Rugby: Rotoiti cause major boilover

Rotoiti handed Mount Maunganui their first loss in almost a month with a 24-18 thriller at Emery Park.

Although the Mount remain in the top four of the Baywide premiership competition, before the round began it seemed the true contenders for this year's Bayfair Baywide premier rugby crown had been found.

After nearly three months of action, Tauranga Sports (58), Te Puke Sports (43), Greerton Marist (35) and Mount Maunganui (33) had opened up a gap on the rest of a division until the latest round.

Te Puna (29) now sits just outside the top four after their surprise 25-24 win over Greerton.

Whakarewarewa (26) now see themselves slipping further from semifinal contention after the side lost their fifth straight game to Paroa 11-8.

Tauranga Sport continues to lead the division after beating Opotiki 29-24, while Te Puke are still second after beating Rangataua 31-22.

Division One's results were a little bit more in line with expectations. Competition leaders Rangiuru ran out 29-12 winners over Ngongotaha to remain top, while second-placed Poroporo did their title aspirations no harm by overcoming third-placed Kahukura 34-22.

Ruatoki remain winless so far this season despite putting in a decent effort in falling to Whakatane Marist 30-19, while the round's two other matches both proved tight struggles.

Katikati kept their season rolling by holding off Marist St Michael's 17-14, while Te Teko snuck by Waikite 23-22 to create a real logjam of teams placed third to seventh on the ladder with just six regular season rounds remaining.

Scorers:

Premier; Te Puke Sports 31 (Sipa Moimoi, Tim Bond, Jimmy Roberts, Simon Chisholm, Ben Ward tries; Carlos Savage 3 cons) beat Rangataua 22 (Carlin Tata, Noel Rameka, Timoti Gardiner, Daniel Groot tries; D Groot con) HT 12-12.

Paroa 11 (Jason Hona try; McKenzie McGougan 2 pens) beat Whakarewarewa 8 (Chris van der Vlugt try; John Ririnui pen) HT 8-3.

Te Puna 25 (Lance MacDonald 2, Te Aihe Toma tries; Rawiri Kuka 2 pens, 2 cons) beat Greerton Marist 24 (Joe Key, Tim O'Malley tries; T O'Malley 4 pens, con) HT 10-18.

Rotoiti 24 (Jose Tawake 2, Joe Royal tries; Willie Ripia 2 pens, con) beat Mount Maunganui 18 (Zar Lawrence, Sam Gavigan tries; Matt Golding pen, con; Sam Beard pen) HT 18-10.

Tauranga Sports 29 (Lewis Hancock 2, Josh Hall tries; Paul Morris 4 pens, con) beat Opotiki 24 (Dean Elmiger, Tareha Walker, Kiwi Biddle, Maka Smith tries; Te Amo Wilbore 2 cons) HT 8-12.

Division One:

Katikati 17 beat Marist St Michael's 14, Te Teko 23 beat Waikite 22, Whakatane Marist 30 beat Ruatoki 19, Poroporo 34 beat Kahukura 22, Rangiuru 29 beat Ngongotaha 12.

Points table: Tauranga Sports 58, Te Puke Sports 43, Greerton Marist 35, Mount Maunganui 33, Te Puna 29, Rotoiti 26, Whakarewarewa 26, Opotiki 25, Paroa 13, Rangataua 12.