Rugby: Race for Baywide rugby playoffs

With just a one round remaining before the Baywide championship semifinals, Western Bay of Plenty teams appear likely to contest all six Baywide post section playoffs after results were posted on Saturday.

In Premier 2 action, Arataki ran over Marist St Michaels 67-17 in Rotorua to move into third place on the standings. While they play fourth placed Poroporo in the last qualifying round, the Grenada Park based side has already accumulated enough points to book a post-section berth.

In the Division One championship Judea continued their unbeaten run in the second half of the season with a solid 33-21 win over former Premier contender Te Teko.

Rangiuru moved in to second place on the points ladder with a solid 29-18 win against Kahukura, while Papamoa grabbed a place in to the top four after getting past Katikati 17-8 at Gordon Spratt Reserve.

In spite of Eastern Districts going down to Division Two competition leaders Waimana 41-11, they are in third place with a victory against Eastern Pirates next weekend giving them a semifinal berth.

The Development One title will be fought by four Western Bay sides.

Te Puna cemented their place at the top of the standings with a hard fought 16-13 win over Tauranga Sports. Defending titleholders Te Puke Sports posted 74 unanswered points against Rotoiti, while Mount Maunganui were too strong for Greerton Marist winning 40-12.

Rangataua posted their first win of the championship rounds after defeating Whakatane Marist 30-17, in the early attraction at Te Ariki Park.

Arataki, the sole Western Bay of Plenty representatives in the Development Two competition, are on the edge of making the playoffs. They currently sit in fourth equal place, after getting past Marist St Michael's 29-24 in a battle of attrition in Rotorua.

Greerton Marist Colts and Mount Maunganui Colts both posted wins in the Western Bay of Plenty Senior Reserve competition.

The Greerton age group team beat Judea 22-5 with Mount Maunganui getting past Greerton Marist senior reserve team 36-12.

Results

Premier Two: Arataki 67 Marist St Michaels 17.
Points Table (Provisional) Whakarewarewa 30, Paroa 23, Arataki 20, Poroporo 16, Opotiki 11, Ngongotaha 11, Waikite 8, Marist St Michaels 4.

Division One: Papamoa 17 Katikati 8, Judea 33 Te Teko 21, Rangiuru 29 Kahukura 18.
Points Table (Provisional) Judea 29, Rangiuru 23, Papamoa 15, Te Teko 13, Kahukura 12, Ruatoki 12, Katikati 7, Edgecumbe 3.

Division Two: Waimana 41 Eastern Districts 11.
Points Table (Provisional) Waimana 29, Murupara 20, Eastern Districts 18, Reporoa 16, Te Teko 13, Matata 9, Eastern Pirates 8, Taneatua 1.

Development One: Te Puna 16 Tauranga Sports 13, Mount Maunganui 40 Greerton Marist 12, Te Puke Sports 74 Rotoiti 0, Rangataua 30 Whakatane Marist 17.
Points Table (Provisional) Te Puna 28, Te Puke Sports 24, Mount Maunganui 23, Tauranga Sports17, Greerton Marist 11, Rangataua 7, Whakatane Marist 6, Rotoiti 4.

Development Two: Arataki 29 Marisrt St Michaels 24.
Points Table (Provisional) Opotiki 23, Waikite 24, Poroporo 21, Whakarewarewa 17, Arataki 17, Paroa 11, Ngongotaha 10, Marist St Michaels 5.

Western Bay of Plenty Senior Reserve: Greerton Marist Colts 22 Judea 5, Mount Maunganui Colts 36 Greerton Marist 12, Tauranga Sports won by default from Matakana Island, Te Puna the bye.
Points Table (Provisional) Tauranga Sports 22, Greerton Marist Colts 15, Te Puna 11, Mount Maunganui Colts 10, Matakana Island 7, Greerton Marist 6, Judea 1.