Tauranga Intermediate School moved a step nearer to defending the New Zealand Cup title that they claimed last year, when they won the regional NZ Cup playoff at Mitchell Park in Tauranga on Friday against fellow Western Bay school, Aquinas College.
The primary team from Aquinas batted first and were dismissed for 63. Sean Dykes top-scored with a gritty 25, with Tauranga Intermediate captain Mikaere Leef producing his team's best bowling figures, returning 2-12.
Following on from their form the previous day in thrashing Cambridge Middle School, Tauranga cruised to an eight-wicket victory. David Rout was in good form, posting 25 runs, while Leef added an unbeaten 17.
The two Western Bay sides had crushed their Waikato opponents the previous day to reach the final.
Aquinas put bat to ball to finish their innings with 170 runs against Morrinsville Primary. Sean Dykes was in majestic form and smashed an unbeaten 60 to put his side in the box seat. Sam Wylie and Jared Schneebeli both made solid contributions, reaching the 30s.