Rugby: Rangiuru overcome former premier front runners

Tauranga Sports' Chris Davies in action against Arataki in an earlier round of the Baywide Development competition.

Rangiuru almost certainly booked a berth in the Baywide Premier Two Championship in June and July when they overcame former premier front runners Waikite in Rotorua on Saturday.

The Division one contest at Bellvue Park was up for grabs for much of the encounter before the Te Puke side piled on the pressure to return home with a 30-20 win.

The Joby Reid-coached team can be well pleased with their performances during the first half of the season. Seven wins from nine games tells the tale of the Rangiuru agenda to return to premier rugby.

Judea who sat out the bye on Saturday have a big challenge in the last round of the qualifying competition when they travel to Rotorua to play Ngongotaha who lead the Division 1 standings.

If Judea beat the competition leaders they will automatically grab a place in the Baywide Premier Two Championship. However they could still make the Baywide second division if they taste defeat and other results go their way.

Papamoa and Katikati will square off at Gordon Spratt Reserve next weekend. Last Saturday Ngongotaha beat Katikati 55-15 with Papamoa going down to Poroporo 54-10.

Te Puke Sports Development team will want to wrap up the Baywide first round when they play Arataki under lights at Murray Salt Stadium on Friday.

Te Puke have put all the other contenders to the sword in the first round, but could have a good tussle with Arataki, who currently sit in fourth place on the standings.

Western Bay Development winners in round 10 were Te Puke Sports, who scraped past Opotiki 15-7, Tauranga Sports, Te Puna, Mount Maunganui, Greerton Marist and Rangataua.

Tauranga Sportsbeat Eastern Districts at ED headquarters.

Their 17-10 win reflected a match that went to the wire.

Matakana Island also had to battle hard to defeat Judea at Maharaia Winiata Park. The game was up for grabs at halftime with the visitors holding a narrow 7-5 advantage, before going on to win the match 24-17. Greerton Marist Colts continued their winning streak beating Te Puna 36-20 while the other Greerton side dispatched Mount Maunganui Colts 20-13.

Baywide results:

Division One: Ngongotaha 55 Katikati 15, Poroporo 54 Papamoa 10, Rangiuru 30 Waikite 20, Judea bye.

Points table (provisional): Ngongotaha 34, Poroporo 33, Rangiuru 31, Judea 29, Waikite 27, Te Teko 24, Marist St Michaels 25, Kahukura 11, Katikati 10, Ruatoki 9, Papamoa 5.

Development: Mount Maunganui 45 Whakatane Marist 32, Tauranga Sports 57 Paroa 3, Te Puke Sports 15 Opotiki 7, Greerton Marist 85 Whakarewarewa 12, Te Puna 27 Arataki 15, Rangataua 38 Rotoiti 12.

Points table (provisional): Te Puke Sports 47, Mount Maunganui 44, Tauranga Sports 41, Arataki 36, Whakatane Marist 34, Te Puna 31, Rangataua 23, Greerton Marist 20, Whakarewarewa 11, Rotoiti 10, Opotiki 9, Paroa 4.

WBOP Senior Reserve: Tauranga Sports 17 Eastern Districts 10, Matakana Island 24 Judea 17, Greerton Colts 36 Te Puna 24, Greerton 20 Mount Maunganui Colts 13

Points table (provisional): Tauranga Sports 19, Greerton Marist Colts 16, Eastern Districts 13, Te Puna 9, Greerton Marist 9, Matakana Island 7, Mount Maunganui Colts 5, Judea 0.

Baywide Premier Women:

Waikite 34 v Waimana 0, Rangiuru 60 v Rotoiti 0, Arataki 68 v Tauranga Sports 5, Tokoroa 85 v Te Whanau Apanui 0

Baywide Premier Points: Waikite 20, Waimana 14, Tokoroa 17, Rangiuru 16, Arataki 10, Te Whanau Apanui 1, Rotoiti 1, Tauranga Sports 0.