Arataki, who went to Rangiuru headquarters at Centennial Park in Te Puke to contest the Bayfair Baywide Division One final, won the Baywide title in a hard fought battle.

Arataki versus Rangiuru final. Photos by: Cameron Avery.

The visitors opened the scoring in the first few minutes when Arataki skipper Marty Bourke kicked a penalty goal, with Rangiuru sharp-shooter Ngatai Kingi replying with three points at the 15-minute mark. After a few initial errors in the opening quarter, the game settled down to a clash befitting a Baywide title decider.

Ngatai Kingi put Rangiuru in front when he slotted his side second penalty goal, with the Arataki kicker leveling the score in the last 10 minutes of the opening half. Right on half time, Marty Bourke finished off an Arataki attack when he dotted the ball down for the only try of the game, which resulted in the visitors leading 11-6 at half time.

The second spell turned into battle of attrition, with both sides going on attack and defending like lions as play moved up and down the field with neither team able to cross the try line. A penalty apiece gave Arataki a 14-9 advantage before Rangiuru unleashed a series of attacks on the try-line.

With the clock ticking down, an Arataki player broke clear. However, he was caught from behind by a superb Rangiuru tackle some 10m from the try line. There was plenty of tension shown by both sets of supporting team fans as the encounter went to the wire, with Arataki taking out the game 14-9.

The Arataki victory added the Baywide silverware to their Western Bay title won earlier in the season. The excellent spirit shown throughout the game was highlighted by a rousing haka apiece from both teams, prior to presentation of the Baywide Division One trophy.

'The Arataki victory means so much for our club and local community after a hard fought season and gave our large band of supporters plenty to cheer about on the day,” says Arataki life member Syd Longley.

Syd praised the leadership of player-coach Marty Bourke and co-coach Quinton Gould and said that captain Billy Russell led from the front all season.

Rangiuru team manager Mark Basham was gracious in defeat and said he was proud of how Rangiuru had performed on the day.

He praised the outstanding come from behind tackle by Salesi Leota when an Arataki loose forward burst clear late in the game.

'During the season we overcame the disappointment of dropping out of the premier grade last year and to make the division one title decider was a solid achievement.”

The Baywide Development final at Murray Salt Stadium between Te Puke Sports and Tauranga Sports was an absolute thriller that was up for grabs until the final whistle. Te Puke Sports, who took an unbeaten Baywide season record into the title decider, held an eight-nil advantage at the half time break in play.

The last 10 minutes was an absolute barn-burner, with Tauranga Sports reaching the lead before Te Puke Sports came back with a try in the closing minutes of the encounter to regain the lead. A Tauranga Sports penalty attempt from the sideline right on full time hit the posts which saw Te Puke Sports squeeze home 16-13.

Papamoa will be the only Western Bay representatives in the Baywide Division Two and Senior Reserve Finals next weekend after semi-final results were posted on Saturday. Papamoa got past Eastern Pirates 22-10 and will meet Eastern Bay side Waimana in the Division Two final.

BOPRU Baywide Results, July 25:

Bayfair Baywide Division One Final: Arataki 14 (M Bourke try; M Bourke 3 pen) Rangiuru 9 (N Kingi 3 pen) HT 11-6

Baywide Development Final: Te Puke Sports 16 Tauranga Sports 13 – HT 8-0

Baywide Division Two Semi-Finals: Papamoa 22 Eastern Pirates 10, Waimana 17 Eastern Districts 13

Baywide Senior Reserve Semi-Finals: Poroporo 22 Te Teko 22, Ngongotaha 25 Tauranga Sports 18