Tauranga Sports, need to take maximum points from the Bartercard Baywide Premier match-up with Rotoiti at the Tauranga Domain on Saturday (21 May 2011), to ensure that they have a chance to grab the Baywide first round trophy.

This Saturdays matches end the first round of the Premier and Division One competitions. In the top echelon Tauranga Sports and Whakarewarewa are locked together on 30 points, with both sides likely to be fired up against their weekend opposition, with the first round trophy on the line.

The Tauranga Premiers have had a stranglehold on the Baywide Premier Championship, having annexed the title for the last four successive years. What has made the feat even more remarkable, is that three different coaches have been in charge during the Championship reign.

John O’Loan coached the Tauranga Domain based side, to the first of their four consecutive crowns in 2007, with former Counties Manukau legend Errol Brain in charge in 2008 and 2009. Last season Ryan Dunnett took his team to there fourth straight title - when Tauranga Sports came back from a 10 point deficit against Mount Maunganui at the break, to post a 19-10 victory.

Rotoiti who are Tauranga Sports opponents on the weekend, are certain to provide a dogfight. The Lakesiders are part of the logjam in the middle of the Competition standings with just five points between third and eighth, and they will want to take some points from the Tauranga Sports encounter to stay in contention.

A first round trophy victory by Whakarewarewa, would reward the side who has led the competition standings since defeating Mount Maunganui on the opening day of the 2011 season. Just two losses (to Te Puke Sports and Rangataua) stain their season ledger card.

However Whaka will also face a stern challenge to lift aloft the first round trophy in triumph, when they travel just down the road, to meet fellow Rotorua side Waikite at home. The team that earned promotion back to the Premier division last season, have a forward pack that won’t take a backward step against Whakarewarewa.

In other Premier games Rangataua and Mount Maunganui will fight out a Western Bay derby at Te Ariki Park, Te Puke Sports will host Opotiki at Murray Salt Stadium, with Whakatane Marist and Te Puna meeting in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

The biggest test of the season for Katikati, who earned promotion to Division One last year will come this Saturday, when Te Teko visit Moore Park in the Western Bay of Plenty Currently sitting in second place on the points ledger, the Western Bay side will need to be at their best, against Te Teko who are back in Div One Championship contention after losing 14 competition points earlier in the season.

Top of the table Greerton Marist, could have a real battle for victory on their hands, when they meet Paroa in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. Marist St Michaels and Ngongotaha face off at Marist Park, Reporoa host Rangiuru, and Ruatoki travel to Rotorua to meet Kahukura.

The Colts Championship starts this weekend, with re-matches from last weeks clashes between the four unbeaten sides. Te Puna have their sights firmly fixed on Te Puke Sports who beat the them by just four points last Saturday, while Opotiki will be favoured to defeat Tauranga Sports for the second successive week.

BOPRU Bartercard Baywide Draws 21 May 2011
Premier (2.45pm) Rangataua v Mount Maunganui. Te Ariki Park; Tauranga Sports v Rotoiti. Tauranga Domain; Whakarewarewa v Waikite, Puarenga Park; Te Puke Sports v Opotiki, Murray Salt Stadium; Whakatane Marist v Te Puna, Rugby Park.
Points Table: Whakarewarewa 30, Tauranga Sports 30, Rangataua 24, Mount Maunganui 23, Te Puke Sports 21, Opotiki 20, Waikite 20, Rotoiti 19, Te Puna 10, Whakatane Marist 3.

Division One (2.45pm) Kahukura v Ruatoki, Kuirau Park; Marist St Michaels v Ngongotaha, Marist Park; Katikati v Te Teko, Moore Park; Paroa v Greerton Marist, Lawson Park; Reporoa v Rangiuru, Reporoa.
Points Table: Greerton Marist 25 Katikati 24, Ngongotaha 21 Te Teko 20, Kahukura 18, Paroa 16, Marist St Michaels 15, Reporoa, 12, Rangiuru 11, Ruatoki 1.

Colts (1pm) (Section One) Tauranga Sports v Opotiki, Tauranga Domain; Rangataua v Marist St Michaels, Te Ariki Park; Greerton Marist v Mount Maunganui, Greerton Park; Te Puke Sports v Te Puna, Murray Salt Stadium (Section Two) Rotoiti v Waikite, Emery Park; Whakarewarewa v Ruatoki, Puarenga Park; Whakatane Marist v Edgecumbe, Rugby Park; Judea the bye.