The game started as it was to go on, with a Tauranga Sports mistake allowing Te Aihe Toma to show what a high-quality footballer he is.
He slid in at the corner after an untidy kick-off reception from a new-look Sports team resting several players who will be away on Steamers duty when the knockout rounds arrive.
Steamers halfback Josh Hall looked to have hit back but was denied by a knock on in the process of getting the ball down, leading to more points from the highly-motivated visitors.
Toma made Sports pay for their indiscretions with his boot, before young Ryan Henstock burst through the defensive line to spread even more belief through the Te Puna ranks.
A monster Toma nudge from halfway extended the lead to 21-3, which was trimmed to 21-8 at the break after a Keepa Mewett charge close to the line.
Te Puna came out flying after the break, using their superior scrum to set up a try to Daniel Schuster and restore their 18-point advantage.
A classic 14-point try brought the competition leaders roaring back into the contest - sparking a massive and rapid revival.
Phillip Togotogorua snatched an intercept and raced the distance to bring his side back into the contest, and when Lewis Hancock and Nick Thomson crossed within six minutes of each other, Sports had the lead, 27-26, and were well on top.
Up stepped Toma once more to kick a vital penalty with 10 minutes to play to give his side a two-point lead, which proved enough after a late 38m Paul Morris penalty attempt sailed agonisingly wide of the uprights.
The result does two things: boosts Te Puna's chances of reaching the post season and gives Sports something to think about as they prepare for the playoffs in three weeks' time.
Te Puna now sit in outright fourth place on the ladder and have their destiny completely in their own hands ahead of matches against Opotiki and Whakarewarewa in the final two weeks.
The fact Te Puna can now decide their own fate is down to a boil-over at Greerton Park, where the home side was trumped 20-17 by Whakarewarewa to knock them out of the top four.
The loss is a bitter blow for a Marist side that had been entrenched in the top four for much of the season, with games against Te Puke and Opotiki in prospect in a final fortnight sure to provide plenty of drama.
Opotiki remain in the hunt for a semifinal berth after a 17-17 draw against Te Puke Sports at the weekend. Mount Maunganui beat Paroa 42-20 in the round's other match.
The Mounties, who had been on the wrong side of a number of close scores early in the year, can now ensure themselves of a playoff position with wins against Whakarewarewa and Te Puke Sports over the next fortnight.
In Division One, Rangiuru won the battle between the two top teams, beating Poroporo 27-19 away from home to claim outright possession of first place on the competition ladder with two weeks remaining in the regular season.
The contest shaped as a possible preview of this year's final, and with Rangiuru beating Poroporo twice this season - home and away - they must be favourites to head up to the premier division next year.
A scheduling quirk, in which the end-of-the-club season clashes with the Steamers' pre-season, means the new competition leaders will likely have to do without the services of young boom centre Elijah Nicolas in the knockout rounds.
Kahukura did themselves a big favour in coming away with a gutsy 23-21 win against Ngongotaha. The slim winning margin was good enough to essentially ensure the side a place in the post season as other results went their way on a wild day. Waikite beat Whakatane Marist in a high-scoring affair to climb above Te Teko and into the top four.
The 37-32 score and resulting bonus point leaves Waikite in fourth place - one more than Te Teko - which failed to pick up even a bonus point in their 17-29 loss to Marist St Michael's.
Katikati kept their hopes of gaining promotion to the premier ranks alive by seeing off Ruatoki 20-14.
The win leaves them three points outside the top four with two rounds remaining, with tough games against Poroporo and Kahukura in the final two weeks.
