A logjam in the middle of the Seeka KI Western BOP championship sets up a number of vital clashes tomorrow for the four teams with semifinal aspirations.
While defending title holders Tauranga Sports head the standings with 14 points, followed by Arataki on 12 and Rangataua on 10 points, Mount Maunganui, Rangiuru, Matakana Island and Judea are locked together with eight points apiece.
Mount Maunganui and Rangiuru will face each other in Te Puke, with the winners taking a big step towards playing post-section rugby in June. While Mount Maunganui have lost three encounters this season, all three games have gone down to the wire. Last weekend's match with Judea was another to be in doubt until the final whistle, with Judea taking home a narrow 33-29 victory.
Rangiuru, who now call Centennial Park in Te Puke home, are a team who seem to perform much better at their headquarters than on the road. However, they have taken the scalps of Rangataua, who sit in third place, Eastern Districts, Judea and Te Puke Sports.
Matakana Island, also locked in the mid-table logjam, will meet their closest neighbours when Te Puna travel on the barge to the island in Tauranga Harbour. While Te Puna have posted just two victories in the title race, they provided Arataki with their only loss of the season two weeks ago and could give the Matakana side a good shake.
Tauranga Sports' unbeaten record could get a stern test this weekend, when second-placed Arataki pay a visit to the Tauranga Domain. Also at stake is the Western Bay challenge prize of the Hardy Rosebowl.
In other local rugby action, Te Puke Sports host Greerton Marist, Judea should account for Eastern Districts at the Paengaroa Domain, with Rangataua travelling to play Katikati at Moore Park.
The right to be crowned the 2013 WBOPRFS Colts champions takes its penultimate step, with the semifinals at the weekend.
Top qualifiers and defending Western Bay title-holders Mount Maunganui take on Tauranga Sports at Blake Park.
The first time the two sides met this season, Mount Maunganui ground out a tough 18-15 win.
It may seem like Groundhog Day to Te Puke Sports and Greerton Marist when they square off at Murray Salt Stadium.
Just last weekend, the two age-group contenders met at Te Puke headquarters, with the home side grabbing a close 14-12 decision.
Western BOP Senior points table:
Tauranga Sports 14, Arataki 12, Rangataua 10, Mount Maunganui 8, Rangiuru 8, Judea 8, Matakana Island 8, Te Puna 4, Te Puke Sports 4, Katikati 4, Greerton Marist 2, Eastern Districts 2.