With the race for the PGG Wrightson Baywide semifinals hotting up - another premier encounter of interest is the clash at Maramatanga Park between Te Puna and Opotiki.
Both teams have gone through a top echelon renaissance this year and have stamped their mark as genuine semifinal contenders. Last weekend's results showed the mettle of both teams, with Opotiki dispatching Rotoiti 37-25 while Te Puna gave multiple Baywide champions Tauranga Sports a shake before tasting a 22-25 defeat.
Another similarity that the two sides share is a strong community base, with a large band of supporters always on hand at the Princess Street Reserve in Opotiki and Te Puna's Western Bay Headquarters at Maramatanga Park.
Such has been the progress of the two sides in the past twelve months, that they both supplied several players to the two Bay trial teams that played in a tri-series hit out in Rotorua on Wednesday.
Opotiki twin brothers Te Hata and Te Amo Wilbore along with Tareha Walker played in the first trial, while John Pareanga and Lance MacDonald from Te Puna took the field against a Chiefs XV.
The Maramatanga Park match-up should be a battle of attrition, with both teams having forward packs that take few backward steps.
Both sides possess form players of recent Baywide rounds. Opotiki kicker Sam Howe is a match winner, with former New Zealand Sevens player Chad Tuoro in grand form, as evidenced by his two tries against Tauranga Sports.
While Te Puke Sports will be expected to despatch Rangataua at Te Ariki Park, the home side belied their lowly standing last week to earn a draw with Whakarewarewa in Rotorua.
However the Te Puke side are chasing back to back championships and have registered just a solitary loss this season.
Tauranga Sports will be heavily favoured when the pay a visit to Greerton Park to play Greerton Marist, while Waikite could struggle against Mount Maunganui, although the Rotorua sidehas home ground advantage.
Rangiuru are currently running away with the division one title race.
Last weekend the expected close encounter with Kahukura saw the Te Puke side waltz away from Kahukura posting an emphatic 46-13 win. This week Rangiuru meet Marist St Michaels at Rangiuru HQ.
Second placed Paroa who are only five points adrift of Rangiuru, could receive a good challenge when the face off against fellow Eastern Bay side Whakatane Marist.
Ngongotaha have home turf advantage against Te Teko who suffered a surprise defeat to Poroporo last week. Kahukura travel to play Poroporo while Ruatoki host Reporoa.
A fresh sheet greets the six teams who kick off the Colts championship round tomorrow. Five Western Bay teams and Marist St Michaels from Rotorua, will battle for the right to hold the McIntosh Shield aloft on Baywide Finals day.
First round winners Mount Maunganui who suffered just one defeat in preliminary face Te Puna in the curtain raiser at Maramatanga Park. Defending champions Te Puke Sports are at home to Marist St Michaels, with Greerton Marist and Tauranga Sports squaring off at Greerton Park.
PGG Wrightson Baywide Rugby draws:
Premier (2.45pm); Rangataua v Te Puke Sports, Te Ariki Park; Rotoiti v Whakarewarewa, Emery Park; Te Puna v Opotiki, Maramatanga Park; Greerton Marist v Tauranga Sports, Greerton Park; Waikite v Mount Maunganui, Bellvue Road.
Points Table: Te Puke Sports 57, Tauranga Sports 50, Opotiki 43, Te Puna 39, Rotoiti 39, Whakarewarewa 35, Mount Maunganui 30, Rangataua 13, Greerton Marist 12, Waikite 7.
Division One (2.45); Ngongotaha v Te Teko, Ngongotaha Domain; Paroa v Whakatane Marist, Lawson Park; Rangiuru v Marist St Michaels, Centennial Park; Poroporo v Kahukura, Poroporo Park; Ruatoki v Reporoa, Tuhoe Park.
Points Table: Rangiuru 59, Paroa 54, Kahukura 46, Te Teko 40, Whakatane Marist 37, Ngongotaha 33, Poroporo 27, Marist St Michaels 25, Reporoa 8, Ruatoki 2.
Colts (1pm); Section One: Greerton Marist v Tauranga Sports, Greerton Park; Te Puke Sports v Marist St Michaels, Murray Salt Stadium; Te Puna v Mount Maunganui, Maramatanga Park - Section Two: Rotoiti v Rangataua, Emery Park; Whakarewarewa v Waikite, Puarenga Park; Opotiki v Kahukura, Opotiki; Ruatoki the bye.
