Rugby: Join the crowd for as squads turn up heat for next round

Mount Maunganui's Andy Devoy crashes into Te Puke's Elliott Hagen in last round's game between the Baywide heavyweights. Photo / Andrew Warner

Sage old rugby followers have indicated this season is one of the most competitive and entertaining club rugby seasons in living memory. And who could argue with them?

With four rounds to go, there is no certainty who will fill the top four places and bottom- placed Rangiuru are still an outside chance of avoiding relegation.

Te Puke have led for all but one week of the Baywide Bayfair premier season and their showdown tomorrow against second-placed Mount Maunganui deserves a crowd at Murray Salt Stadium big enough to cause rare traffic jams in Te Puke.

Add in the bigger picture of the Bay of Plenty Steamers to be named on Monday night, and this game should be a real indicator of just how good the players are under pressure.

Back in April, Mount Maunganui humbled Te Puke 53-10 at Blake Park but no one is expecting a scoreline like that again.

Te Puke's head coach Craig Jeffries says: "It's going to be a massive game for us, especially after Greerton gave Mount a tickle up last week.

"They are a strong side and punished us in the last round so we know how much of a challenge its going to be. It should be a pretty entertaining couple of games with the development teams being evenly matched also."

Mount Maunganui head coach Rodney Voullaire says Te Puke definitely deserve to be where they are on the table.

"Our team is 90 per cent back to full strength from the 12 current players on the injury list and we can't wait," Voullaire said. "We are all looking forward to the challenge specially at their home ground with their ever-so-quiet crowd!

"It won't be the whitewash it was when we last played; a match that I'll never forget. We're expecting the biggest challenge to date and we're hoping for a dry track.

"I'm sure both teams can put on another memorable day of hopefully top-class club footy, and there are a number of boys from both teams wanting to impress the Steamers coaches. Game on."

Greerton Marist lie in fifth place, just two points behind Whakarewarewa and three adrift of third-placed Tauranga Sports. Greerton will hope their cross-town mates Te Puna can knock over Whakarewarewa at Maramatanga Park, while they do the business on the road against Opotiki. It should be a fascinating round of club rugby. If you have not been to a game yet, do so this weekend. You will not regret it.

Bayfair Baywide draw, June 21
(Development 1pm, Premier 2.45pm)

Te Puke Sports vs Mount Maunganui Sports at Murray Salt Stadium; Tauranga Sports vs Rangiuru at Tauranga Domain; Rangataua Sports vs Rotoiti at Te Ariki Park; Te Puna vs Whakarewarewa at Maramatanga Park; Opotiki vs Greerton Marist at Princess Street Reserve.

Premier points: Te Puke 53, Mt Maunganui 49, Tauranga 45, Whakarewarewa 44, Greerton Marist 42, Rotoiti 31, Opotiki 25, Rangataua 25, Te Puna 23, Rangiuru 15.