Rugby: Journey to final story of Bay

Te Nawe Ngatai makes a break for Aquinas College in last week's semifinal win over Trident High School. Photo / Andrew Warner

Aquinas College First XV's journey to the Bay of Plenty Secondary Schools Division 1 final is one of the region's sports stories of the year.

Tomorrow they take on the powerful Whakatane High School First XV in the feature match of finals day, to be held on the pristine playing surface at Rotorua International Stadium at 1.30pm.

The team are undefeated in their first season at this level but, at the start of the season, things were not so positive.

Rookie head coach Shane Wilson had a bare minimum of 22 senior boys available. No need for trials, as all boys keen to play were in. He ended up with a front row of three hookers and most of the players having to be adaptable to fill more than one position.

But no matter what challenges the team faced, they just kept winning and gaining momentum.

They got off to the perfect confidence-builder by winning the pre-season Western Bay of Plenty Co-ed Schools Tournament, held at Otumoetai College in April. After last week's emphatic 37-20 semifinal victory over Trident High School, they now have four trophies in the school's cabinet - the Rundrup Cup played against Bethlehem College, the Te Kani Shield defended as a knockout trophy against all-comers, the BOP Division 2 round one trophy, and the Western Bay Rugby School Shield.

Coach Wilson said everyone associated with the school was proud of how the team had performed.

"We sat down at the start of the year and set some goals," he said. "We wanted to win the first round of the second division to make it up to the first division, and everything that has come along with winning the cups has all been icing on the cake.

"I am quite relaxed really. The guys set the targets. When they made the first division, they wanted to make the semifinals, and they just carried on and finished undefeated. Miles Reid, who is (teacher in charge) of rugby, and the principal, Ray Scott, have been fantastic. It has been really positive for the Aquinas community and, as the games have gone on, more people have been talking about how well the school is doing."

Three Aquinas players, in Justin Sangster, Cullum Hore and Jesse Church, have been selected in the wider Bay of Plenty under-18 squad, but Wilson says Te Nawe Ngatai has been outstanding all season at centre and has a big future in the game.

Rotorua International Stadium, Saturday, August 23
*Under-14: Rotorua Boys' Navy v Trident, 10am, ground 2
*Under-15: Tauranga Boys' College U15A v Rotorua Boys U15A, 10.30am, 1
*2nd XV: Tauranga Boys' 5th XV v Opotiki 2nd XV, 11.30am, 2
*Div 3: Tauhara College v Western Heights 2nd X, 1pm, 2
*Div 2: Te Wharekura O Mauao v Katikati College, 12pm, 1
*Div 1: Aquinas College v Whakatane High School, 1pm, 1