The encounter between Opotiki and Tauranga Sports was a torrid and tense affair with the Eastern Bay side desperate to take some points from the match in order to keep their play-off hopes alive. Tauranga Sports led 15-12 at halftime, however with a minute remaining Opotiki were in front 25-20. A Tauranga penalty saw the ball kicked into touch and from the ensuing lineout Matt Biu crashed over to tie up the match. The Opotiki spectators watched in trepidation as the conversion attempt missed by a fraction, which saw the game finish 25-all.
At Maramatanga Park in the Western Bay, Te Puna were also desperate for victory against competition leaders Te Puke Sports. A halftime 23-15 lead to Te Puke saw the home side in contention, however Te Puke cut loose, slicing through the gaps for six second-half touchdowns. Jamie Nutbrown and Ben Ward, who was playing his 50th game for the club, grabbed two tries apiece, with Nathan Harris, Sipa Moi Moi, Isaac Takai and Andy Lee also dotting down.
Ace Te Puke kicker Nick McCashin slotted six conversions and four penalty goals, with the Te Puna points coming from tries by Chad Tuoro, Aiden Kuka and Daniel Quate with Darrell Hoiua kicking two conversion and a penalty.
While Opotiki and Te Puna finished the round-robin play on 52 points apiece, Opotiki picked up the fourth play-off spot by beating Te Puna in the second round.
In other Premier clashes, Mount Maunganui got home from Whakarewarewa 21-15, after an arm wrestle in the first spell where the home side took a 3-0 advantage into the break. Rangataua had to fight hard to get past Waikite before posting a narrow 31-28 victory.
The Division One semifinals will see Rangiuru host Te Teko and Paroa taking on Kahukura in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. On Saturday Rangiuru took their winning streak to 17, when they beat Whakatane Marist 59-17 at Centennial Park in Te Puke.
Kahukura won the Rotorua local derby, beating Marist St Michaels 19-6, and Te Teko had a battle with Reporoa before winning 24-17. Paroa cemented a home semifinal, defeating Ngongotaha 36-18. There was bad news for Reporoa when Ruatoki, who had held down last place all season, got up to beat Porororo 30-5, which means Reporoa will be relegated to local rugby next season.
The Colts championship will be decided between Tauranga Sports, Mount Maunganui, Te Puna and defending champions Te Puke Sports. On Saturday Tauranga Sports got past Te Puke Sports 29-17. Te Puna struggled to subdue Marist St Michaels, winning 11-6, with Mount Maunganui proving too strong for Greerton Marist, winning 48-22.
The Baywide Division Two play-offs kicked off with Katikati running over Murupara 82-7, Arataki snatching a 21-18 win over Edgecumbe and Kawerau getting past Eastern Pirates 20-nil.
In the Baywide Senior Reserve playoffs Ngongotaha, Tauranga Sports and Mount Maunganui all posted wins.
