WBOP club rugby: No promotion for Papamoa

BIG RUN: Action from Judea v Papamoa on Saturday. PHOTO: Merle Seeling

Papamoa went into the Baywide Division One clash with Judea at Gordon Spratt Reserve on Saturday with a theoretical chance of grabbing the final berth in the Premier Two championship.

They needed to beat Judea and rely upon Marist St Michael's being beaten by Te Teko.

Their match was up for grabs at the halftime break with Papamoa having a narrow 19-12 advantage. While Judea ran in their third try in the second half, Papamoa came back with a further 14 points to take out the encounter 33-19.

However, an after-match phone call torpedoed Papamoa's chances of promotion with the news that Te Teko had defaulted to Marist St Michael's.

Papamoa were extremely disappointed but are now focusing on winning the Baywide Division One title in the second half of the season. They will be joined in the title race by last season's runners-up Judea, Rangiuru and Katikati.

Mount Maunganui and Tauranga Sports went into the Western Bay of Plenty Sub-Union Senior Reserve first round final at Blake Park with just a solitary loss each.

Mount Maunganui had the majority of possession in the first half playing into the wind. The home team scored the only try of the opening spell when James McGrath dotted down under the posts with Luke Hollinshead adding the conversion for a 7-0 lead at halftime.

Tauranga narrowed the gap with a try early in the second spell. Leighton Fowler grabbed the Mount's second try 25 minutes into the second half with the conversion taking then out to a 14-5 lead. Tauranga came back on attack in the last 10 minutes but couldn't break the host's defensive line.

Mount Maunganui team management singled out the efforts of midfielders Leighton Fowler and Paul Speedy, with Speedy travelling from Edgecumbe each week to train and play.

Te Puke Sports Premier side retained the Jordan Cup when they repelled the challenge of Te Puna for the second week in a row. The Te Puke team led 24-18 at the break before taking out the game 32-26.

The Jordan Cup will next be on the line against Tauranga Sports at Tauranga Domain on June 24.

Results:
Jordan Cup (WBOPRFS Premier Challenge Trophy) Te Puke Sports 32 Te Puna 26 - HT24-18.
Division One: Papamoa 33 Judea 19, Rangiuru 45 Katikati 20.
Points Table: Ngongotaha 53, Waikite 46, Opotiki 38, Marist St Michaels 37, Papamoa 35, Te Teko 27, Waimana 24, Kahukura 23, Rangiuru 22, Judea 21, Ruatoki 16, Katikati 0.
Development: Greerton Marist 40 Whakarewarewa 22, Mount Maunganui 61 Rangataua 5, Tauranga Sports 36 Rotoiti 15. Te Puna 37 Te Puke Sports 26.
WBOPRFS Senior Reserve First Round Final: Mount Maunganui 14 Tauranga Sports 5 - HT 7-0.