Golf: Taupo beat Whakatane

Taupo caused the boilover, beating Whakatane in their promotion/relegation playoff at Tauranga on Sunday to confirm their participation in Bay of Plenty Golf's championship pennant series for another year.

As top four clubs Tauranga, Mt Maunganui, Omanu and Rotorua jostled for a place in this Sunday's final at Taupo (with Tauranga and Mt Maunganui getting through), Taupo and Whakatane were involved in sudden-death of their own to stay up after finishing the round-robin in last place in their respective divisions.

Taupo grabbed the advantage at Tauranga, taking the foursomes 3 to , and added four more singles wins in fading light for a 7 to 4 result.

Whakatane face a nervous wait to see if they stay up. Kawerau and Tauranga clash in the senior A final this weekend at Centennial, with Tauranga unable to be promoted to the championship division because they already have a team in the top grade. But a Kawerau win gives them the right to challenge Whakatane for a place in the top division.

The Silver ladies division will have a new name on the trophy after perennial winners Rotorua were upset by Omanu, who play Mount Maunganui for the title. The final will be played at Tauranga.

FootballAs the Chatham Cup dreams of Waikato-Bay of Plenty Federation sides rolled on, and Taupo, Old Blues, Claudelands Rovers and Rotorua United bowed out, two league first division games were played, with six teams in action in division two.

In division one, Melville United beat Tauranga Boys' College 6-2 while AFC Fury trounced Otorohanga 4-0.

In division two, Tauranga City United demolished Matamata 11-0, Clube Algeria defeated Rotorua United 2-0 and Katikati drew 2-2 with West Hamilton.