A trio of Western Bay of Plenty teams sit astride the top of the Baywide Division One standings, with unbeaten records after the first two rounds of competition.

Photo: file.

Rugby fans at Maharaia Winiata Park on Saturday witnessed an extremely tight battle between Judea and Eastern BOP number one seed Te Teko. In a game that went down to the wire, Levi Tofa scored a try for Judea in the first half, with Simon Anderson adding the conversion to see Judea lead seven-nil at halftime.

The visitors came back in the second spell to score a try with the conversion attempt sailing past the posts. The Judea player of the day was awarded to the entire Judea defence who worked extremely hard all game.

Arataki won a high scoring affair with Reporoa at Grenada Park posting a 46-26 win against the team from the borders of the BOP. Rangiuru took home a hard fought 13-5 over Ruatoki in the Eastern BOP, while Katikati put their first points on the board defeating Ngongotaha 36-19.

Defending Baywide Development titleholders Tauranga Sports, who last tasted defeat in May last year, laid down the challenge to the other Development contenders when they posted 77 unanswered points against Rotoiti at the Tauranga Domain.

Tauranga fullback Wemin Kapai dotted down three times while Steve Honey and Matt Ensor both scored twice. The pick of the Tauranga players was Paula Hopio who was adjudged player of the day.

Greerton Marist grabbed a share of the lead when they ran away from Te Puna 57-14 in the early game at Greerton Park, with Te Puke Sports posting a big 82-15 win over Opotiki at Murray Salt Stadium. Mount Maunganui posted their first win points of the Baywide competition when they beat Whakatane Marist 38-12, with Rangataua going down to Whakarewarewa 34-17.

Western Bay of Plenty rugby results, May 9:

Baywide Division One:

Arataki 46 Reporoa 24, Katikati 36 Ngongotaha 19, Judea 7 Te Teko 5, Rangiuru 13 Ruatoki 5.

Points Table (Provisional)

Rangiuru 9, Judea 9, Arataki 9, Kahukura 9, Te Teko 6, Marist St Michaels 6, Katikati 5, Ngongotaha 4, Ruatoki 1, Reporoa 1, Galatea 1, Poroporo 1.

Baywide Development:

Te Puke Sports 82 Opotiki 15, Tauranga Sports 77 Rotoiti 0, Greerton Marist 57 Te Puna 14, Whakarewarewa 34 Rangataua 17, Mount Maunganui 38 Whakatane Marist 12.

Points Table (Provisional)

Tauranga Sports 10, Greerton Marist 10, Te Puke Sports 10, Whakarewarewa 10, Mount Maunganui 6, Te Puna 5, Waikite 5, Opotiki 1, Whakatane Marist 4, Rangataua 0, Paroa 0, Rotoiti 0.