Mount Maunganui and Te Puna, will get a head start to round four of the Bartercard Baywide Premier competition, when they provide the curtain-raiser to the Chiefs v Crusaders Super 15 game at Bay Park Stadium, Mount Maunganui, on Friday (15 April 2011) evening.

In a game that will be played out in front of the biggest crowd many of the players will ever experience – there is plenty at stake for both teams.

Local side Mount Maunganui, who went within one game of annexing the Baywide Premier title last season, sit well down the point’s ladder with just four points. Second year coach Marty Bourke, will want to leave Baypark with the win points in the bank, to kick start his sides Baywide season.

While Te Puna have posted one win from their first three encounters, the Blue and Black brigade have added three valuable bonus points. Last weekend they showed their try scoring firepower, running in four touchdowns in a narrow loss to season surprise package Waikite.

A top of the table clash will take place at the Tauranga Domain, when competition leaders Whakarewarewa travel to face defending Premier champions Tauranga Sports. The Rotorua side sit astride the point’s table, with a three from three win record in the season start. Tauranga Sports will need to be mistake free in their own half, with Whaka kicker Kelly Haimona one of the best sharp shooting kickers in Baywide rugby.

Lurking just behind the leader is the home side, who are gunning for their fifth successive Baywide Premier Championship. Tauranga Sports also have a match winner in Nick Evemy, who can slot the ball over the uprights from any angle.

Bellvue Road will attract a large crowd of passionate Waikite supporters, when Opotiki pay a visit on Saturday (16 April 2011). Both sides have made solid start to the season, with Waikite returning to the form of a decade ago when they were one of the heavyweights of Baywide rugby.

Rangataua and Te Puke Sports will go head to head at Te Ariki Park, with Rotoiti hosting Whakatane Marist at Emery Park.

Te Teko could have a real challenge to preserve their unbeaten Division One record. Ngongotaha who are another former Baywide top echelon heavyweight, are likely to give Te Teko a spirited battle at Te Teko headquarters at Dunderdale Park.

Katikati who won promotion to Div One last season, are another side that attract a large home ground following. They will host Rotorua visitors Kahukura, who have sneaked home by a solitary point in their last two encounters.

In other Div One action Paroa will be at home to Marist St Michaels, Rangiuru will want to rebound from last weeks mauling by Te Teko when they play Greerton Marist, and Reporoa travel to Tuhoe Park to play Ruatoki.

The big match-up in the Colts Blue division, will take place at Blake Park where Mount Maunganui are home to Te Puna. In recent seasons the two clubs have had strong line-ups with players intent on joining the pathway to their Premier team ranks. Both teams have made strong starts to the age group competition with two wins apiece.

An even bigger match-up will take place in the Gold section, with two Marist sides squaring off at Greerton Park. In a Bay of Plenty inter-city battle, Western Bay’s Greerton Marist will lock horns with Rotorua side Marist St Michaels, with Marist honour and bragging rights on the line.

BOPRU Bartercard Baywide Draws 15/16 April 2011
Premier
Friday 15 April (5pm) Mount Maunganui v Te Puna, BayPark Stadium.
Saturday 16 April (2.45pm) Rotoiti v Whakatane Marist, Emery Park; Rangataua v Te Puke Sports, Te Ariki Park; Waikite v Opotiki, Bellvue Road, Tauranga Sports v Whakarewarewa, Tauranga Domain.

Premier Points Table: Whakarewarewa 14, Tauranga Sports 11, Waikite 10, Rotoiti 8, Opotiki 7, Te Puna 7, Rangataua 6, Te Puke Sports 6, Mount Maunganui 4, Whakatane Marist 0.

Division One (2.45pm) Paroa v Marist St Michaels, Lawson Park; Katikati v Kahukura, Moore Park; Te Teko v Ngongotaha, Dunderdale Park; Greerton Marist v Rangiuru, Greerton Park; Ruatoki v Reporoa, Tuhoe Park.

Colts (1pm)
Blue Section: Rotoiti v Whakatane Marist, Emery Park; Mount Maungnaui v Te Puna, Blake Park; Ruatoki v Te Puke Sports, Tuhoe Park; Waikite the bye
Gold Section: Tauranga Sports v Whakarewarewa, Tauranga Domain; Judea v Opotiki, Maharaia Winiata Park; Rangataua v Edgecumbe, Te Ariki Field; Greerton Marist v Marist St Michaels, Greerton Park.