Rugby: Arataki maintain perfect run

Arataki captain Daryl Thomas takes on the Katikati defence on Saturday.

The Western Bay of Plenty sub-union division one competition wrapped up on Anzac Day - before the Baywide division one and Western Bay competitions kick off on Saturday.

Arataki, who make no secret of their desire to regain a place in the Baywide premier ranks, finished at the top of the local competition standings after running over Katikati at Grenada Park. After leading 25-3 at the halftime break they went on to post a solid 42-8 win.

The Grenada Park-based side finished the local round with an unbeaten record and should go to the forefront of the Baywide division one title race.

Rangiuru were relegated from the Baywide top echelon at the end of last season and are another side with a return to the Baywide premier competition firmly on their agenda.

On Saturday, they had a real arm wrestle with Judea at Centennial Park in Te Puke before scoring a hard fought 19-13 victory. Judea showed they will not be out of place in the Baywide competition after winning promotion from division two last year. Eastern Districts grabbed their first win of the local round with an emphatic 48-24 win over Matakana Island.

While Arataki, Rangiuru, Judea and Katikati are Baywide bound, Matakana Island, Eastern Districts and Papamoa will contest the Western Bay championship with Rangiuru, Judea, Arataki, Tauranga Sports, Te Puke and Greerton Marist second fifteens.

A decision made during the week resulted in the Western Bay development playoffs being discarded, which handed the title to Tauranga Sports.

Meanwhile, Rotoiti, Whakarewarewa and Waikite will represent the Central region in the Baywide premier competition, while Opotiki, Whakatane Marist and Te Teko are the Eastern Bay teams.