Top 8 placings on the line in Baywide rugby

Rangataua Sports flanker Jesse Parete loses the ball in a crunching tackle during last week's 71-10 win over Whakarewarewa. Photo / File

With three rounds left to play in the Baywide Premier grade, 10 of the 12 teams are in contention to make the top eight for the championship round.

To have such an even spread through most of the teams is the ideal scenario for any sports competition.

But it is even tighter than that.

Going into tomorrow's round only the top three teams of Te Puna (30 points), Te Puke Sports (28) and Rangataua Sports (28) are safely assured of places in the top eight.

With four points per win and three games to play there is breathing room only between Rangataua Sports (25), Mount Maunganui Sports (21), Rotoiti (21), Whakarewarewa (21), Paroa (20), Greerton Marist (20) and Arataki Sports (18).

Defending champions Rangataua scored the biggest surprise of the season last Saturday when they beat Whakarewarewa at home. The victory was not the surprise but the 71-10 scoreline that no one saw coming.

Rangataua travel to the beautiful setting of Lake Rotoiti tomorrow to play Rotoiti who had a narrow 23-20 win away to Arataki last week.

Coach John O'Loan knows how heavy the clash with Rotoiti will be.

"Rotoiti is a tricky opposition at home or away. Over the past few years, they've had the ability to beat anyone at any time. They're a bit like a ninja jumping out of nowhere and kicking you in the butt when you least expect it," he said.

"You've got to take the game away from them by holding on to the ball. They like to attack, and they'll do it from anywhere, so we've just got to keep our wits about us and play smart rugby."

He says a win is really important to keep the momentum going.

"We had a great win last week but if we don't back that performance up with something similar we can only consider it a one off and one-off performances aren't good enough to reclaim titles. A win will also help with confidence knowing that we can go away to challenging clubs and win well."

At Greerton Park the match-up between Greerton Marist and Paroa has much riding on it. The teams are only separated by points for and against.

Greerton need to get the win because Paroa have a game in hand after their game with Rotoiti was abandoned due to an on-field injury delay.

In Division 1 there is a passionate local derby between Rangiuru and Papamoa at Centennial Park in Te Puke.

Papamoa coach Paul Sloane is confident his team will produce a strong performance.

"We need to get back to our systems and put the last couple of weeks behind us. We need to get back to our strengths which are our ball carrying and decision making and go about things a little bit better," Sloane said.

He is hoping to receive plenty of support from the Papamoa supporters for the short journey to Rangiuru's headquarters.

"It is a local derby, and we expect them to come along and support."

Premier and Development
Premier kick-off 2.45pm, Development 1pm
Mount Maunganui Sports v Whakatane Marist at Blake Park
Tauranga Sports v Poroporo at Tauranga Domain
Rotoiti v Rangataua at Emery Park
Greerton Marist v Paroa at Greerton Park
Whakarewarewa v Te Puke Sports at Puarenga Park
Te Puna v Arataki at Maramatanga Park

Division 1
Kick-off 2.45pm
Opotiki v Ngongotaha at Princess St Reserve
Waikite v Kahukura at Bellevue Road
Ruatoki v Te Teko at Tuhoe Park
Katikati v Waimana at Moore Park
Judea v Marist St Michael's at Maharaia Winiata Memorial Park
Rangiuru v Papamoa at Centennial Park

Baywide Premier Women
Saturday, kick-off 1pm
Rangiuru v Rangataua at Centennial Park
Sunday, kick-off 1pm
Whakarewarewa v Te Whanau Apanui at Puarenga Park
Waimana v Waikite - scheduled for Queen's Birthday Weekend
Rotoiti - Bye