Tauranga Sports have returned triumphant over the bridge after a hard-fought battle against Mount Maunganui on Saturday.

Their rivalry is one of the long-standing ones in the BOPRU AR Plus Baywide premier competition, with their game taking place at Blake Park, with Mount Maunganui hosting their near neighbours.

The visitors made the early running with three touchdowns in eight minutes to lead 21-3. Mount Maunganui came back with two converted touchdowns late in the first half to see Tauranga Sports in the lead at 21-17 at the break.

The two sides traded points in the second spell, with Tauranga Sports returning home after the battle of the bridge encounter with a hard fought 40-37 win in their season ledger.

Greerton Marist, retained the Jordan Cup and Steve Pearson Taonga when they beat Judea 32-7 at Maharaia Winiata Park. The game was up for grabs with Greerton holding a narrow 5 nil advantage at half time, before the visitors asserted their authority.

Te Puna reinked their place at the top of the Baywide standings with a hard-fought 31-19 victory over Rangataua. Te Puke Sports, Fletcher Carpenter, scored three tries and eight conversions in his teams 61-17 romp over Ngongotaha. 

Defending BOPRU Colts title-holders, Mount Maunganui, continued to assert their authority in this season's title race, defeating Greerton Marist in the early action at Blake Park.

The home side led 26 nil after the first forty minutes, running in five second half touchdowns to post a 54-5 win. Their four straight victories have produced 219 points with just twelve points scored against them. 

The two other Colts contests, saw Papamoa beat Tauranga Sports 37-34 with Kahukura defeating Te Puke Sports 36-7.

Greerton Marist remained the only unbeaten team in the Western Bay of Plenty competition in defeating Judea 96-7. Other Western Bay sides to post wins were Te Puke Sports, Mount Maunganui, Te Puna, Eastern Districts and Arataki. 

BOPRU AR Plus Senior Club Rugby Results April 27 2024

BOPRU Baywide Premier

Te Puke Sports 61 Ngongotaha 17 (40-5) Tauranga Sports 40 Mount Maunganui 37 (23-17) Te Puna 31 Rangataua 19 (31-19) Whakarewarewa 24 Marist St Michaels 7 (HT 12-7) Greerton Marist 32 Judea 0 (HT 5-0)

Points Table (Provisional) Te Puna 15, Greerton Marist 14, Whakarewarewa 13, Tauranga Sports 11, Te Puke Sports 10, Mount Maunganui 7, Rangataua 5, Judea 0, Marist St Michaels 0, Ngongotaha 0.

BOPRU Colts/U85kg

Papamoa 37, Tauranga Sports 34, Mount Maunganui 54, Greerton Marist 5, Kahukura 36, Te Puke Sports 7, Te Puna the bye.

WBOPRFS Development/Local Rugby

Te Puke Sports 22 Rangiuru 10, Mount Maunganui 41 Tauranga Sports 12, Te Puna 34, Rangataua 14, Greerton Marist 96 Judea 7, Eastern Districts 45, Matakana Island 12, Arataki 27 Katikati 15, Papamoa the bye.