Rugby: Three teams as top contenders for title

Tauranga Sports Development player Chris Davies in action.

Just three games into the new season, the Baywide Development competition is already developing into a three-horse race for the title.

Defending champions TePuke Sports, Tauranga Sports and Mount Maunganui have all banked maximum points since the season kicked off at Easter.

Tauranga Sports posted the biggest win in round three when they blitzed Rangataua in the curtain raiser at Te Ariki Park. The Stephen Murray-coached side made all the running with the referee signing for a 62-7 win to the visitors after some confusion concerning the final score.

Mount Maunganui posted 45 unanswered points against Greerton at Greerton headquarters while Te Puke Sports beat Whakarewarewa 45-5 in Rotorua.

The big improver from last season is Te Puna, who sit just four points from the top three sides. After leading Rotoiti 31-0 at the halfway stage of the game, Te Puna had to defend their advantage before closing out the game with a 45-10 win. James Thompson was the Te Puna player of the day.

Arataki won a thriller in the early game at Grenada Park when they repelled the Whakatane Marist challenge to post a hard fought 26-24 win.

Judea at home at Maharaia Winiata Park thrilled their large band of supporters in upsetting Eastern Bay visitors Poroporo 19-9 in the Baywide Division One title race. The Western Bay club, which dates back over a century, sits in second place on the standings just a solitary point behind Rangiuru and Ngongotaha.

Rangiuru have their sights firmly on playing in the Premier two competition in the second half of the season and had a good battle with Ruatoki in the heart of the Eastern Bay of Plenty. With the sideline at Tuhoe Park lined with passionate home team fans, the Te Puke visitors had to fight hard to grab a 23-19 win.

Katikati lost 17-8 to Waikite, who contested the premier division last season. Div One new recruits Papamoa were defeated 32-10 by former premier contenders Kahukura at Kuirau Park in Rotorua.

Results:

Division One: Rangiuru 23 Ruatoki 19, Waikite 17 Katikati 8, Kahukura 32 Papamoa 10, Judea 19 Poroporo 9.

Points (provisional): Ngongotaha 12, Rangiuru 12, Judea 11, Poroporo 9, Waikite 8, Te Teko 7, Kahukura 5, Papamoa 4, Marist St Michaels 2, Ruatoki 2, Katikati 1.

Development: Arataki 26 Whakatane Marist 24, Te Puna 45 Rotoiti 10, Mount Maunganui 45 Greerton Marist 0, Tauranga Sports 62 Rangataua 7, Te Puke Sports 48 Whakarewarewa 5.

Points (provisional): Te Puke Sports 15, Tauranga Sports 15, Mount Maunganui 15, Te Puna 11, Whakatane Marist 11, Arataki 5, Whakarewarewa 5, Rotoiti 5, Opotiki 5, Greerton Marist 4, Paroa 2, Rangataua 0.

Colts: Mount Maunganui 11 Greerton Marist 3.