Secondary school teams are aiming for semifinal places. PHOTO/FILE
Secondary school teams are aiming for semifinal places. PHOTO/FILE
The Toi Ohomai Baywide Secondary Schools Competition reaches the halfway point today and for many teams, this will be their last opportunity to secure a semifinal spot.
With Te Puke High School and John Paul College sitting at the top of the Division One table and unbeaten, the match betweenthe two will be an exciting match up between the two form teams in the competition with the winner not only holding the number one spot but also the Te Kani Shield.
Aquinas College and Taupo Nui a Tia may be sitting at the bottom of the table but both teams are desperate not to win the wooden spoon. Aquinas has been competitive but fails to maintain pressure for the full seventy minutes. They face a long trip to face the Taupo Nui a Tia side today.
Western Heights High School front up against Rotorua Boys' High School Barbarians and with their return to some timely form Western Heights High School should prove a tough opposition for the Raukura 3rd XV. Trident High School sit one win outside the top four while Te Wharekura o Mauao hold on to fourth place by one point. This match may well be the clincher for one of these teams making a semifinal.
In division two Otumoetai College travel to Taupo and face Tauhara College in another top of the table clash. Otumoetai College, under head coach Archie Grant, has been tracking well all season with today's match a likely finals' day face-off.
Tauhara College has a strong team so it will be a tough day for the boys from Otumoetai unless they stamp their game plan on the match from kick-off.
Katikati College meet Whakatāne down in the Eastern Bay. Katikati is not a strong traveling team and will need to start strong in order to keep the spirited Whakatāne team.
Toi Ohomai Baywide Secondary School Rugby Draws Saturday, 12pm kick-offs Division One 1st XV John Paul College vs. Te Puke High School Aquinas College vs. Taupo Nui A Tia College Te Wharekura O Mauao vs. Trident High School Rotorua Boys' High School Barbarians vs. Aquinas College Division Two 1st XV Whakatane High School vs. Katikati College Tauhara College vs. Otumoetai College Papamoa College vs. Tauranga Boys' College III Opotiki College — BYE Division Three 1st XV Reporoa/John Paul College II vs. Te Puke High School II at Reporoa College (10.30am) Rotorua Boys' High School 15A vs. Tauranga Boys' College V Mount Maunganui College vs. Tauranga Boys' College Under 16 Trident High School II vs. Bethlehem College
