Former Baywide Rugby heavyweight Waikite, who impressed in their return to the Premier ranks in the opening round of BOPRU Centennial Year club competitions last weekend, will be brimming with confidence when Mount Maunganui travel to play the amber and black brigade on Saturday (2 April 2011)

It was the nature of the dominant performance from Waikite, which made the local rugby supporters sit up and take notice. Playing long time Rotorua rivals Rotoiti, the Bellvue Road based side led 28 nil at the break and went on to take out the match by a convincing margin of 43-7.

However Waikite can expect a stern challenge from the Marty Bourke coached Mount side. Last season Mount Maunganui went within one game of winning the Baywide Premier Championship – and led Tauranga Sports 10 nil at the half way stage of the Grand Final, before Tauranga Sports stormed back to annex their fourth successive Baywide Premier crown.

Defending Champions Tauranga Sports, will make their first foray into the Eastern Bay of Plenty, when they meet Whakatane Marist at Rugby Park in Whakatane. Former Tauranga Sports player Mike Rogers, is now in charge of the head coach duties of the team, that is chasing an unprecedented five Premier titles in a row.

While Whakatane Marist finished in eighth place on the season ledger, they took three significant scalps late in the season. Victories against beaten semi-finalists Te Puke Sports and Rotoiti, and the defeat of Tauranga Sports, saw there season finish with a flourish.

The winner of the Rotoiti verses Te Puke Sports clash at Emery Park, will see the winner bank their first points of the season, Whakarewarewa could sneak home against Te Puna at Puarenga Park, while Opotiki and Rangataua are likely to have a good battle in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

Te Teko who were relegated to Division One at the end of last season, showed that they have their sights on a return to the top echelon, when they ran away from Ruatoki 49-5 on the season opening day. This week they host Western Bay side Greerton Marist at Dunderdale Park.

Ruatoki should attract a good-sized home crowd to Tuhoe Park, when Marist St Michaels pay a visit. A local derby takes centre stage in the Western Bay, where Div One newcomers Katikati are at home to Rangiuru. Kahukura travel to the country to play Reporoa, while Paroa and Ngongotaha square off in the Eastern Bay.

The battle for Baywide Colt’s supremacy resumes this Saturday, with defending champions Te Puke Sports supporting their senior side, in the curtain raiser at Emery Park against Rotoiti. Multiple Colts champions Tauranga Sports, face Greerton Marist who were the big improver of last years title race, at the Tauranga Domain.

Judea makes their re-entrance to Colts rugby after several seasons absence, taking on Edgecumbe at Judea headquarters at Maharaia Winiata Park. Mount Maunganui, who have also been one of the powerhouses in the age group grade in recent seasons, will follow their senior team to Bellvue Road to meet Waikite in the curtain raiser.

In other Colts action Whakatane Marist and Te Teko will play a Eastern Bay derby, Ruatoki hosts Te Puna, Rangataua will travel to face Opotiki, and Whakarewarewa will be at home to Marist St Michaels.

BOPRU Draws 2 April 2011
Premier (2.45pm)
Rotoiti v Te Puke Sports, Emery Park; Whakatane Marist v Tauranga Sports, Rugby Park; Waikite v Mount Maunganui, Bellvue Road; Whakarewarewa v Te Puna, Puarenga Park; Opotiki v Rangataua, Princess Street.

Division One (2.45pm)
Ruatoki v Marist St Michaels, Tuhoe Park; Te Teko v Greerton Marist, Dunderdale Park; Katikati v Rangiuru, Moore Park; Reporoa v Kahukura, Reporoa; Paroa v Ngongotaha, Lawson Park.

Colts (1pm)
Blue Section: Rotoiti v Te Puke Sports, Emery Park; Whakatane Marist v Te Teko, Rugby Park; Waikite v Mount Maunganui, Bellvue Road; Ruatoki v Te Puna, Tuhoe Park.

Gold Section: Opotiki v Rangataua, Opotiki Reserve; Judea v Edgecumbe, Maharia Winiata Park; Tauranga Sports v Greerton Marist, Tauranga Domain; Whakarewarewa v Marist St Michaels, Puarenga Park.