It took to the final whistle, of the Bartercard Baywide Division One Blue section match between Whakatane Marist and Te Teko, before the last top echelon championship contender was confirmed.

The scene was set for a battle of attrition, with both teams locked on nine points going into the final Baywide qualifying match – with the last spot in the Bartercard Baywide Premier championship on the line.

In what was an extremely tight encounter, with a try apiece to Marist’s Greg Smith and Danny Sutherland from Te Teko – the difference at the conclusion of the game which was taken out by Whakatane Marist 13-11, was the conversion slotted by Max Bullivant.

The final race for the top four in the Gold section was no less absorbing. Opotiki took control of their own destiny when they got home 24-5 against a game Waikite side. Te Puna went close to grabbing the other top echelon berth, when they were held to a 17 all draw by last years Premier runner-up Rangataua. Trailing 7-17 at the break the second touch down of the game by Timoti Gardiner got the home side out of jail – and secured Rangataua a Premier championship berth.

While both Rotoiti and Whakarewarewa had already qualified for the top echelon, there was still plenty at stake between the two long time Rotorua rivals. Whaka evened the score between the two sides this season, narrowly taking out the second contest 13-10. The Whaka victory sets up a mouth watering third decider, in the Premier championship title race.

In other matches Mount Maunganui added the scalp of Te Puke Sports, to last weekends triumph over Tauranga Sports, defeating Te Puke 24-19. The victory is another step in the revival of fortunes of the former Baywide champions who lost their first four matches in the Western Bay competition.

Defending Premier titleholders Tauranga Sports, won a match that rose to no great heights, against cellar dwellers Greerton Marist 34-15. The visitors to the Tauranga Domain showed plenty of spirit in the second spell running in two tries.

While Ngongotaha defeated Arataki 13-5 in an entertaining Division Two match, both sides secured places in the second echelon championship. Kahukura retained their unbeaten record defeating Rangiuru 23-10, with Reporoa grabbing the fourth Division One championship berth, with a 35-6 win over Marist St Michaels.

In other matches Eastern Districts confirmed the will be genuine Division Two contenders with a 26-22 victory over Ruatoki, with Judea and Papamoa battling to a 15 all draw, while Paroa accounted for Kawerau 18 nil.

The highly anticipated Colts match-up between Mount Maunganui and Ngongotaha was taken out in impressive fashion by the Rotorua side, who emerged victorious 18-3. Other Colts sides to win were Greerton Marist, Te Puna, Te Puke Sports and Marist St Michaels.

Two Bay of Plenty Senior Reserve titles were decided on Saturday. In Rotorua Whakarewarewa defeated Waikite 28-17,with Katikati who are headed for Baywide Division three just getting past Rangataua 21-16.

Bay of Plenty Bartercard Baywide Rugby Results 6 June 2009
Division One
Blue Section:
Tauranga Sports 34 (Hohepa Goebal 2, Gareth Brown 2, Heath Haua tries; Eru Haimona 2cons pen, Alex Jessup con) Greerton Marist 15 (Brendan McEwan, Josh Goodwin tries; Andrew Boyd pen con) HT 17-3
Whakatane Marist 13 (Greg Smith try; Max Bullivant 2pen con) Te Teko 11 (Danny Sutherland try; Ryan Hahipene 2pen).
Mount Maunganui 24 (Maka Tukuafa, Ted Tauroa, Reg Manu tries; Marty Bourke 2pen 2con) Te Puke Sports 19 (Craig Donovan, Dylan Lee, Josh Harrison tries; Nick McCashin 2con).  HT: 13-5.
Gold Section:
Opotiki 24 (Dallas Collier, Roha Maxwell, Dean Elmiger tries; Sam Howe 3pens) Waikite 5 (Joe Suva try)
Rangataua 17 (Timoti Gardiner 2 tries; John Ririnui 2 con, Adam McGarvey pen) Te Puna 17 (Daniel Schuster, Aiden Kuka tries; Hotanga Connell 2cons pen) HT 7-17
Whakarewarewa 13 (Greg Gillies try; Kelly Haimona con 2pen) Rotoiti 10 (Kevin Guptil try; Sikeli Bola pen con).  HT: 6-10.

Division Two
Blue Section: Ngongotaha 13 Arataki  5, Paroa 18 Kawerau 0, Eastern Districts 26 Ruatoki 22.
Gold Section: Kahukura 23 Rangiuru 10, Judea 15 Papamoa 15, Reporoa 35 Marist St Michaels 6.

Colts: Greerton Marist 40 Waikite 8, Te Puna 19 Whakarewarewa 10, Te Puke Sports 13 Te Teko 5, Marist St Michaels 22 Taneatua 12, Ngongotaha 18 Mount Maunganui 3, Rotoiti won by default, Tauranga Sports won by default, Rangataua v Opotiki not played.

Senior Reserve Championships
Rotorua: Whakarewarewa 28 Waikite 17.
Western BOP: Katikati 21 Rangataua 16.