The genuine contenders in the Bartercard Baywide Premier competition have emerged, with six teams looking set to fight out the championship title race.

On Saturday (5 June 2010) Whakarewarewa, who have had an up and down season, laid down the challenge to the other contenders trouncing Whakatane Marist at Whaka headquarters 96-17.

Nine Whaka players dotted the ball down for five pointers during the encounter, with Chris van der Vlught and Doug Edwards grabbing three tries apiece. Trent Vatesilias, who has picked up his team kicking duties this season, was in sublime touch slotting nine conversions.

While the Eastern Bay visitors to Puarenga Park never gave up the fight, they had few answers to the Whaka firepower. The Whakarewarewa blitz now sees the Rotorua team lurking ominously in the middle of the point’s table.

Mount Maunganui also laid down the gauntlet to other teams with championship aspirations, providing Rotoiti with just their second defeat of the season. The first spell was reasonably close with the home side taking a 10-3 advantage into the break, before they cut loose in the last quarter, adding four further tries to take out the game 38-3.

For the victors Peter Maisey, Lance MacDonald, Grant McQuoid, Zion Norstrom and Chad Tuoro scored tries, with Dan Waenga converting all five touchdowns and slotting a penalty goal.

Defending Premier champions Tauranga Sports, continued their season long run at the top of the point’s ladder, when they repelled a real challenge from Te Teko in the Eastern Bay.

Te Teko belied their position at the bottom of the point’s ledger, to lead the visitors by sixteen at the break. However Tauranga got their act together in the second spell, to run in four tries. The real difference between the two sides, was Jason Karauria who kicked five conversions and a further two penalty goals.

Te Puke Sports continued their hold on fourth position, with a gritty 21-7 victory against Te Puna under lights on Friday evening – while Rangataua came away from Opotiki with a 24-15 win.

Waikite and Rangiuru who are the top two in Division One, both had to work reasonably hard for victory. Waikite came away from Ruatoki with a 36-19 win, while Rangiuru got past Ngongotaha 27-14.

Hosts Paroa and Greerton Marist were unable to be seperated posting a 19 all draw, with Kahukura sneaking past Reporoa 9-7 in Reporoa.

Colts leader Te Puke Sports demolished Whakatane Marist posting 130 unanswered points, with second placed Greerton Marist also in top form defeating Rangataua 72 nil.

Mount Maunganui had to dig deep against Rotoiti at Blake Park coming from a 17 point deficit at the break, before getting home 32-27. Other Colts side to post victories were Te Puna who defeated Marist St Michaels, Ngongotaha who squeezed home from Whakarewarewa 13-10 with Tauranga Sports beating Te Teko 58-15.

BOPRU Bartercard Baywide Results 5 June 2010
Premier
Mount Maunganui 38 (Peter Maisey, Lance MacDonald, Grant McQuoid, Zion Nordstrom, Chad Tuoro tries; Dan Waenga 5con pen) Rotoiti 3 (Whakataki Cunningham pen).  HT: 10-3.

Tauranga Sports 41 (Jason Karauria 2, Keepa Mewett, Brendon Clark, Afai Esera tries; Karauria 5con 2pen) Te Teko 26 (Luke O'Brien, Cory Hahipene, Don te Maipi, Stan Mareikura tries; Scott Sutherland 3con).  HT: 5-21.

Te Puke Sports 24 (Mark Nicolaas, Simon Rolleston, Josh Harrison tries; Nick McCashin 3con dg) Te Puna 7 (Taimania Tata try; Tajhon Mailata con). HT: 21-0.

Rangataua 24 (Timoti Gardiner, Alex Jessop, Adam McGarvey tries; John Ririnui 3con pen) Opotiki 15 (Kevin Waterson, George Takamori tries; Sam Howe pen con).

Whakarewarewa 96 (Chris van der Vlugt 3, Doug Edwards 3, Paula Asaeli 2, Trent Vatselias, Hayden Baird, Aliki Kisina, Theo Heta, Barney Te Kani, George Playle tries; Vatselias 9con, Kelly Haimona 3, Baird con) Whakatane Marist 17 (Simon Kolo'ofai, Logan Tutua, Abe Tito tries; Kite Poanga con).

Premier Points Tables
Tauranga Sports 48, Rotoiti 42, Mount Maunganui 39, Te Puke Sports 32, Rangataua 27, Whakarewarewa 27, Opotiki 23, Te Puna 16, Whakatane Marist 13, Te Teko 12.

Division One:  Rangiuru 27 Ngongotaha 14, Waikite 36 Ruatoki 18, Paroa 19 Greerton Marist 19, Kahukura 9 Reporoa 7.

Colts: Te Puna 24 Marist St Michaels 10, Mount Maunganui 32 Rotoiti 27, Greerton Marist 72 Rangataua 0, Te Puke Sports 130 Whakatane Marist 0, Tauranga Sports 58 Te Teko 15, Ngongotaha 13 Whakarewarewa 10.