There have been few more dramatic days in Bay of Plenty club rugby than the drama that unfolded in the Bartercard Baywide rugby semi-finals on Saturday (31 July 2010).

A draw between Mount Maunganui and Rotoiti, and no more than two points separating the other Premier and Division One semi-finalists, produced nail biting finishes in the cauldron of post section rugby.

There was joy, heartbreak, and confusion on the part of the near five hundred strong crowd that were at Blake Park, at the end of the Mount Maunganui and Rotoiti battle for a place in the Premier final stanza.

With the score locked up at 24 all after regular time, the referee signalled another ten minutes each way in attempt to break the deadlock. Twenty minutes of attrition failed to produce any further points, with the referee then going for the rules to produce a result.

With the various scoring options tied up, the toss of a coin was the last resort to break the deadlock. There were Mount Maunganui cries of joy when the coin toss went their way – with Rotoiti left to rue what might have been.

There was also plenty of drama at the Tauranga Domain, where defending champions Tauranga Sports sneaked home from archrivals Te Puke Sports 12-10. The home side made the early running scoring the only try of the match, when Jason Karauria crossed for the touchdown.

At 11-3 ahead at half time, Tauranga Sports then had to defend as Te Puke started to pile on the pressure. Three penalty goals from Te Puke’s Brett McLeod wasn’t enough after Nick Evemy kicked a further penalty for Tauranga Sports.

That Tauranga Sports victory, has given the Tauranga side a chance to win an unprecedented fourth successive Baywide Premier title. The Premier Final will continue one of the great Western Bay rivalries, with the Tauranga side meeting Mount Maunganui in the championship decider.

The Division One semi-final games also went down to the wire. Waikite only just preserved their season unbeaten record, when they just got past Kahukura at Waikite headquarters. Two unconverted tries to three penalty goals resulted in Waikite sneaking home to a 10-9 victory.

Rangiuru also breathed a sigh of relief as the left the field at Jamieson Oval. A 21-19 win over Ngongotaha, sees last years Division Two champions meet Waikite for the Division One crown.

Top qualifier Te Puke Sports Colts, who had a week off when there opponents defaulted, will meet Tauranga Sports in the Baywide Colts final after the Tauranga team won another close fought contest on the weekend.

In a winner take all game, the Tauranga side squared off with Greerton Marist, for the second berth in the Colts championship decider. In a match that went right down to the wire Tauranga Sports got home 8-5 in a thriller.

The Division Two title will be fought out between Katikati and Eastern Bay side Poroporo. Katikati made the final game when they defeated fellow Western Bay side Judea 17-10, with Poroporo winning the Eastern Bay derby with Kawerau 30-10.

Former Baywide Senior Reserve champions Mount Maunganui, will have another chance for championship glory, after defeating Rangataua 31-24 in a high scoring game. The Mount opponents will be Whakarewarewa who ran away from Opotiki to post a 36-8 victory.

The Marist St Michaels Colts grabbed some season glory when they defeated Te Puna 18-7 in the Baywide Colts consolation final.

Bartercard Baywide Rugby Results 31 July 2010
Premier Semi-Finals:
Tauranga Sports 14 (Jason Karauria try; Nick Evemy 3 pen) Te Puke Sports 12, (Brett McLeod 3 pen, Aaron Sutherland pen)
Mount Maunganui 24 (Cory Aporo, Luke Katene tries; Sam Jurisich 4 pen con) Rotoiti 24 (Moana Bale, Te Ohau Hohepa-Baizer tries; Joe Fenton 4 pen con)

Division One Semi-Final
Waikite 10 (Carlo Putaranui, Tony Laurence tries) Kahukura 9 (Daniel Fluker 3 pens)
Rangiuru 23 (Sasu Wihapi, Putauara Biel tries; Ngatai Kingi 3 pens 2 cons) Ngongotaha 21 (Paul Fleet, William Grace tries; Courtney Mika 3 pens con)

Division Two Semi-Finals: Katikati 17 Judea 10, Poroporo 30 Kawerau 10.

Colts Division One: Tauranga Sports 8 Greerton Marist 5, Ngongotaha defeated Mount Maunganui, Te Puke Sports won by default.

Colts Division Two Final: Marist St Michaels 18 Te Puna 7.

Senior Reserve Semi-Finals: Mount Maunganui 31 Rangataua 24, Whakarewarewa 36 Opotiki 8.