One of the bigger upsets in Baywide rugby in recent season took place at Rugby Park in Whakatane on Easter Friday (2 April 2010) when Whakatane Marist defeated Rotorua heavyweight Whakarewarewa.

The home team made the early running and took a 12-3 lead into the half time break. Whakatane Marist never took their foot from the pedal, and while Whaka scored three second half tries touched down by Doug Edwards, Aleki Kisina and Barney Te Kani – Whakatane Marist put on eighteen points to take out the encounter 30-17.

For the victors Jevon Nikora, Thomas Haney, Pineaha McNeill and Beau Kiel scored tries with Craig Edwards adding two conversions and two penalty goals.

In the only Baywide game played on Easter Saturday, Opotiki came from a nine-point deficit in the second spell, to take out the encounter at Te Ariki Park 32-19. Rangataua led 16-10 at the break courtesy of a try to Timoti Gardiner, two penalties and a conversion to John Ririnui and a dropped goal to Alex Jessup.

The home side extended the lead with another penalty to Ririnui, before Opotiki roared back into the match in the last quarter. Three tries to Dean Elmiger Te Hata Wilbore and Taka Armi became one-way traffic, as Opotiki swept to a thirteen-point victory. Joseph Howe also dotted down for the winners, with Sam Howe kicking two penalties and converting three tries.

At the Tauranga Domain on Friday, Tauranga Sports had a field day against Te Teko winning 71-22. Flying winger Matt Hodson touched down three times with his third try a kick and chase solo effort.

One game that went down to the wire, was the match at Emery Park between Rotoiti and Mount Maunganui. With the home side having the advantage with the clock ticking down, a last gasp Mount attack produced a touch down – and a 32-26 victory to Mount Maunganui.

Chad Jacobs was in outstanding form for the Mount notching up three of his sides tries, with Luther Robinson dotting down twice for Rotoiti.

Te Puna could only watch in anguish, as Te Puke Sports came from behind in the closing seconds of the game at Maramatanga Park, to snatch a 30-29 victory. The home side took a narrow 7-6 lead into the break, and with a minute left on the clock scored to lead by six points.

From the kick off, Te Puke roared into action and dotted down their fourth try. With the conversion sailing between the uprights, Te Puke Sports had snatched a dramatic one-point victory. Consolation for Te Puna, was provide by their five tries to the visitors four – and the two bonus points that they collected.

Rangiuru broke through the one hundred-point barrier, in just two games in the Division One headliner, when they beat Ngongotaha 55-13 at the Ngongotaha Domain. In what was expected to be a close contest, the Te Puke based team left the Ngongotaha players in their wake as they cruised to a 55-13 victory.

Waikite who have set their sights on a return to the top echelon, made no race of their home game with Ruatoki winning 49 nil. Kahukura had a good battle with Reporoa before prevailing 29-23, St Michaels came from behind to defeat Arataki 20-17 and Greerton Marist got home from Paroa 34-10.

Bartercard Baywide Rugby Results 1/3 April 2010
Te Puke 30 (Craig Donovan 2, Andrew Tuise 2 tries; Nic McCashin 2pen 2 cons) Te Puna 29 (Daniel Schuster 2, Vance Bidois, Tajohn Malata, Shannon Borrell tries; Lance Houia 2 cons) HT 6-7

Mount Maunganui 32 (Chad Jacobs 3, Tutere Waenga tries; Sam Jurisich pen & con; Dan Waenga 2 con pen) Rotoiti 26 (Luther Robinson 2, Clayton Cassidy, Ngakana Daniella tries; Whakataki Cunningham 3 cons)

Tauranga Sports 71 (Matt Hodson 3, Afai Esera 2, Steve Honey, Gareth Brown, Brendon Clark, Adam Robinson, Phil Burleigh tries; Clark 7con, Burleigh con, Jason Karauria con) Te Teko 22 (Ave Avina, Luke O'Brien, Dan Godbold tries; Scott Sutherland pen 2con). HT: 28-17.
 
Whakatane Marist 30 (Jevon Nikora, Thomas Haney, Pineaha McNeill, Beau Kiel tries; Craig Edwards 2con, 2pen) Whakarewarewa 17 (Doug Edwards, Aleki Kisina tries; Barney Te Kani 2con pen). HT: 12-3.

Opotiki 32 (Joseph Howe, Dean Elmiger, Te Hata Wilbore, Taka Armi tries; Sam Howe 3 cons 2 pens) Rangataua 19 (Timoti Gardiner try; John Ririnui 2 pen con, Alex Jessup dg) HT 10-16

Division One
Kahukura 29 Reporoa 23, Waikite 49 Ruatoki 0, Greerton Marist 34 Paroa 10, Rangiuru 55 Ngongotaha 13, St Michaels 20 Arataki 17.