Two tries to dashing fullback Marcus Kennedy and accurate goal kicking from first five Reece Macdonald had Arataki 15-6 up after playing into a first half breeze.
Another penalty and a snap drop goal had Arataki seemingly safe at 21-6 but the immense pride in the Rangataua camp showed as they fought back after the introduction of Ruki Tipuna and evergreen Matua Parkinson.
An ugly incident that involved both forward packs was a blight on an outstanding game but it sparked Rangataua into two late tries to centre Timoti Gardiner to set up an exciting final few minutes.
But Arataki held their nerve to record a famous win for the club.
The introduction of three young international players from Inside Running in Scotland's Kennedy, 18, England's Lloyd-Jones, 19, and halfback Momotaro Niwa, 18, from Japan/Malaysia, plus giant young Australian lock Ricky van der Heyden, has made a significant impact on the team.
Coach Russell was thrilled with his young charges and says continuity was the key to the win.
"We have been trying to instil that into the team and I'd like to think they showed that today. We are a very young team. I am 33 and I am the coach," he said.
"But the players themselves have really taken an onus to be quite professional in themselves with a lot of them in the academies and fringe representative rugby.
"We are just trying to gel them all together."
Focusing on the performance and not the result is the mantra from Russell to his boys - so far that approach is working wonders for Arataki.
"Regardless of whether we win or lose, as long as we are performing well then I am happy. Over the last four weeks the performance has spoken for itself."
One of the undoubted stars for Arataki was first five Macdonald, a Bay of Plenty under-19 rep and just two years out of school.
He is hard to miss with his red hair and refusal to back down against forwards who look to monster him at every chance they get.
"Right from the beginning today we set out to play our game and not worry about them. So we just tried to stick to our patterns, our structures and just let the performance do its thing," Macdonald said.
"It is a huge step up. Last year we were battling in the first round and we only got one win and now we already have four from five. I think it is just the team is growing and it is good."
Baywide results:
Premier: Arataki 21 Rangataua 16, Greerton Marist 55 Poroporo 6, Rotoiti 17 Tauranga Sports 17.
Postponed: Whakarewarewa v Whakatane Marist (Easter Monday), Te Puna v Mount Maunganui, Te Puke Sports v Paroa.
Division One: Papamoa 14 Marist St Michaels 12, Waikite 19 Judea 13, Rangiuru 27 Te Teko 25, Ngongotaha 65 Waimana 5.
Postponed: Katikati v Ruatoki, Opotiki v Kahukura.
Development: Arataki 31 Rangataua 10, Greerton Marist 39 Poroporo 7, Tauranga Sports 55 Rotoiti 27.
Postponed: Whakarewarewa v Whakatane Marist (Easter Monday), Te Puna v Mount Maunganui, Te Puke Sports v Paroa.
