The main event has arrived in the 2009 Bay of Plenty club rugby competitions, with the first round of the Bartercard Baywide Championships kicking off this Saturday (13 June 2009).

Thirty-two teams will be chasing the four Bartercard Baywide Championship titles that are on the line during the next nine weeks.

All the traditional heavyweights of the last decade will be on show in the Premier Division. Defending champions Tauranga Sports will receive plenty of competition from the 2006 titleholders Whakarewarewa,and Mount Maunganui who annexed the Baywide crown in 2005.

Whakatane Marist have made a return to the top eight this season, after sneaking past Te Teko by two points last weekend. Perennial semi-finalists Te Puke Sports are in the top grade again along with Rotoiti, Rangataua and Opotiki.

Ngongotaha who dominated Baywide rugby in the 1990’s, have regained much of that form in 2009, to look genuine contenders for the Division One championship. However fellow Rotorua side Kahukura, who posted an undefeated record in the qualifying competition, are sure to keep the other contenders honest.

The big mover in recent seasons is Reporoa who have come from Sub-Union club rugby to leap into the Baywide second echelon. Western Bay representatives Arataki, Greerton Marist and Te Puna should all be competitive, with Te Teko who narrowly missed the top eight likely to provide little joy for visitors to Dunderdale Park.

There is always added edge to the Division Two championship, with automatic relegation back to Sub-Union club rugby for the last team. Last years Div Three runner-up Papamoa look a genuine chance to go one better this season. Former Premier heavyweight Rangiuru were unlucky not to make the Div One field, and will certainly make their presence felt.

A surprise package in the section two qualifying competition was Eastern Districts, who won promotion just a couple of weeks before the Baywide first round commenced. The Eastern Bay is well represented with Kawerau, Paroa and Ruatoki, with Judea and Marist St Michaels rounding out the championship contenders.

With a real spread of venues throughout the Bay of Plenty, teams will travel to diverse locations such as Te Kaha (to play Apanui) Matakana Island and Galatea The other sides chasing promotion are Katikati who have returned to Baywide rugby after several years playing in Thames Valley, Eastern Pirates, Edgecumbe, Murupara and Waimana.

Bartercard Baywide Rugby Divisions
Premier
Mount Maunganui, Whakatane Marist, Te Puke Sports, Rotoiti, Rangataua, Tauranga Sports, Whakarewarewa, Opotiki,
Division One
Greerton Marist, Ngongotaha, Waikite, Reporoa, Arataki, Te Teko, Kahukura, Te Puna,
Division Two
Ruatoki, Paroa, Kawerau, Rangiuru, Papamoa, Marist St Michaels, Judea, Eastern Districts,
Division Three
Edgecumbe, Murupara, Katikati, Galatea, Matakana Island, Waimana, Eastern Pirates, Apanui,