Sideline Sid Sports correspondent & historian www.sunlive.co.nz

Each Saturday afternoon since Sideline Sid has been on his Queensland sojourn, he has received a mid-afternoon text with the days Baywide rugby results.

The Baywide results service sent to a myriad of Bay of Plenty club rugby contacts before the days after-match speeches - is just another small contribution from several of the many Bay of Plenty Rugby volunteers who contribute their time to the game in the Bay.

Last weekends text, revealed the finalists in each of the five Baywide championships to be played out this Saturday.

The Premier One title will be fought out between the two front runners in the season long top-echelon competition.

Te Puke Sports who finished at the top of the standings to take out the minor premiership, will square off with Te Puna, who grabbed the First Round competition title.

Both teams that will take centre stage on the weekend, posted comprehensive semi-final victories, with Te Puke Sports bulldozing last years champions Mount Maunganui 36-6 and Te Puna toppling Tauranga Sports 39-17.

The Te Puna victory reversed a heartbreaking one point loss to the Tauranga city side in the preliminary competition.

The Te Puke Pirates have tasted Baywide premier success winning the Baywide top prize in 2011 and 2012.

However, the blue and black brigade from Maramatanga Park are journeying into the unknown, with their first Baywide finals appearance since Baywide rugby kicked off over two decades ago.

Testament to the depth of players in both the Te Puke Sports and Te Puna ranks, is that the two clubs will also contest the Baywide Development championship title decider, in a replay of last seasons final taken out by the Te Puke side.

A second Te Puke region club has the opportunity to win Baywide silverware, with Rangiuru set to fight out the Premier Two Championship against Te Teko, in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

The club that calls Te Puke's Centennial Park home, has had a inspirational 2018 season, after nearly claiming the Div One wooden spoon last year.

Former Rangiuru superstar Simon Rolleston, in his first season of coaching, has taken his Rangiuru troops to the cusp of a Baywide crown.

There was plenty of sympathy abounding after semi-final results were posted, with Judea losing out on advancing to the Division One final on the toss of a coin, after twenty minutes of extra time couldn't resolve a 27 all deadlock.

The Western Bay club tucked away at Maharia Winiata Park goes about their rugby business each season with little fanfare.

Built upon over one hundred years of Tauranga rugby history and a strong family base, the little (rugby) club that can - should hold their heads up with pride, after their season aspirations were decided by coin toss rather than on the field of play.

Katikati were a further Western Bay side to finish on the wrong side of the results ledger on the weekend.

Contesting the Division Two title decider, with a season-long 2019 Baywide spot on the line, the Katikati boys were beaten by just two points going down to Reporoa 29-27 in a cliffhanger.

Good luck to Te Puke Sports, Te Puna and Rangiuru as they chase Baywide success on Saturday.