Local bragging rights and semifinal spots on the line

Western Heights High School 1st XV players Reuben Griffiths, (left) and Tyreag Hale in action this season. Photo/Jane Griffiths

With semifinals just around the corner it is crunch time for secondary schools rugby teams.

The pressure is high in Division 1 and 2 with several teams looking to book a semifinal spot or secure home advantage.

John Paul College went down in a close battle with Bethlehem College before the school holidays.

Their forward pack was taken out of the game with uncontested scrums which blunted their attack on a wet and cold Bethlehem field.

Expect them to come out firing when they take on top-of-the-table Western Heights High School on Saturday.

Western Heights High School, with a fistful of Bay of Plenty Under-18 representative players, will be wary of taking things lightly at the business end of the season.

The Steve Smith-led coaching team are determined to maintain their momentum as they seek to reclaim their Division 1 title and hold on to the Te Kani Shield.

Bethlehem College will need the Rotorua Boys' High School Second XV to suffer a loss if they are to have any chance of making the semifinals.

Trident High School have a slim hope of making finals if other results go their way. They need two bonus point wins to keep their season alive after Saturday, August 5.

With two losses and a draw so far, Rotorua Boys' High School Second XV need to win both of the last two games if they want to play semifinals.

Division Two remains a tight battle between the top five teams.

Tauhara College will step off the plane on Monday night after a two week tour of South Africa to take on their top ranked neighbour Taupo-nui-a-Tia College on Wednesday.

With both teams backing up on Saturday, August 5, the tour may prove costly for Tauhara College's semifinals ambitions.

Te Puke High School will host bottom ranked Papamoa College, while Otumoetai College will take on Tauranga Boys' College Third XV with the winner guaranteed a spot in the semifinals.

Bethlehem Coachlines Baywide Secondary Schools:
Division 1:
Trident High School v Bethlehem College
John Paul College v Western Heights High School
Te Whare Kura o Mauao v Opotiki College
Aquinas College v Rotorua Boys' High School II

Division 2:
Tauranga Boys' College III v Otumoetai College
Tauhara College v Taupo-nui-a-Tia (Wednesday)
Papamoa College v Te Puke High School
Rotorua Boys' High School III v Whakatane High School

Division 3:
Reporoa/John Paul College - bye
Rotorua Lakes High School v Mount Maunganui College
Rotorua Boys' High School U15A v Tarawera College

All games kick off at 12pm.