Rugby: Judea scrape home by two points

Judea captain Tame Heke greets his Te Teko opponents after the 7-5 victory. Photo / Merle Seeling

Three unbeaten Western Bay teams lead the Baywide Division One standings after the first two rounds of competition.

Fans at Maharaia Winiata Park on Saturday witnessed a tight battle between Judea and Eastern Bay No1 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 for a 7-0 lead at halftime. The visitors came back in the second spell to score a try with the conversion attempt sailing past the posts.

Judea's player-of-the-day title went to the entire defence who worked hard all game.

Arataki won a high-scoring affair with Reporoa at Grenada Park, posting a 46-26 win. Rangiuru took home a hard-fought 13-5 win over Ruatoki in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, 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 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 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 competition lead beating 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.