Clubs end the season on a winning note
Te Puke and Rangiuru spectators once semifinals rugby begins
WRUGBY
ins to both Te Puke Sports and Rangiuru last Saturday weren't enough for either team to be involved in Baywide postseason play.
Te Puke Sports beat Rotoiti 38-31 at Murray Salt Stadium while Rangiuru hosted and beat Rangataua 31-15.
Not for the first time this season, Te Puke's Jack Hollinshead got the scoreboard ticking over early with a try after four minutes.
By halftime it was three tries apiece — Ian Burmeister and Jacob Janson scoring Te Puke's fivepointers and Hollinshead accurate with the boot to give the home side a 21-19 lead.
Danny Underwood scored five minutes into the second half, Hollinshead again converting, then scoring his second try and fifth conversion seven minutes later.
Rotoiti pulled the score back to 35-31 with Hollinshead stretching the lead with a penalty five minutes from time.
Lockie Devereux and Micah Rauhala both played their blazer (30th) game for Te Puke.
Rangiuru wrapped up their season beating Rangataua 31-15, after holding a solid 26-5 advantage at halftime.
After the weekend's games, there were no changes to the top four with Mount Maunganui, Te Puna, Greerton
Marist and Whakarewarewa now heading to the play-offs. Te Puke were just two points off fourth.
The semifinals pit Mount Maunganui against Whakarewarewa at Blake Park and Te Puna and Greerton Marist at Maramatanga Park.
In the final round of the WBOPRS combined competition, Eastern Districts got past Te Puke Sports 37-7 and Rangataua posted 57 unanswered points on Rangiuru. Mount Maunganui won the development section of the combined competition and with it the Phelan Cup, with Katikati earning the Gilbey Cup as the Senior A top dog.