Forty minutes of razzle dazzle rugby was on display in the first half of the Baywide rugby clash between Tauranga Sports and Te Puke Sports, at the Tauranga Domain on Saturday.

Tauranga Sports opened the scoring with a Lucas Cashmore penalty goal after two minutes - before the visitors ran in two touchdowns awarded to Wemin Kapia and fullback Kase Meyer, in quick succession.

A Tauranga Sports try at the 16 minute mark resulted in an immediate Te Puke attack that produced their third touchdown. Te Puke Sports 19 - Tauranga Sports 8.

The hosts roared back into the encounter with three tries, with Te Puke grabbing their bonus point fourth try on the cusp of half time, to see Tauranga Sports lead 27-24 at the break in play.

After the action packed first spell, which produced eight tries and 51 points, a more subdued second half unfolded. Tauranga Sports went on to take out the match 41-31 to re-ink their spot at the top of the Baywide standings.

The start of winter encounter, was notable for Te Puke Sports Dan Goodwin and Tauranga Sports Ricoh Flavell, playing their 100th game for their respective premier sides.

Greerton Marist moved to within touching distance of the top four after a close-quarters battle with Rangiuru in Te Puke. The visiting side led 19 – 14 after the first forty minutes before going on to take home a narrow 24-21 victory.

Rangataua moved clear of the dreaded relegation zone, after they produced a 22 all draw against Rotorua visitors Ngongotaha at Te Ariki Park.

Judea went down 50 nil to Whakarewarewa, Te Puna swept aside Katikati by 109 points in the Western Bay of Plenty extremities, with Mount Maunganui posting 66 unanswered points against Rotoiti.

In Western Bay of Plenty rugby action, Mount Maunganui came from mid-table in the standings, to provide Eastern Districts with their first loss of the season at the Paengaroa Domain. Mount Maunganui led 16-12 at halftime, before ED came back to level the score at 24 points apiece as the clock ticked down to full time.

Right on the final whistle, Mount first-five Villi Sabani calmly slotted a near fifty metre penalty goal, to give the visitors a 27-24 win. The ED loss, sets up what could be a winner take all match against Arataki, in the last round of the regular season, with a Baywide playoff berth on the line.

Te Puna remains the only unbeaten Western Bay team after they defeated Katikati 67-5, in the early matchup at Moore Park. Tauranga Sports cemented their place in the top four with a 34-14 win over Te Puke Sports.

Arataki beat Papamoa 42 nil, Greerton Marist got past Rangiuru 29-7, with Rangataua defeating Matakana Island 65-7.

BOPRU Baywide Results – Week Eight June 3 2023

Tauranga Sports 41 Te Puke Sports 31 (HT 27-24) Greerton Marist 24 Rangiuru 21 (HT 19-14) Whakarewarewa 50 Judea 0 (HT 24-0) Te Puna 109 Katikati 0 (HT 42-0) Rangataua 22 Ngongotaha 22 (HT Rangataua 12-3) Mount Maunganui 66 Rotoiti 0 (HT 26-0)

Points Table (Provisional) Tauranga Sports 35, Mount Maunganui 34, Te Puna 33, Whakarewarewa 30 Te Puke Sports 30, Greerton Marist 27, Rangiuru 23, Ngongotaha 12, Rangataua 11, Rotoiti 6. Judea 2, Katikati 0.

WBOPRS Development/Local Rugby Results

Tauranga Sports 34 Te Puke Sports 14, Greerton Marist 29 Rangiuru 7, Te Puna 67 Katikati 5, Rangataua 65 Matakana Island 7, Mount Maunganui 27 Eastern Districts 24, Arataki 42 Papamoa 0, Judea the bye.

Points Table (Provisional) Te Puna 32, Eastern Districts 32, Tauranga Sports 28, Arataki 28, Greerton Marist 26, Te Puke Sports 25, Mount Maunganui 25. Rangiuru 18, Rangataua 13, Papamoa 10, Matakana Island 9, Katikati 1. Judea 0.

WBOPRS Baywide Promotion Competition (Provisional) Eastern Districts 32, Arataki 28. Papamoa 10, Matakana Island 9.

BOPRU Colts Results

No Play

Jordan Cup Results 2023

2022 Holder – Tauranga Sports

22 April Mount Maunganui 41 Tauranga Sports 19

29 April Mount Maunganui 59 Rangataua 0

6 May Mount Maunganui 75 Judea 7

13 May Mount Maunganui 57 Te Puke Sports 8

Next Challenge

10 June Mount Maunganui v Katikati, Blake Park

BOPRU Baywide Draw 10 June 2023 (2.45pm)

Mount Maunganui v Katikati, Blake Park; Rotoiti v Rangataua, Emery Park; Greerton Marist v Tauranga Sports, Greerton Park; Whakarewarewa v Te Puke Sports, Puarenga Park; Te Puna v Rangiuru, Maramatanga Park; Ngongotaha v Judea, Ngongotaha Domain.

WBOPRFS Development/Local Rugby Draw 10 June (1pm)

Greerton Marist v Tauranga Sports, Greerton Park; Papamoa v Te Puke Sports, Gordon Spratt Reserve; Te Puna v Rangiuru, Maramatanga Park; Judea v Eastern Districts, Maharaia Winiata Park; Mount Maunganui v Katikati, Blake Park; Matakana Island v Arataki, Matakana Island; Rangataua the bye.

BOPRU Colts Competition 10 June (1pm)

Kahukura v Mount Maunganui, Westbrook Park1; Greerton Marist v Te Puke Sports, Greerton Park; Te Puna v Taupo United, Maramatanga Park.