In what turned out to be a real cliff-hanger Whakarewarewa ground out a narrow victory against Te Puke Sports, to move away from the bottom of the Bartercard Baywide Premier points table, on Saturday (24 April 2010).

Playing with the vocal support of a home crowd at Puarenga Park, Whaka took a 13-8 lead into the half time spell. With the clock ticking down the scores were locked at 18 all, when a penalty was awarded to the home side. While the ball just limped over the crossbar it was enough to give Whaka a 21-18 victory.

Chris van der Flugt, Matt Vant Leven and Aliki Kisina crossed for tries for the home side, with Nick McCashin and Ryan Lambert dotting down for Te Puke Sports. The narrow victory saw Whaka jump two places on the points ledger into seventh place.

Another game that was a tight contest until the final whistle, was the Te Teko clash with second placed Rotoiti, at Dunderdale Park in Te Teko. In a game where the advantage changed several times, the visitors held an 8-6 lead at half time.

While Rotoiti grabbed two tries to Whakataki Cunningham and Sikeli Vorenasu, to the sole touchdown awarded to Lee Perina, the Te Teko kickers kept the home side in the contest. After eighty minutes of pulsating rugby Rotoiti sneaked home to take a 15-14 victory.

The Western Bay battle of the bridge, was taken out by defending Premier titleholders Tauranga Sports - who posted a 32-24 win over long-time rivals Mount Maunganui at Blake Park. Opotiki surged into third place on the points table, defeating Te Puna 34-12 - with Rangataua coming from a seven point deficit at the break to beat Whakatane Marist 18-7.

Waikite continued their charge after the Division One Crown, with another solid win defeating Reporoa 31 nil at Reporoa. Rangiuru bounced back from their first defeat of the season last week, getting past Eastern Bay visitors Ruatoki 34-8 at Jamieson Park in Te Puke.

Greerton Marist overwhelmed Arataki 48-8 to post the biggest victory of the Div One title race, with Paroa defeating Marist St Michaels 32-12, while Ngongotaha had a real battle with Kahukura before grabbing an 18-13 win.

Greerton Marist had a real fight to hold onto their unbeaten record in the Colts division, sneaking past Marist St Michaels 13-11. Mount Maunganui defended the Western Bay Challenge trophy beating Tauranga Sports 18-7, with last seasons Championship runner-up Te Puke Sports getting past Whakarewarewa 24-5.

Bay of Plenty Rugby Results 24 April 2010
Baywide Premier:
Whakarewarewa 21 (Chris van der Flugt, Matt Vant Leven, Aliki Kisina tries; Barney Te Kani pen, Trent Vatselias pen) Te Puke Sports 18 (Nick McCashin, Ryan Lambert tries; McCashin 2pen con).  HT: 13-8.
Rotoiti 15 (Whakataki Cunningham, Sikeli Vorenasu tries; Cunningham con pen) Te Teko 14 (Lee Peina try; Peina pen, Scott Sutherland 2pens).  HT: 8-6.
Opotiki 34 (Sam Howe 2, Te Hata Wilbore 2, Freeman Edwardson tries; Sam Howe 2con pen, Joseph Howe con) Te Puna 12 (Hori Leef, Pomare Pearson tries; Daryl Houia con)
Tauranga Sports 32 (Matt Hodson, Jason Karauria, Josh Hall, Adam Robinson, Tristian Moran tries; Nick Evemy 2con pen) Mount Maunganui 24 (Sam Juricich, Chad Tuoro, Cory Aporo tries; Juricich 3con pen). HT: 17-21.
Rangataua 18 (Paora Gardiner, John Ririnui tries; Ririnui 2pen con) Whakatane Marist 7 (Craig Edwards try, con).  HT: 0-7.

Premier Points Table
Tauranga Sports 23, Rotoiti 19, Opotiki 16, Mount Maunganui 14, Te Puna 14, Te Puke Sports 11, Whakarewarewa 9, Rangataua 8, Whakatane Marist 7, Te Teko 7.

Division One:  Greerton Marist 48 Arataki 8, Rangiuru 34 Ruatoki 8, Paroa 32 Marist St Michaels 12, Ngongotana 18 Kahukura 13, Waikite 31 Reporoa 0.

Colts: Opotiki 18 Te Puna 12, Mount Maunganui 18 Tauranga Sports7, Rangataua 41 Whakatane Marist 28, Rotoiti 35 Te Teko 22, Te Puke Spots 24 Whakarewarewa 5, Greerton Marist 13 Marist St Michaels 11, Ngongotaha won be default