Rugby: Loss leaves Sports on shaky ground

Sioasi Iongi about to score for Rangataua in the win over Tauranga Sports, in the big upset of the Bayfair Baywide premier competition on Saturday. Photo/Andrew Warner

A scintillating 33-point second half from Rangataua has well and truly thrown the cat among the pigeons in the Bayfair Baywide premier club rugby competition.

Trailing Tauranga Sports 19-6 at halftime after being outclassed in the opening stanza, Rangataua exploded with five tries in a breathtaking display that has left the defending champions on the cusp of slipping out of the top four.

Raging centre Siaosi Iongi's hat-trick set the crowd abuzz, with the former Tongan Sevens player's impressive performance enough to deliver the club's first away win over Tauranga Sports in a decade.

Iongi, who has dotted down 12 times already this season, is one of four players selected from the club to trial for the Bay of Plenty Steamers, and is a large reason why Rangataua remain in the playoff hunt in seventh place.

That upset was one of a number of close matches throughout the region.

Mount Maunganui scrapped harder than expected in recording a three-tries-to-two victory over an improving Rangiuru at Blake Park, while Te Puna managed to pick up the points in a low-scoring affair against Opotiki.

The tightest match was contested between Whakarewarewa and Rotoiti, with the result coming down to the final seconds when John Ririnui stepped up to slot a difficult conversion, breaking Rotoiti hearts to steal the match 22-21.

Te Puke Sports kept their healthy competition lead by delivering the weekend's most lopsided result of 28-6 against Greerton Marist.

The results mean Tauranga slips back into fourth spot, 11 points back of Te Puke Sports.

Whakarewarewa lie in wait a further three points back, but have the luxury of a guaranteed five competition points and just one match over Queen's Birthday weekend following the union's decision to allow their round 12 match with Opotiki to be played in the pre-season.