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

Sideline Sid was up front and personal with the realities of defeat and triumph last Saturday at Greerton Park where the BOPRU Baywide club rugby finals were played.

Assisting with the presentation of trophies duties is a riveting way to get a close up and personal view of the joy and jubilation of victory and the despair and heartache of defeat.

The ten teams that took to Greerton Park in the five Baywide finals had little idea of the range of emotions that they would encounter eighty minutes later, after the stark reality of winning and losing in their individual assignments.

There was no better illustration of the highs and lows experienced on the day, than the Premier match-up between Te Puke Sports and Rotorua warriors Whakarewarewa.

While the Rotorua side had enjoyed the joy of winning Baywide and Inter-City silverware in the past – the Te Puke side wanted to get the monkey off their back of four previous Baywide finals appearances without success.

In an encounter where the perceived advantage changed several times, Whaka made the early running and led 12-3 at halftime.

The lead was stretched further with a Whaka penalty goal, before the Western Bay team roared back into the match half way through the second half.

Two tries in four minutes to Te Puke hooker Simon Chisholm changed the complexion of the game midway through the second spell.

Te Puke simply took the game by the scruff of the neck in an endeavour to grab their first piece of Baywide silverware.

Feverous Te Puke Sports' desire for their first piece of Baywide silverware took over as they surged to an 18-15 lead.

However, a further Whaka penalty goal locked the score up at 18-all.

As the clock ticked down and the prospect of extra time loomed, Simon Rolleston grabbed the match for Te Puke with magnificent field goal.

Standing 50 metres from the goal posts Rolleston steadied and drop kicked the ball and with the referee tracking the flight of the attempt – the ball sailed between the upright with just three minutes remaining in the encounter.

In spite of urgent attempts by the Rotorua team to score, Te Puke Sports held on to take out the Baywide Premier title 21-18.

The final whistle produced absolute jubilation from the large band of Te Puke Sports supporters, who were on hand to cheer their team home to victory.

The presentation of medals and the Baywide trophy took some time to get underway as the Te Puke supporters simply surged onto the field in back thumping joy.

Just metres away, the Whakarewarewa players sat dejectedly on the ground with heads hung low in defeat. However, the Whaka skipper made no excuses in his speech and said that the better team on the day had triumphed, thanked his players for their season long contribution to the team, and reserved special praise for the band of Whaka followers.

In the other match-ups on Baywide finals day, Greerton Marist won its second piece of Baywide silverware in the last decade, taking out the division one title when they upset hot favourites Te Teko 31-21.

Eastern Bay side Poroporo sneaked past Arataki 19-18 in the div two final, Te Puke Sports Colts provided double celebration for their club beating Greerton Marist 24-14, with Mount Maunganui retaining the senior reserve crown getting past Ngongotaha 30-19.

Seeya at the Steamers Game.