With just three weeks remaining in the Bartercard Baywide Premier first round, there is plenty of interest in who will take out the 2011 first round trophy.

While Whakarewarewa have a five-point advantage from defending titleholders Tauranga Sports, the team based at Puarenga Park in Rotorua, will have a real challenge to their first round aspirations this Saturday (7 May 2011).

A classic Bay of Plenty Inter-City rugby battle, will see third placed Western Bay of Plenty’s Rangataua likely to give the competition leaders a real shake. While the formbook would suggest Whakarewarewa, who have scored over two hundred points in their first six games – Rangataua has displayed a real ability to dig deep this season.

A first up single point loss to Te Puna, was followed by two draws. After dispatching Te Puke and Whakatane Marist, the Western By side drew the attention of the other contenders last weekend. A 34-7 victory over Rotoiti in the cauldron of Emery Park, provided evidence of Rangataua desire to win some Baywide silverware this season.

A Whaka victory at Te Ariki Park, would give them one hand on the first round trophy, with defeat likely to open the door for Tauranga Sports.

Tauranga Sports who sit in second place, will be favored to bank the win points this weekend, when Te Puna pay a visit to the Tauranga Domain. However the team from the outskirts of Tauranga, can never be taken lightly, and will have a large band of their supporters on hand at Tauranga Sports headquarters.

Rotoiti will have to be on top of their game when they play Opotiki at home. Consistency that was lacking in previous seasons has been a feature of the Opotiki approach this season. They are another team that enjoys grand parochial support when they play at home – with the Rotorua visitors likely to have to a real battle to return home with points on their ledger sheet.

A local Western Bay derby is the main attraction at Murray Salt Stadium, where Te Puke Sports are at home to Mount Maunganui. Whakatane Marist will have few better opportunities to break through for their first win of the season, than when Waikite pay a visit to the Eastern Bay this weekend.

Katikati made the other Division One teams sit up and take notice when they despatched Reporoa 60-27 last week. The team from the extremities of the Western Bay of Plenty earned promotion to Div One last season, and are fashioning a solid record this season. This Saturday they will have a good test of their contender status when they play Paroa in the Eastern Bay.

A Marist derby will take centre stage at Marist Park in Rotorua, when Marist St Michaels host Greerton Marist. Te Teko should preserve their unbeaten record against Reporoa, Kahukura and Rangiuru are likely to have a close contest in Rotorua, with Ngongotaha likely to be too strong for Ruatoki.

Te Puke Sports and Te Puna are likely to retain their undefeated records in the Colts Blue section, heading into their big match-up next weekend, while Ruatoki verses Waikite contest could go down to the wire.

In the Gold section Opotiki could receive a stern challenge from Marist St Michaels. Greerton Marist and Tauranga Sports will be favoured to win, with the Whakarewarewa game with Rangataua likely to go down to the wire.

BOPRU Bartercard Baywide Draws 7 May 2011
Premier: Tauranga Sports v Te Puna, Tauranga Domain; Whakatane Marist v Waikite, Rugby Park; Rangataua v Whakarewarewa, Te Ariki Park; Opotiki v Rotoiti, Opotiki Reserve; Te Puke Sports v Mount Maunganui, Murray Salt Stadium.
Premier Points Table
Whakarewarewa 25,Tauranga Sports 20, Rangataua 19, Rotoiti 17, Opotiki 15, Te Puke Sports 14, Mount Maunganui 13, Waikite 12, Te Puna 8, Whakatane Marist 1.

Division One: Reporoa v Te Teko, Reporoa; Marist St Michaels v Greerton Marist, Marist Park; Kahukura v Rangiuru, Kuirau Park; Paroa v Katikati, Lawson Park; Ngongotaha v Ruatoki, Ngongotaha Domain.

Colts (1pm) (Blue Section) Te Puke Sports v Whakatane Marist, Murray Salt Stadium; Rotoiti v Te Puna, Emery Park; Ruatoki v Waikite, Tuhoe Park; Mount Maunganui the bye (Gold Section) Rangataua v Whakarewarewa, Te Ariki Park; Tauranga Sports v Edgecumbe, Tauranga Domain; Judea v Greerton Marist, Maharaia Winiata Park; Opotiki v Marist St Michaels, Opotiki Reserve.