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

On the surface our national game looks to be in good health. The All Blacks were in awesome form last Saturday night, with a number of newcomers making the transition from Super Rugby with ease.

Expectations are high for the Bay of Plenty Steamers in the lead-up into the National Provincial Championship and top level Baywide club rugby has seen exciting encounters and a myriad of supporters on the sideline each week.

However, the numbers playing age group rugby in the Bay is of real concern. Just eight Baywide Colts sides are chasing the McIntosh Shield, with one of the teams being a Taupo side, playing by invitation in the Bay of Plenty competition.

In recent seasons it had been mandatory for premier club teams to also field a Baywide Colts side. With the relaxation of the rule, the number of Bay of Plenty Colts sides has plummeted from 15 teams two years ago to just seven in 2013.

The real problem is the numbers that drop out of secondary school rugby and don't progress to the age group and senior game. This isn't just a local rugby problem, but is shared by rugby unions throughout the country and is common in most other major sports in New Zealand.

There are plenty of positives in Bay of Plenty rugby at present, with effective club competitions and well structured player, coach and referee development programmes. One of the real challenges sitting in front of Bay rugby is to retain the large number of secondary school players and ensure they remain in the game when they leave school. Sideline Sid would suggest there are no easy answers, but strategies put in place in now will play dividends in the long term future of grassroots rugby in the Bay.

With just five weeks before the Baywide playoffs there is real intensity in the flagship premier division, with six teams chasing the remaining three playoff spots. Tauranga Sports have put an 18 break on the field in the premier title race and barring a major meltdown should qualify in the top spot. Defending champions Te Puke Sports in spite of an upset defeat inflicted by Rotoiti at the weekend, sit comfortably in second place.

The intensity will come in the next group of five teams, all in contention for the semi-finals. The big improver in 2013 has been Greerton Marist, who were in the relegation battle most of last year, after earning a premier place the previous season. Sitting in third place they have earned respect as genuine playoff contenders.

Then just four points separate Te Puna, Mount Maunganui, Rotoiti and Opotiki. It is equally as tight at the bottom of the standings, with Rangataua and Paroa fighting for Baywide premier survival next season. With both sides locked on 13 points apiece, the decider could be round 17 where Rangataua and Paroa square off at Te Ariki Park in the Western Bay.

The key match-up this Saturday (June 22, 2013) is the Mount Maunganui visit to the Eastern Bay of Plenty, to square off against Opotiki. A fiercely parochial home crowd are worth a points start and the Mount will do well to return home from the Eastern Bay with some points on their ledger card.

A Western Bay match-up on Saturday could well produce the game of round 14. While the current standings would suggest otherwise, the game between Rangataua and Te Puna at Te Ariki Park, is likely to produce a battle royal with encounters between the two arch rivals invariably going down to the wire.

Seeya at the Game!