Te Puke and Tauranga Sports have settled into the top two spots in Farmlands Co-operative Baywide club rugby and given themselves a headstart for home advantage in the semifinals.

Te Puke firmed their foothold at the summit of the Premier 1 competition with a surprisingly comfortable 47-27 triumph at Murray Salt Stadium over Te Puna, who have now lost two on the spin after previously travelling through the season unbeaten.

Tauranga Sports found the going not quite so easy in taking out their encounter with Greerton Marist 36-24, although all the signs were heading that way in the first half.

The team coached by Euan Mackintosh and Steamers legend Calum Retallick broke the game open with an irresistible five try scoring blitz in the opening spell, but could barely raise a whimper in the second as Greerton moved their effort up a gear.

A late red card to Tauranga flanker Matt Ensor for punching further raised the visitors' hopes of a remarkable comeback but as time ran out the work they had left themselves to do after their deficient first half defensive display proved too much.

Defending Baywide champs Mt Maunganui Sports are back in the playoff picture after disposing of Whakarewarewa 36-30.

Rangataua have emphatically ended their winless championship round run and quit the bottom rung of the ladder, crushing Rotoiti 65-19.

Three matches remain in the second round to determine the top four playoff places. Nothing is settled but the current top three, Te Puke, Tauranga Sports and Te Puna, must be favourites to claim one each.

Te Puke lead the way on 19 points, with Tauranga Sports moving up to 15 and Te Puna on 12.

The fourth spot, however, is firmly up for grabs.

Mount occupy that space now on ten points but any of the other teams could steal it from them, especially as they travel to Maramatanga Park this Saturday to take on a Te Puna side desperate to get back to winning ways.

Another enticing top of table clash looms this week as Tauranga Sports host Te Puke at Tauranga Domain.

The winner of that one will firmly put one hand on a home semifinal berth.

Ngongataha's 22-12 defeat of Marist St Michaels firmed their control of the Premier 2 table on 16 points, two ahead of Rangiuru who edged past Arataki 21-20, and Te Teko who defeated Opotiki 20-17.

Arataki currently occupy the remaining semifinal spot on 12 points, under pressure from Opotiki a point further back.

Rangataua stole a march on rivals Rangiuru in the Baywide women's competition, taking out the clash between the two 34-25 on Sunday.

Whakarewarewa dismissed Matata 71-0, while a serious injury brought the Waimana – Waikite game to a premature end with Waikite ahead 17-12.

The full rundown of the weekend's Baywide club rugby:

Farmlands Co-operative Baywide Premier 1

Rangataua 65, Rotoiti 19

Te Puke 47, Te Puna 27

Mount Maunganui Sports 36, Whakarewarewa 30

Tauranga Sports 36, Greerton Marist 24

Farmlands Co-operative Baywide Premier 1 Development:

Rangataua 46, Rotoiti 31

Te Puke 18, Te Puna 15

Mount Maunganui Sports 51, Whakarewarewa 19

Tauranga Sports 32, Greerton Marist 27

Farmlands Co-operative Baywide Premier 2:

Whakatane Marist 29, Waikite 35

Marist St Michael's 12, Ngongotaha 22

Te Teko 20, Opotiki 17

Rangiuru 21, Arataki 20

Farmlands Co-operative Baywide Premier 2 Development:

Whakatane Marist 5, Waikite 70

Marist St Michael's 12, Ngongotaha 31

Te Teko 24, Opotiki 17

Rangiuru 25, Arataki 18

Farmlands Co-operative Baywide Division One:

Waimana 22, Papamoa 46

Kahukura 27, Poroporo 24

Paroa 19, Ruatoki 29

Judea 12, Murupara 19

Farmlands Co-operative Baywide Division Two:

Eastern Districts 25, Matata 43

Edgecumbe 15, Katikati 53

Eastern Pirates 5, Reporoa 78

Baywide Women's Premier:

Rangiuru 25, Rangataua 34

Whakarewarewa 71, Matata 0

Waimana 12, Waikite 17 (game called off early due to serious injury)

Rotoiti – BYE