Mount Maunganui won the Battle of the Bridge, in the Bartercard Baywide Premier competition on Saturday (26 June 2010), defeating Tauranga Sports at the Tauranga Domain.

While Tauranga Sports who are the defending Baywide champions went down 18-12, the game was always expected to be a close encounter. The visitors to Tauranga Sports headquarters led 11-6 at the break, courtesy of a Lance Macdonald try and two penalty goals slotted by Dan Waenga.

Tauranga Sports hit the lead in the second spell, when Phil Burleigh kicked two further penalties, to give the home side a one point advantage with the clock kicking down. With two minutes remaining, Mount Maunganui loose forward Colin Bourke made the break that led to Lance MacDonald crossing for his second touchdown – which secured victory for the 2005 Baywide champions.

Another game that went down to the wire was the Te Puke Sports match-up with Whakarewarewa at Murray Salt Stadium in Te Puke. The 12-10 advantage to Te Puke Sports at half time ensured a real battle for victory in the second spell.

A penalty apiece to Te Puke’s Aaron Sutherland and Kelly Haimona for Whaka, resulted in Te Puke sneaking home 15-13. Simon Chisholm and Josh Harrison dotted down tries for Te Puke, with Paula Asaeli awarded the Whaka touchdown.

At Maramatanga Park an Opotiki second half revivals wasn’t enough, as Te Puna triumphed 26-18. The first half belonged to Te Puna, with Tajhon Mailata grabbing two tries, and John Pareanga touching down, to see Te Puna lead 21-8 at the break.

A third try to Mailata early in the second spell, looked to have the home side heading for an easy victory, however Opotiki stormed right back into the game. A try to Maka Mafi and a second touchdown awarded to Reece Simpson had Opotiki back in the contest, in spite of the visitors being without any reserve players. While Opotiki continued their attacks on the opposition line, the home side held on for a hard fought victory.

Te Teko belied their position at the bottom of the points table, by holding third placed Rotoiti to a 26 all draw at Emery Park. Whakatane Marist dented the playoff aspirations of Rangataua, when the Eastern Bay side prevailed by a solitary point to post a 10-9 victory.

Waikite and Rangiuru continued their positions at the head of the Division One points ladder with victories on Saturday. Waikite won a high scoring encounter against Reporoa 47-26, with Rangiuru having to fight hard for victory before winning 30-24.

In other Div One encounters Ngongotaha won the local derby with Kahukura 16-8, with cellar dweller Marist St Michaels storming to a 46-5 victory against Paroa.

Te Puke Sports wrapped up the Baywide Colts first round title, winning a hard fought match with Greerton Marist 22-15. Te Puke also annexed the Western Bay championship, in defeating Greerton who finished in second place in the Baywide first round.

The final first round results, will see Te Puke and Greerton joined by Mount Maunganui, Tauranga Sports, Ngongotaha and Opotiki, in the race for this season Baywide Colts title.

Bartercard Baywide Results 26 June 2010
Premier
Mount Maunganui 18 (Lance MacDonald 2 tries; Dan Waenga 2 pen con) Tauranga Sports 12 (Phil Burleigh 4 pen). HT: 11-6.

Te Puna 26 (Tajhon Mailata 3, John Pareanga tries; Mailata 3con) Opotiki 18 (Reece Simpson 2, Maka Mafi tries; Sam Howe pen).

Te Puke Sports 15 (Simon Chisholm, Josh Harrison tries; Aaron Sutherland pen con) Whakarewarewa 13 (Paula Asaeli try; Kelly Haimona 2pen con). HT: 12-10.

Rotoiti 26 (Maka Royal, Sikeli Vorenasu, Luther Robinson, Elijah Haira-Wilson tries; Vorenasu 2con, Whakataki Cunningham con) Te Teko 26 (Bless Ngaheu 2, Sharleszane Mareikura, Derek Savage tries; Scott Sutherland 3con).

Whakatane Marist 10 (Abe Tito try; Craig Edwards pen, Walter Treviranus con) Rangataua 9 (John Ririnui 3pen).

Premier Points Table
Tauranga Sports 59, Mount Maunganui 52. Rotoiti 47, Te Puke Sports 45, Whakarewarewa 33, Rangataua 32, Te Puna 27, Opotiki 24, Whakatane Marist 22, Te Teko 16.

Division One: Rangiuru 30 Ruatoki 24, Marist St Michaels 46 Paroa 5, Ngongotaha 16 Kahukura 8, Waikite 47 Reporoa 26.

Colts: Opotiki 15 Rangataua 7, Te Puke Sports 22 Greerton Marist 15, Te Puna 61 Te Teko 0, Tauranga Sports 21 Ngongotaha 16, Marist St Michaels 17 Rotoiti 15, Whakarewarewa won by default.