton Marist travelling to the Eastern Bay to face Opotiki.

BOPRU Bartercard Baywide Draws 17 July 2010
Premier (2.45pm) Tauranga Sports v Rotoiti, Tauranga Domain; Opotiki v Whakarewarewa, Opotiki Reserve; Rangataua v Te Puke Sports, Te Ariki Park; Mount Maunganui v Te Teko, Blake Park; Whakatane Marist v Te Puna, Rugby Park.
Premier Points Table
Tauranga Sports 61, Mount Maunganui 57. Te Puke Sports 50, Rotoiti 48, Whakarewarewa 42, Rangataua 41, Opotiki 33, Whakatane Marist 30Te Puna 28, Te Teko 18

Division One (2.45pm) Kahukura v Ruatoki, Kuirau Park; Ngongotaha v Waikite, Ngongotaha Domain; Marist St Michaels v Greerton Marist, Marist Park; Reporoa v Rangiuru, Reporoa; Paroa the bye.
Points Table
Waikite 70, Rangiuru 63, Ngongotaha 43, Kahukura 39, Greerton Marist 37, Paroa 33, Reporoa 30, Ruatoki 21, Marist St Michaels 19.

Colts (1pm)
Division One: Te Puke Sports v Mount Maunganui, Murray Salt Stadium; Tauranga Sports v Ngongotaha, Tauranga Domain; Opotiki v Greerton Marist, Opotiki Reserve.
Points Table: Te Puke Sports 10, Mount Maunganui 5, Ngongotaha 5, Tauranga Sports 5, Opotiki 4, Greerton Marist 1.

Division Two: Te Puna v Whakarewarewa, Maramatanga Park; Marist St Michaels v Rotoiti, Marist Park; Whakatane Marist v Rangataua, Rugby Park.