Wednesday, 28 July 2010
EASTERN Bay premier and first division Baywide rugby teams finished their 18-week campaigns on Saturday.
Whakatane Marist capped off an incredible late-season run with a 22-19 win over semifinal-bound Te Puke.
Alamoti Te Pou, Abe Tito and Jesse Ram scored tries in the win and Craig Edwards kicked two penalties.
It was Marist’s fifth win in a row and they have beaten three of the four semifinalists in the last four weeks. After just two wins and seven losses in the first half of the competition, they had a major reversal to record six wins in the second round.
Opotiki had a 30-28 loss to another semifinal team in Rotoiti.
Te Hata Wilbore, Adrian Day and Maaka Mafi scored for Opotiki while Sam Howe kicked two conversions, two penalties and a dropped goal. They picked up a bonus point for the narrow loss and their points differential meant they finished in seventh place – ahead of Marist in eight.
Te Teko’s troublesome season also came to an end with a 70-12 loss to Rangataua to finish in last place and relegate them to division one next season.
In the first division, Paroa lost to Rangiuru 36-15 while Ruatoki went down 25-14 to Ngongotaha. Paroa finished in seventh place while Ruatoki claimed eighth.
The premier semifinals will have defending champions Tauranga host Te Puke while Mount Maunganui will have home ground advantage against Rotoiti.
Division one semifinalists are Waikite, Kahukura, Rangiuru and Ngongotaha.