However, burly prop Fisi'ihoi crashed over for his second try to end the contest.
"It is an awesome feeling actually," said Royal, "especially here against a strong team like Tauranga. We came off three big losses and had nothing to lose so wanted to just back ourselves.
"We knew they had a pretty dominant and pretty experienced forward pack with Pingi [Talapataga] and Keepa [Mewat] in there. We wanted to meet them up-front early on and if we could hang with them we knew we could last the 80. I am proud of the boys and proud of the whole team, really."
A player to watch is 19-year-old Rotoiti halfback Logan Henry, who kicked goals well and looks a fine prospect with a sharp pass and plenty of pace.
"He is a young talent coming through," said Royal. "He came up from Wellington, where he went to school but he is a Rotorua and Bay of Plenty boy. I just hope the powers that be maybe give him a chance with the Steamers with us. For a young guy of only 19 he is real professional about what he does, he trains well and goes hard."
Being yellow-carded was a new experience for Royal.
"Jesse's [Acton] was for no arms and late, and mine was just continuous offending. It is actually my first card ever in a game at any level so that is a bit disappointing."
The result was a new experience for Zane Winslade, who suffered his first defeat in his debut season as Tauranga coach.
"Every team fronts up against us and they always bring their A game it seems, and they are out to get us. This round is not where championships are won so it is probably more dangerous to go through a season unbeaten then head into playoffs," he said.
Whakatane Marist won their sixth straight game in some style with an emphatic 45-18 home win over Whakarewarewa to go six points clear at the top.
Te Puna moved into the top four after a 29-27 win over Mount Maunganui at Blake Park. Captain Te Aihe Toma calmly slotted a long-range penalty goal in the final minute to win the match and the Jordan Cup (WBOP Challenge Trophy).
Results:
Baywide Premier
Rotoiti 25 (Siegfried Fisi'ihoi 2, Joseph Royal tries; Logan Henry 2 cons, 2 pens) Tauranga Sports 18 (Allen McRobbie, George Honey tries; John Dodd con, pen; Paul Morris pen) HT: 14-3
Te Puna 29 (Mike Bidois, Shahn Eru, Pomare Pearson tries; Te Aihe Toma 3 pen, Rob Dunne pen, con) Mount Maunganui 27 (Jonty Wood, Sam Mayes, Danny Kayes tries; Pera Gibbs 3 con, 2 pen) HT 10-17
Te Puke Sports 43 (Caleb Hall 2, Andy Lee, Danny Underwood, Graydon Scheres, Stevie Coffin tries; Andy Lee 4 con) Paroa 17 (Jamie Porter, Maikeli Sivo, Kurt Baker tries; K Baker con) HT 14-10
Rangataua 45 (Carlin Tata 2, Timoti Gardiner, Kemble Frost, Alex Jessop tries; Joel Little 5 con) Arataki 14.
Whakatane Marist 45 Whakarewarewa 18 (Te Rangi Fraser, Andy Noble, Maake Taulahi tries Te Rangi Fraser can) HT 26-13.
Greerton Marist 42 v Opotiki 3.
Baywide Development
Te Puke Sports 89 v Paroa 0, Greerton Marist 23 v Opotiki 19, Tauranga Sports 105 v Rotoiti 0, Mount Maunganui 21 v Te Puna 11, Whakatane Marist 38 v Whakarewarewa 26, Arataki 60 v Rangataua 5.
Baywide Division 1
Judea 30 v Ruatoki 17, Marist St Michael's 38 v Rangiuru 26, Katikati 24 v Kahukura 11, Poroporo 50 v Te Teko 19, Ngongotaha 12 v Waikite 8, Papamoa Bye.
Baywide Premier Points:
Whakatane Marist 30, Tauranga Sports 24, Mount Maunganui Sports 23, Te Puna 22, Te Puke Sports 22, Rangataua 15, Rotoiti 10, Whakarewarewa 8, Opotiki 7, Arataki 5, Paroa 4.
