Ngongotaha keep their promotion dreams alive with a thrilling derby win giving them their first back-to-back wins in Premier 2.
They beat Waikite 24-22 on Saturday, at Ngongotaha Domain, in round six of the competition, having to come from a 17-12 deficit at half-time.
They slid over for four tries with two Tute Grant conversions.
Ngongotaha coach Jodie Wharekura said a strong forward pack and scrum were the key to their bonus points win.
"The forwards had to perform against Waikite, and maintain pressure for 80 minutes. If they don't in these games you just aren't going to get anywhere," he said.
"In past years our scrum has struggled against Waikite because they are such a big squad but we've put a lot of work into it.
"The forwards also provided a strong ball for our backs to capitalise on and the outsides finished well."
Ngongotaha winger David White claimed first blood for his side - diving over in the left corner off the back of a strong lineout.
Shortly after No.8 Alby King crashed over from close range after powerful forward work, with a Grant conversion - taking the score to 12-0 after 20 minutes.
But Waikite responded when scrum-half Devo Bevai impressively broke through Ngongotaha's defensive line to touch down under the post with a Carlo Putaranui conversion.
Putaranui kicked a penalty shortly after to keep his side in touch and with four minutes to go before half-time winger Kuhu Hawei bulldozed over after patient forward build up.
Ngongotaha levelled up the score shortly after the restart through captain Courtney Mita.
And cheered on by noisy home support the home side then began to off load the ball quicker and forced Waikite into mistakes.
Ngongotaha's persistence paid off with the try of the game when Thorne Chadwick ran onto a neat high King kick with 14 minutes to go with a crucial Grant conversion.
Waikite battled hard and gave themselves hope through a Jake Marsters try with 3 minutes to go but Putaranui was unable to kick a difficult angled conversion.
The away side rushed play in the dying stages of the game enabling Ngongotaha to cling on to a nail biting victory.
"We botched about three or four tries at the end. We just didn't complete the final passes. Over anxious I suppose," said Waikite head coach Carl Marsters.
"We just needed to be a lot more clinical. We started to play their game and that's what they were trying to do."
The result leaves Ngongotaha with an outside chance of making a top four play-off spot, but they must secure a bonus points win against an impressive Whakarewarewa side away in the final round of the competition next weekend.
They also need to hope fourth placed Poroporo lose to third placed Arataki.
Elsewhere in Premier 2, first placed Whakarewarewa remain unbeaten after a 38-19 away victory over second placed Paroa.
Whilst Marist St Michael's remain bottom of the table after a heavy 67-17 away defeat against Arataki.
Meanwhile in Premier 1, Rotoiti remain in the play-offs mix despite suffering a disappointing 33-20 away defeat against Te Puke.
Rotoiti slid over for three tries with Patrick Aisilble, Manasa Bole and Jesse Acton all touching down with a Logan Henry conversion and penalty.
Rotoiti captain Zac Hohneck said poor ball security cost his team victory.
"You might have possession but if you can only string together three or four phases then you aren't going to crack them," he said.
"When we did get to our fifth phase we either got a penalty or pressure them into some points. We just couldn't manage to do that for long periods today."
Despite the loss Hohneck says there will be no problem getting his team motivated for their crucial home clash against top of the table Mount Maunganui next weekend.
"We love playing the Mount and we are a good enough team to beat anyone when we play to our strengths," he said.
Elsewhere in Premier 1 at the Tauranga Domain Te Puna defeated Tauranga Sports in a major upset.
Whilst defending champions Tauranga Sports lacked urgency and commitment in the final 15 minutes to lose at the Domain to Rangataua Sports last week and again they fell short on their home patch.
The result just adds to the intrigue that is the 2016 Baywide Premier 1 season, with six teams now in the play-offs mix with just next weekend's round robin games to go.
Additional reporting Peter White.
Results:
Baywide Premier 1 Results:
Te Puke 33 Rotoiti 20
Mount Maunganui 34 Greerton Marist 32
Rangataua 34 Whakatane Marist 5
Tauranga Sports 3 Te Puna 5
Baywide Premier 2 Results:
Ngongotaha 24 Waikite 22
Arataki 67 Marist St Michael's 17
Paroa 19 Whakarewarewa 38
Poroporo 42 Opotiki 25
Baywide Premier 1 Points:
Mount Maunganui Sports 28
Rangataua 23
Tauranga Sports 16
Te Puke Sports 16
Rotoiti 16
Te Puna 14
Greerton Marist 6
Whakatane Marist 5
Baywide Premier 2 Points:
Whakarewarewa 30
Paroa 23
Arataki 20
Poroporo 16
Ngongotaha 11
Opotiki 10
Waikite 8
Marist St Michael's 4
Baywide Division 1 Results:
Papamoa 17 Katikati 8
Ruatoki 41 Edgecumbe 24
Te Teko 21 Judea 33
Kahukura 18 Rangiuru 29
Baywide Division 2 Results:
Waimana 41 Eastern Districts 11
Murupara 25 Matata 17
Reporoa 19 Te Teko 3
Eastern Pirates won by default from Taneatua