The Easter holidays brings a real treat for Bay of Plenty Club Rugby fans, with the Bartercard Baywide rugby competitions spread over three day of the holiday break.

Opening round five of the Premier Division, is competition leaders Whakarewarewa match-up with Te Puke Sports, under lights at Te Puke headquarters on Thursday (21 April 2011) evening.

The Rotorua side that are always a force in the top echelon of the Baywide rugby ranks, have made the perfect start to the 2011 season. An unbeaten record and 140 points in just four games, suggest that the former Baywide titleholders have the Baywide silverware firmly in their sights.

Last weekend they proved too good for defending champions Tauranga Sports at the Tauranga Domain, running in four tries on their way to a 24-14 victory. One Whaka player to produce a standout performance, was winger Akira Mako who showed some real skills, touching the ball down twice in the match.

However the visitors to Murray Salt Stadium won’t be taking the game lightly, with Te Puke Sports usually saving their best performance for their home base. One of the strengths of the Te Puke side in the past decade, has been a strong Colts team with the age group players always eying a first team berth.

One player that is an outstanding example of the Te Puke Sports pathway is Mark Nicolaas, Two weeks ago against Whakatane Marist, Nicolass grabbed two tries of his sides five touchdowns in the match.

The game in the Eastern Bay of Plenty between home side Opitiki and Mount Maunganui, could produce the match of the round. Opotiki have two players who were drafted into the Steamers ranks in recent seasons – with Dean Elmiger and Matt Henwood taking few backward steps in the Opotiki forward pack.

Mount Maunganui is also able to call on plenty of experience in their line-up. Dan Waenga and Lance MacDonald, both pulled on the Steamers strip last year, and are game winners with the ball in hand

Tauranga Sports who are chasing an unprecedented five successive Baywide Premier titles, could face a stern challenge at the Tauranga Domain, on Easter Friday. Former Baywide heavyweight Waikite have charged back into the Premier ranks this season, after a spell in Division One, to sit in third place on the point’s table.

Completing a Rotorua trifecta on the point’s ledger is Rotoiti in second place. On Thursday evening they will travel to the Western Bay of Plenty, to face Te Puna at Maramatanga Park.  Whakatane Marist will host Rangataua on Easter Friday, with  the Eastern Bay side getting an even chance to grab their first win of the season.

Te Teko will be looking to continue their unbeaten run in Division One, when they travel to play Kahukura, in Rotorua on Saturday. While Te Teko lead the points tally, Kahukura have squeezed three close victories in the opening rounds of the Div One competition.

A close encounter is expected in the game between Ngongotaha and Greerton Marist on Easter Friday, with the Marist St Michaels home match with Katikati also expected to go down to the wire. Rangiuru should prove too strong for Ruatoki, with Reporoa likely to attract plenty of hometown fans when Paroa pay a visit.

The big match-up in the Colts grade will take place early in the holiday break, with defending champions Te Puke Sports meeting long time rivals Mount Maunganui, under lights in the curtain raiser at Murray Salt Stadium on Thursday night. Along with bragging rights, the Oliver Cup (Western BOP Challenge Trophy) will be on the line, in a match where both sides will be desperate for victory.

Another age group game that should go down to the wire, will be played in the Eastern Bay, between Opotiki and Greerton Marist. In other Colts encounters Waikite will host Rotoiti, Whakatane Marist will travel to meet Te Puna in the Western Bay, Tauranga Sports should be too good for newcomers Judea, Marist St Michaels face Rangataua, and Edgecumbe could get their first win on the season against Whakarewarewa.

BOPRU Bartercard Baywide Draws 21/23 April 2011
Premier
Thursday (21 April) Te Puke Sports v Whakarewarewa, Murray Salt Reserve (7.30pm) Te Puna v Rotoiti, Maramatanga Park (8pm)
Friday (22 April) Tauranga Sports v Waikite, Tauranga Domain (2.45pm) Whakatane Marist v Rangataua, Rugby Park (1pm)
Saturday (23 April) Opotiki v Mount Maunganui, Opotiki Reserve (2.45pm)

Premier Points Table
Whakarewarewa 19, Rotoiti 13, Waikite 12, Tauranga Sports 11, Rangataua 10, Mount Maunganui 9, Opotiki 9, Te Puna 7, Te Puke Sports 6, Whakatane Marist 0.

Division One
Friday (22 April) Ngongotaha v Greerton Marist, Ngongotaha Domain (1pm) Marist St Michaels v Katikati, Marist Park (2.45pm) Reporoa v Paroa, Reporoa (2pm)
Saturday (23 April) Ruatoki v Rangiuru, Tuhoe Park (2.45pm) Kahukura v Te Teko, Kuirau Park (2.45pm)

Colts (1pm)
Thursday (21 April) Te Puke Sports v Mount Maunganui, Murray Salt Stadium (7pm)
Friday (22 April) Tauranga Sports v Judea, Tauranga Domain; Marist St Michaels v Rangataua, Marist Park
Saturday (23 April) Waikite v Rotoiti, Bellvue Road; Opotiki v Greerton Marist, Opotiki Reserve; Edgecumbe v Whakarewarewa, Edgecumbe Domain, Te Puna v Whakatane Marist, Maramatanga Park.