In a hard fought final Rotorua Maroon have taken out the Tai Mitchell Shield with a 38 - 20 win over Tauranga East at Opotiki's Memorial Park.
Rotorua Maroon held a narrow 14 - 10 lead over Tauranga East at half-time.
In a thrilling final, Rotorua Maroon showed their dominancewith a flurry of brilliant individual tries. Despite a determined Tauranga East side Rotorua Maroon went on to win 38 - 20.
Rotorua Gold finished in fourth place, going down 15-7 to Tauranga West in the play-off for third.
Rotorua Gold player Dawson Smith was awarded the Jim McKinnon Player of the Tournament Trophy. He was one of five Rotorua players named in the tournament team.
The annual Tai Mitchell tournament showcases the best primary school rugby talent in the Bay of Plenty.
Final Results:
Tai Mitchell Final: Rotorua Maroon 38 v Tauranga East 20 3rd/4th Play Off: Tauranga West 15 v Rotorua Gold 7 5th/6th Play Off: Te Puke 38 v Whakatane 24 7th/8th Play Off: Rangitaiki 43 v Opotiki 15 9th/10th Play Off: Tauranga North 29 v Galatea 15
1st - Rotorua Maroon 2nd - Tauranga East 3rd - Tauranga West 4th - Rotorua Gold 5th - Te Puke 6th - Whakatane 7th - Rangitaiki 8th - Opotiki 9th - Tauranga North 10th- Galatea
Tai Mitchell Tournament Team:
Prop - Whare Hare-Herbert - Rotorua Maroon Hooker - James Ririnui - Tauranga West Prop - Joseph Vueti - Te Puke Lock - Turei Tuhaka - Whakatane Lock - Jai Knight - Tauranga East Blindside - Mitchell Howe - Tauranga West Openside - Sloane Lankshear - Tauranga West No 8 - Julius Waldron - Rotorua Maroon Halfback - Te Purewa Hohua - Whakatane First Five - Miles Tapsell - Rotorua Maroon Left Wing - Josese Vukataki - Te Puke Second Five - Dawson Smith - Rotorua Gold Centre - Xavi Taele - Tauranga West Right Wing - William Harris - Tauranga West Fullback - Daniel Simpkins - Rotorua Gold
Tai Mitchell Trophy Winners:
Shepheard Sportsmanship Trophy Winners: Opotiki
Jim McKinnon Player of the Tournament Trophy: Dawson Smith - Rotorua Gold
