Remarkable year of rugby continues for Western Heights High School

Western Heights High School have qualified to compete at the Condor National Sevens Tournament later this month. Photo/Supplied

Western Heights High School rugby has gone from strength to strength this season, their latest achievement being a second-place finish in the under-19 open division at the Bay of Plenty Secondary School Sevens tournament.

The result, at the tournament played at Arataki Park on Saturday, means they will join the other top-four finishers, Tauranga Boys' College (first), Rotorua Boys' High School (third) and Te Puke High School (fourth), at the Condor National Secondary Schools Sevens at the end of this month.

It comes on the back of one of the most successful years the school's 15-aside team has ever had. They were the Baywide Secondary School Division 1 champions, beating the favourites Te Wharekura o Mauao 24-14 in the final, before qualifying for the Chiefs region co-ed final, where they lost to a very strong St Peter's Cambridge side.

While usually it is the top two Bay of Plenty sides who qualify for the national sevens tournament, some smaller provinces pulling out has allowed the region to send four teams this year.

Western Heights High School head of rugby Carleen James said it was the best result the school had achieved at the Bay of Plenty sevens tournament.

"We lost to Tauranga Boys' 10-0 in the final, but second is quite an achievement for us this year - we had a pretty good season with the 15s and now the sevens following on. It's all about leading into the Condors now.

"For us, beating Rotorua Boys' in pool play was a real achievement too. We've always sort of gone down to them in pool play at the sevens and in the 15s we're only playing their second XV and their Colts," James said.

She said Western Heights had been unbeaten before going down in the final, having beaten local rivals Rotorua Boys' High School and John Paul College, as well as Te Puke High School.

"It was some good strong work off the ball and defensively they put in a good effort. They worked as a team and put in the big hits when they were needed to stop key players and things like that.

"I don't think we attacked as well as we have been doing, but defensively, that's what saw us through. Defence has probably been our strong point all year. The boys dig deep, especially in the sevens when you're stuffed during those last few minutes, chasing and putting that effort in."

She said she and the school as a whole were proud of the way the players had performed this year.

"They've had an amazing year, we were in the top eight for the co-ed schools, top in the Baywide and now going to the national sevens - I can't complain, the boys have put in a huge effort for us this year and we're really pleased.

"With the sevens we tried to emphasise that it was a chance to go out and have a bit of fun when they're playing - show a bit of flair and have a go because sometimes you're so focused on the end result. That's what we said and they it's what they did," she said.

Bay of Plenty Secondary School Sevens results

Under 19 Boys Open Final:
Western Heights High School 0 v Tauranga Boys' College 10

Under 19 Boys Development Final
Rotorua Boys High School Red 7 v Tauranga Boys' College White 24

Under 19 Girls Plate Final
Cambridge High School 21 v Taupo Nui a Tia 22

Under 19 Girls Development Final
Mount Maunganui College 12 v Nga Wahine Toa 32

Under 19 Girls Open Final
Trident High School 24 v Rotorua Girls' High School 14

Under 14 Boys Open Cup Final
Gisborne 17 vs TWKO Mauao 10

Under 14 Boys Open Plate Final
Tauranga Boys' College 21 vs Rotorua Boys' High School 5

Under 15 Girls Open Final
TWOM 7 v Nga Wahine 34

Under 15 Girls Development Final
Tauranga Girls' College 19 v Te Puke High School 17

Under 15 Girls Plate Final
Taupo Nui a Tia 17 v John Paul College 15

Under 15 Boys Development Final
39 Taupo Nui vs Mt Maunganui 5

Under 15 Boys Development Plate Final
Opotiki 20 v JPC 20

Under 15 Boys Open Final
12 Tauranga v Rotorua 5

Under 15 Boys 3rd / 4th Play-off
22 Rosmini vs Te Puke 5

Under 15 Boys Plate Final
Otumoetai (default) v Rosmini (win)