The much anticipated clash, between the two top teams in the Bartercard Baywide Premier rugby competition, will take place at Emery Park on Saturday (15 May 2010) when Tauranga Sports arrive to play Rotoiti.

Defending Baywide champions Tauranga Sports have been in impressive form, amassing 258 points, on their way to posting an unbeaten record. The Tauranga Domain side has taken aim on an unprecedented four successive Baywide Premier titles.

Rotoiti have been the quite achiever of this years top echelon title race, sneaking home by just a few points in a number of their games. The lakesiders have just one loss on their season ledger card, being beaten by Mount Maunganui 32-26 in round two.

Both sides have a player apiece, who can score tries when given the sniff of an opportunity. Tauranga Sports winger Matt Hodson is a prolific touchdown specialist, who leads the Premier try tally with seven touch downs - with Seigfried Fisiihoi dotting down five times for Rotoiti.

Opotiki, who sits comfortably in third place, have the opportunity to prove that they are genuine championship contenders against Whakarewarewa in Rotorua. While Whaka  has had an up and down season, they are still likely to give the Eastern Bay side one of their biggest tests of the season.

Mount Maunganui, are showing the form that took them to Baywide championship honours five years ago, will be favoured to beat Te Teko at home. Last weekend the Mount had a titanic battle with Te Puke Sports before suffering a one point loss. While Te Teko sits at the bottom of the point’s ladder, they can never be discounted at home at Dunderdale Park.

Te Puke Sports and Rangataua will engage in a Western Bay of Plenty local derby in Te Puke - with the game at Maramatanga Park between Te Puna and Whakatane Marist likely to go down to the wire.

Division One competition leaders Waikite face a real challenge when they meet fellow Rotorua side Ngongotaha. Both sides are former Baywide Premier heavyweights, with eyes on a top echelon berth next season.

Rangiuru should be too strong for Reporoa, Ruatoki could have a good fight against Kahukura at home in the Eastern Bay, while Paroa should return home with a victory over Arataki.

Baywide Colt’s front-runner Greerton Marist, will expect a strong challenge from fellow Western Bay side Te Puna, at Greerton Park. Other sides expected to post victories include Te Puke over Rangataua, Mount Maunganui against Te Teko, with Ngongotaha expected to run away from Whakatane Marist.

BOPRU Bartercard Baywide Draws 15 May 2010
Premier (2.45pm) Rotoiti v Tauranga Sports, Emery Park; Whakarewarewa v Opotiki, Puarenga Park; Te Puke Sports v Rangataua, Murray Salt Stadium; Te Teko v Mount Maunganui, Dunderdale Park; Te Puna v Whakatane Marist, Maramatanga Park.

Premier Points Table
Tauranga Sports 32, Rotoiti 29, Opotiki 22, Mount Maunganui 19, Te Puke Sports 19, Te Puna 16, Whakarewarewa 15, Rangataua 13, Whakatane Marist 7, Te Teko 7.

Division One (2.45pm) Ruatoki v Kahukura, Tuhoe Park; Waikite v Ngongotaha, Bellvue Road; Greerton Marist v Marist St Michaels, Greerton Park; Rangiuru v Reporoa, Jamieson Oval; Arataki v Paroa, Grenada Park.

Colts (1pm) Greerton Marist v Te Puna, Greerton Park; Whakarewarewa v Opotiki, Puarenga Park; Tauranga Sports v Marist St Michaels, Tauranga Domain; Te Puke Sports v Rangataua, Murray Salt Stadium; Whakatane Marist v Ngongotaha, Rugby Park; Te Teko v Mount Maunganui, Dunderdale Park.