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

The Easter storms not only brought the advent of winter to our doorstep, but also put the region's rugby back into the local sporting limelight, with summer sports going into their annual recess.

A doubleheader series of Baywide rugby during the Easter break has marked the arrival of the half-way stage of the first round of competition. The balmy days of the season's start are quickly receding, with contenders for season honours at the end of July emerging from the pack.

In the premier title race, Te Puke Sports sit astride the top of the competition leader board, being the only unbeaten team after five matches. The 2011 and 2012 Baywide premier champions have laid down the gauntlet to other contenders, to sit on top of the Baywide standings.

Te Puke's biggest test so far this season came on Easter Saturday, when they took time off from their Jubilee celebrating more than 100 years of rugby in Te Puke, to beat defending Baywide titleholders Tauranga Sports.

The visitors to Murray Salt Stadium made the early running to lead by nine at the break, before Te Puke Sports rebounded in the second spell to post a hard-fought 31-26 victory.

Unlike some recent seasons, this year's Baywide top echelon championship looks like a genuine Baywide championship, with teams from Eastern Bay of Plenty and Rotorua along with the Western Bay contenders, vying for the big prize at Baywide finals day on Saturday, July 26.

Long-time Rotorua heavyweight Whakarewarewa has rebounded from a less than memorable 2013 season to stake a real claim for this year's premier silverware. After four wins on the trot, they lost for the first time on Easter Monday to defending premier title-holders Tauranga Sports. In a match where the team from the sulphur city outscored Tauranga Sports three tries to two – ill discipline cost them dearly, with Tauranga Sports kicker Lewis Hancock adding to his converted try by slotting four penalty goals, to take the Western Bay team to a 24-17 victory.

Hot on the heels of Te Puke Sports and Whakarewarewa, which hold the top two places in the standings, are Tauranga Sports and Mount Maunganui. The Mount was the big mover during the Easter weekend two rounds, squeezing past Te Puna by two points last Thursday night under lights at Maramtanga Park before defeating Greerton Marist 24-13 on Easter Monday.

Lurking just off the top four is Rotoiti, which make Emery Park on the shores of Lake Rotoiti a real fortress for visiting teams, with Rangataua, surviving relegation woes last season, sitting in sixth place.

For the teams down the standings, sits the ever-present relegation zone, where removal to Division One rugby awaits the side that finishes with the wooden spoon. Both Greerton Marist and Opotiki have shown enough to suggest they won't be in relegation danger, with Te Puna and Rangiuru currently holding down in the last two places on the point's ladder.

However, when the wet and muddy condition of June and July arrive, upsets abound, with as much interest at the bottom of the standings as in the top six, vying for the semi-finals.