Rotoiti remain on track for a top-four finish in the Baywide premier rugby competition after grinding out a 20-10 win over Waikite.
It was a physical encounter at Bellvue Rd on Saturday and at 3-3 at halftime the match was either side's for the taking. However Rotoiti scored two second-half tries to take the points and stay third equal on the table.
Rotoiti player/coach Wayne Ormond said his side made it hard for themselves at times but gave credit to a determined Waikite.
"Waikite came out to play and they played hard and physical," he said.
Ormond said captain Jesse Acton was his stand-out player "as he has been all season". With competition tight for the top four positions, Ormond said his side had plenty to improve on.
"We have a lot of work to cover to stay in the top four," he said.
"Looking after the ball a bit more and building pressure to play in their half."
Te Puke entertained Mt Maunganui Sports and romped home 32-5 on the back of a rampant second half, despite playing all but 13 minutes a player down after flanker Michael Hinaki was dished a straight red card for allegedly kicking a Mount player during an all-in brawl, one of three cards handed out during the game with Mount's Mata McGrath (no arms tackle on Simon Chisholm) and Aaron Carroll (head-high tackle) spending time on the sideline.
Te Puke are adamant Hinaki was not the culprit, and with the game on video it is likely the Baywide judiciary will this week hear another side to the melee, although with 20-odd players involved and calm not restored for almost a minute it might be a tough job sorting through the limbs.
Te Puke did it tough minus their flanker but still led 6-5 after a forgettable, error-strewn first half that yielded two penalties through the sweet right boot of Simon Rolleston against a well-taken try to Mount wing Sam Hughes after a perfect cross-field kick from halfback Troye Elvin.
But it was evident the longer the undermanned home side stayed in the clash the more frustrated Mount became.
They did not boost their cause by kicking out on the full a couple of times then failing to find the sideline from a penalty.
It was Chisholm who opened the floodgates in the 55th minute when he burrowed over and Te Puke bagged their bonus-point try when Gideon Uelese dived over in the corner, with the game abandoned several minutes early following another flare-up.
Tauranga Sports' 60-15 thrashing of Whakarewarewa makes this weekend's Domain clash mouthwatering.
Whaka, runners-up in last year's Baywide, are in dire straits, winless after five weeks.
Tauranga Sport have a firm grip on second place behind Te Puke, with their forwards in dominant form, laying the foundation for an eight-tries-to-two rout.
Rotoiti share third place with Te Puna who outmuscled Rangataua 32-7 at home. Greerton Marist upset Opotiki at home in a 42-37 thriller.
Meanwhile, Rangiuru move to the top of the table in division one after beating Paroa 27-17 at their new Centennial park home ground in Te Puke. Te Teko had a narrow win over Whakatane Marist 17-13, Ngongotaha thrashed Ruatoki 47-8, Kahukura beat Reporoa 38-10 and Poroporo narrowly beat Marist St Michael's 17-15.