In a weekend of local derbies in the Bartercard Baywide competitions, a considerable number of games went down to the wire on Saturday (8 May 2010) afternoon

In spite of Rotoiti scoring five tries, to Whakarewarewa’s two touchdowns in the Rotorua Premier showdown – Whaka kicker Trent Vatselias kept the home team in the game throughout the encounter.

Whaka hit the front at the half way stage leading 16-11. While Rotoiti added a further four tries in the second spell, the Whaka sharp shooter continued to punish Rotoiti errors, slotting seven penalty goals in the match. In a match that went down to the wire Rotoiti finally got home grabbing a narrow 37-34 victory.

The Rotoiti tries were awarded to Seigfried Fisiihoi, Peter White, Whakataki Cunningham, Zach Hohneck and Manasa Bole, with the Whaka touchdowns picked up by Steven Schenk and Paula Asaeli.

The match-up at Blake Park between Western Bay rivals Mount Maunganui and Te Puke Sports, was another to go down to the wire. A three nil lead to the Mount at half time, reflected a first half where the two sides cancelled out their opponents attacks.

A try to Zar Lawrence took the home side to the front, before a Te Puke touchdown to Hugo Bernard put Te Puke in front. With five minutes left on the clock Troye Elvin crossed for Mount Maunganui. With time up Nick McCashin calmly slotted a penalty goal to see his team take home a 16-15 victory.

The annual battle between Rangataua and Te Puna at Te Ariki Park, was taken out by the home side by a solitary point. Te Puna rose to the challenge and led by two points at the half time break. Te Puna went further ahead after the break, before Rangataua came back to sneak home 22-21.

Tauranga Sports comfortably retained their unbeaten record when they ran past Whakatane Marist 55-22 in the Eastern Bay, with Opotiki running in five tries on their way to beating Te Teko 33-13.

While the final score sheet in the Division One headliner between Rangiuru and Greerton Marist, showed that Rangiuru won the encounter 42-28 they had to battle hard for victory.

Down by three points at the break, the home side then put their game together to clinch victory. Rangiuru team management singled out the performances of seventeen year old Ngatai Kingi and Sasu Waihape.

Div One competition front-runners Waikite won the Rotorua local derby with Kahukura 50-23, Paroa got past Ruatoki 35-28, with Ngongotaha powering away from Marist St Michaels to win 38-8.

Colts competition leaders Greerton Marist continued their unbeaten run, with an entertaining 43-23 victory against Rotoiti at Emery Park. Te Puke Sports took the Western BOP Colts challenge trophy from Mount Maunganui sneaking home 28-26 in a thriller – with Te Puna, Ngongotaha, Tauranga Sports and Opotiki also notching wins in the age group grade. 

Bartercard Baywide Rugby Results 8 May 2010
Te Puke Sports 16 (Rameka Poihipi, Hugo Bernard tries; Nick McCashin 2pen) Mount Maunganui 15 (Zar Lawrence, Troye Elvin tries; Sam Jurisich pen con).

Opotiki 33 (Dean Elmiger 2, Te Hata Wilbore, Te Amo Wilbore, Sam Howe tries; Howe 3con, Te Amo Wilbore con) Te Teko 13 (Luke O'Brien try; Scott Sutherland 2pen con).

Rotoiti 37 (Seigfried Fisiihoi, Peter White, Whakataki Cunningham, Zach Hohneck, Manasa Bole tries; Cunningham 2pen con, Sikeli Voranasu 2con) Whakarewarewa 34 (Steven Schenk, Paula Asaeli tries; Trent Vatselias 7pen con). HT: 11-16.

Rangataua 22 (John Ririnui, Matua Parkinson tries; Ririnui 3pen, Ash Mason pen) Te Puna 21 (Hori Leef, Aidan Kuka, Tajhon Mailata tries; Darrell Houia 2pen). HT: 9-11.

Tauranga Sports 50 (Toby Arnold 2, Jason Karauria 2, Steven Honey, Gareth Brown, Kent Rae, Pinji Talaapitaga tries; Nick Evemy 5 cons) Whakatane Marist 22 (Scott Sargenson 2, Craig Edwards tries; Edwards 2 cons pen)

Premier Points Table
Tauranga Sports 32, Rotoiti 29, Opotiki 22, Mount Maunganui 19, Te Puke Sports 19, Te Puna 16, Whakarewarewa 15, Rangataua 13, Whakatane Marist 7, Te Teko 7.

Division one: Rangiuru 42 Greerton Marist 28, Waikite 50 Kahukura 23, Paroa 35 Ruatoki 28, Ngongotaha 38 Marist St Michaels 8, Reporoa won by default.

Colts: Te Puna 29 Rangataua 7, Ngongotaha 31 Marist St Michaels 7, Tauranga Sports 85 Whakatane Marist 0, Opotiki 47 Te Teko 5, Te Puke Sports 28 Mount Maunganui 26, Greerton Marist 43 Rotoiti 24.