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

A real measure of a sporting competition is that it goes down to the wire at the end of the season.

The Baywide club rugby premier championship qualifying that concluded last Saturday, certainly provided that in spades. 

Entering the final regular season encounter of the top echelon title race that kicked off 18 weeks ago - six of the eight teams had a theoretical chance of making the top four playoffs. 

In a dramatic afternoon of rugby, competition leaders Te Puke Sports and Rangataua both tasted defeat, while Mount Maunganui joined Rotorua representatives Rotoiti in hosting a semi-final apiece this weekend. 

Multiple premier title holders Tauranga Sports belied their place near the bottom of the standings to beat defending champions Rangataua in a try-fest at the Tauranga Domain, winning 48-44.

Greerton Marist not only upset Te Puke Sports at Greerton headquarters but relieved the visitors of the Western Bay Sub-Union challenge prize of the Jordan Cup. 

Defeat of the two competition leaders allowed Mount Maunganui and Rotoiti to sneak through and grab vital home semi-final spots.

Mount Maunganui surrendered a 22 point lead with 10 minutes to go, eventually getting home 32-29.

Rotoiti easily won the Rotorua derby against Whaka. 

The premier post-section draw, sees Mount Maunganui hosting Te Puke Sports at Blake Park while Rangataua travel to square off with Rotoiti near the shores of the Rotorua region lake. 

The premier development competition is an all Western Bay of Plenty affair.

Top qualifier Te Puna, who have won seven straight games will host Tauranga Sports at Maramatanga Park, with Te Puke Sports and Greerton Marist meeting for the second successive weekend at Murray Salt Stadium. 

The premier two and division one qualifying races finish on Saturday, with a Western Bay team apiece in strong contention.

An Arataki victory over Paroa would give them the top spot with Papamoa almost certainly assured of a Division One top four finish. 

At the other end of the local club rugby spectrum, the Western Bay of Plenty Sub-Union Senior Reserve championship final was fought out at Blake Park last Saturday.

Mount Maunganui and Tauranga Sports have dominated the local rugby competition in 2017, with the two sides squaring off to decide the winner of the WBOPRFS Combined Cup. 

Mount Maunganui shot out to a 17 nil lead at the halfway stage of the encounter before Tauranga Sports stormed back with two converted tries.

The Mount boys repelled spirited challenges on the line in the last 10 minutes, to take out the Western Bay championship title, 17-14.

The end of the regular season seems like an ideal time for this long-time Bay of Plenty rugby follower to give his tuppence worth on club rugby format that was re-introduced two seasons ago.

The two tiers of season long head to head competition was replaced by three grades of promotion/relegation divisions in June and July. 

Promotion/relegation keeps the heat on sides throughout the entire season.

The closeness of this years title races means that each game is vital and club supporters throughout the Bay of Plenty have come out in droves to support their fancies. 

This Bay of Plenty rugby follower believes there is one area of concern that needs to be addressed by the local rugby administration.

The demise of Colts rugby at the expense of the development competition has narrowed the choices for players straight out of school.  

Rugby focus in the Bay of Plenty will now turn to the Bay of Plenty Steamers as they attempt to win the championship division of the Mitre 10 Cup.