Rugby: Rotorua aim to learn from loss

The Rotorua Boys' High School 1st XV were handed just their second loss of the season on Saturday. Pictured is Rotorua Boys' High 1st XV player Viliami Tosi. Photo / Ben Fraser

The Rotorua Boys' High School 1st XV team have lost to Hamilton Boys' High School 33-14 in the final of the Super 8 competition in Hamilton.

Rotorua trailed Hamilton 16-0 at halftime on Saturday and struggled to get close to their opponents on the scoreboard.

However, it is only Rotorua's second defeat this season - both coming at the hands of reigning national champions Hamilton Boys' High - and they will likely get another crack at Hamilton in two weeks'.

Rotorua coach Ngarimu Simpkins said his team could take plenty from the match.

"Both teams deserved to be there and I thought Hamilton showed their class and their experience of being in finals' football," he said. "It was a good learning curve for our boys and I think we will get a lot out of that game."

He said the team needs to make better decisions under pressure.

"I think in terms of us, and what we learned, is to live in the moment, rather than think too far down the track."

Rotorua will now turn their focus to claiming the BOP secondary schools title when they play Tauranga Boys' College 1st XV in Rotorua this weekend.

The winning side will keep their season alive and pursue a spot in the National Top 4 competition.

If Rotorua beat Tauranga this weekend, they will meet Hamilton Boys' in Rotorua the following weekend in the race for a spot in the National Top 4 competition.

The competition is the showpiece of New Zealand secondary schools rugby, as the top four 1st XV teams in the country fight for supremacy.

Simpkins said they would need to step up if they have a shot at making the National Top 4 this season.

"Now the Super 8 competition is over we will go back to training and work hard this week and give Tauranga Boys' College all the respect they deserve," he said.

"If we do play Hamilton again [in two weeks' time] then we have to find another gear."

Rotorua halfback Te Ra Whata scored both tries for Rotorua at the weekend.

Hamilton have won the prestigious Super 8 competition 10 times in the past 11 years.