Sports correspondent & historian with Sideline Sid

The business end of the Bay of Plenty Rugby premier rugby competitions kicks off on Saturday after the preliminary rounds were completed last weekend.

Seven Western Bay sides were joined by three teams from the Sulphur City, in mid-April, with sights fixed upon becoming the 34th Baywide premier titleholder.

Nine preliminary rounds saw Te Puke Sports, Greerton Marist, Te Puna, Tauranga Sports, Whakarewarewa and Rangataua, finish in the top six, to contest the Baywide Premiership over the next seven weeks.

A suprise of the final standings was the relegation of six-time Baywide champions Mount Maunganui, to the bottom four. Mount Maunganui lost to all five Western Bay sides that finished in the top echelon, albeit in a couple of close contests.

The Green and Gold brigade that call Blake Park home, should repeat their first round steamrolling of Marist St Michaels, Judea and Ngongotaha, in the Baywide Championship playoffs.

Local senior club rugby followers can look forward to five rounds of intense contests before the premiership semi-finalists emerge in mid-July.

For the first time, teams will carry their first-round points into the business end of the season.

Now, to who will have their name engraved on the 2024 Baywide Premier trophy.

Starting at the bottom of the premiership contenders, Rangataua appears to lack the current points necessary to qualify for the top four.

Rotorua heavyweight, Whakarewarewa, lurk just three points behind Te Puna and Tauranga Sports who sit in third equal spot on the current standings.

Nine time Baywide champions Tauranga Sports lost three times to Te Puna (31-27) Greerton Marist (28-27) and Te Puke Sports (40-10). The two close losses suggest that the Tauranga Domain based unit is not far off the pace to make the semifinals.

Tauranga Sports key match is likely to be against Whakarewarewa in enemy territory on the 29th of June.

Defending titleholders Te Puna have just two stains of defeat on their current ledger card. What is a little concerning when assessing title chances, were the size of the losses to Te Puke Sports (48-21) and Greerton Marist (43-12).

Greerton Marist has made a huge leap from seventh in last year’s premier title race to sit in second place on the 2024 points table.

Last weekend, they showcased their ammunition necessary to win their first Baywide crown, in their victory over Te Puna. The Greerton title contenders put on 31 unanswered points in the first half before going on to a 43-12 win.

Just a first round loss to Greerton Marist sits on the Te Puke Sports season record card. There is no better testament to the Te Puke Sports power than last weekend’s 40-10 demolition of Tauranga Sports.

While the Te Puke Pirated held a modest 16-3 lead at the halftime break they ran in four second half touchdowns to post an impressive 40-10 win.

Gazing into my crystal ball of the future, I can see Te Puke Sports continuing their golden run of form to make the Baywide Grand Final. As for the second finalist - my pick is Te Puna, with Whakarewarewa the smokey to book a place in the title decider.