Te Puke High School vice-captain Jack Hollinshead in action. Photo / File
Te Puke High School vice-captain Jack Hollinshead in action. Photo / File
The pinnacle of the Toi Ohomai Baywide Secondary Schools competition is getting your hand on the Te Kani shield, defending it in every game of the competition and then putting your name on this coveted prize at season's end.
The Te Kani shield has been played for since 1950 andnamed in honour of Paroa Te Kani who was killed in action fighting for the 28th Maori Battalion. It found a new home on the weekend when Te Puke High School First XV, recently promoted to the top division of First XV rugby, defeated Trident High School who had held it for just two weeks.
Te Puke coach Jackson Ruben was obviously pleased with his team's efforts. With a dominant pack and well-led backline thanks to standout first-five Jack Hollinshead, the Te Puke High School team look the complete package this season and may be too good for the Rotorua Boys' High School Third XV today.
With all Te Puke High School teams at home it will really be an opportunity for the Te Puke community to rally around their boys this weekend.
In other Divison 1 games, John Paul College host Taupo-Nui-a-Tia College, Trident High School take on Aquinas College and Western Heights High School have another tough battle against Te Wharekura O Mauao, who look to turn around a horror start to the rugby season having been plagued with injuries and player absences due to other commitments.
Te Wharekura O Mauao play an open and expansive style of game, which may prove too much for Western Heights High School.
Toi Ohomai Baywide Secondary School Rugby Saturday, 12pm kick-off, home team first
Division One First XV John Paul College v Taupo-Nui-a-Tia Western Heights High School v Te Wharekura O Mauao Aquinas College v Trident High School Te Puke High School v Rotorua Boys' Barbarians
Division Two First XV Katikati College v Opotiki College Papamoa College v Otumoetai College Whakatane High School v Tauhara College Tauranga Boys' College III — Bye
Division Three First XV Trident High School v John Paul College II/Reporoa College Tauranga Boys' College V v Tarawera High School Tauranga Boys' College under-16 v Rotorua Boys' High School IV Te Puke High School II v Mount Maunganui College Bethlehem College v Rotorua Boys' High School 15A — midweek
