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

The arrival of winter always seems to crank up the intensity in the Bay of Plenty club rugby competitions.

With just three rounds remaining in the Bayfair Baywide divisions before the playoffs, there's plenty of drama to come in the title races.

In the Premier ranks, Tauranga Sports and Te Puke Sports have all but secured a home semi-final apiece.

Tauranga Sports have banked a bonus point for four tries (or better) in all eight Baywide matches to sit astride the top of the standings with 40 points.

Te Puke Sports also remain unbeaten in the Baywide competition and sit just three points adrift of the leader.

Lurking just off the pace in third place is defending Premier titleholders Mount Maunganui. The three Western Bay sides that hold the top three places all know about the intensity required to lift aloft the Baywide Premier prize in victory on Finals day.

Tauranga Sports have won the Baywide Premiership on seven occasions since their first title in 1999.

Te Puke Sports, who have been perennial contenders, won their initial Premier crown in 2011 and backed up the following season to win the big prize again.

Mount Maunganui has set their sights on their third Baywide crown after first lifting aloft the Baywide trophy in 2005.

While Rotoiti and Whakarewarewa sit in fourth and fifth places respectively, the Premier title hasn't gone outside the Western Bay of Plenty since Whakarewarewa won the crown in 2006.

Rangiuru and Te Teko look to be in the box seat to host Baywide Division One home semi-finals.

However, there are just three points separating the next six contenders which makes for a number of must win match-ups in the next three weeks.

Last Saturday, Katikati upset former premier contender Kahukura in an arm wrestle at Moore Park taking out a hard fought 13-3 victory.

The Katikati victory moves them into third place on the standings and puts the side from the extremities of the Western Bay of Plenty in real contention for a Division One playoffs berth.

Arataki were upset by Poroporo in Whakatane when they Eastern Bay side prevailed 32-18.

The Grenada Park based side has slipped down the standings to sixth place.

However, with two of their three remaining qualifying encounters against lowly placed Ngongotaha and Reporoa, they are well placed make the top four to contest the playoffs.

Judea won promotion to the Baywide second echelon last season and sit in the logjam in the middle of the points ladder.

This Saturday, they have a season defining encounter with Arataki at Maharaia Winiata Park.

Over the last few seasons, Judea and Arataki have had an arm wrestle each time they have met, with no more than a couple of points separating the two teams at full time.

April's Western Bay of Plenty competition encounter illustrated the close battles between the two Western Bay teams when Arataki prevailed 10-8 in another thriller.

The one certainty in the Baywide title races is that BOPRU Development competition will be taken out by a Western Bay of Plenty team.

Tauranga Sports and Te Puke Sports sit at the top of the standings with unbeaten records with Mount Maunganui and Greerton Marist a few points in arrears.

The remaining sides are playing for pride as Greerton Marist, who are in fourth place, are 14 points clear of the nearest chaser.