Rugby: College side to hit small screen in hunt for glory

CRUNCH GAME: Tauranga Boys' College No8 Caleb Aperahama will be a key player in the Chiefs Cup First XV final against Rotorua Boys' High School on Sunday.PHOTO/ANDREW WARNER 170514AW11BOP

The top ranked schools in 2014 from Counties Manukau, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Thames Valley and King Country are competing in a two-tier knockout contest for the Chiefs Cup and the Chiefs Trophy - the Chiefs Wide Secondary School 1st XV Competition.

The event is in its second year and has been running for more than four weeks. Bay of Plenty had four teams enter - Tauranga Boys' College, Rotorua Boys' High School, Bethlehem College and Trident High School.

On Sunday the final of the Chiefs Cup is between Tauranga Boys' College and Rotorua Boys' High School at Rotorua International Stadium as a curtain raiser to the Black Ferns v Australia match, with kick-off at 3.40pm. The match will be broadcast live on SKY Television's Rugby Channel.

Tauranga Boys' College First XV made it through despite losing to Wesley College last weekend. Heading into the game, Tauranga Boys' were on 10 points and Wesley were on five, so Wesley needed to win with four tries to go through but scored just two in the 12-0 win.

Rotorua Boys' are in hot form after upsetting Hamilton Boys' 15-0 last Saturday.

Tauranga Boys' coach Jason Spice said the boys are excited about the opportunity to play in a final: "We've not been going as well as we'd expect to be but this big occasion might bring out the best in them."

Rotorua Boys' High School coach Bruce Buckton said for the last couple of years the Chiefs Cup had been a good gap filler in terms of quality games. "The Cup sets us up better prepared for Super Eight. The boys are excited and want to maintain that level of expectation. They're looking forward to Sunday."

The Chiefs Trophy final tomorrow sees Hamilton Boys' High School 2nd XV travel to opponents Trident High School in Whakatane, kick-off 12.30pm.

Bethlehem College play off for third place away to Rosehill College.