STANDOUT: Western Heights High School halfback Liam Preston leaves defenders in his wake as he races in for a try. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER
STANDOUT: Western Heights High School halfback Liam Preston leaves defenders in his wake as he races in for a try. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER
Western Heights High School have come out 32-11 winners in a fiery game against John Paul College.
The Western Heights first XV has already sewn up a home semifinal in the Bay of Plenty Secondary Schools Division 1 competition and they showed why with a powerful performance.
The game, played yesterdayafternoon, was moved from John Paul College to Rotorua Lakes High School because of ground conditions.
Despite losing home ground advantage, JPC started the game well as they kept the ball in hand from the kickoff and worked their way up field, before receiving a penalty in front of the posts.
Halfback Byron Haigh kicked the goal to give his side a 3-0 lead. Unfortunately for them it would be the only time they led that afternoon.
Western Heights began to assert some dominance on the game as they had JPC camped in their own end.
For 20 minutes JPC held them out with some admirable goal line defence, but after several close calls Western Heights halfback Liam Preston spotted an opportunity and took it.
He took a quick tap 5m from the try line and caught the defence napping as he crashed over to score in the corner. He was inches away from converting his own try from the sideline but hit the post.
RAMPAGING: Western Heights High School first five-eighth Bailey Gordon makes a run against John Paul College on Saturday. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER
It was a game that clearly meant a lot to both sets of players. None more so than Western Heights prop Hikairo Stewart-Reid who, seconds after going down with an injury, got back to his feet and found a burst of energy to bulldoze his way over for his side's second try.
Preston added a second penalty and Western Heights led 15-3 at halftime.
They went straight back on the attack in the second half and had their third try of the match when winger Max Hale dived over in the corner.
Preston scored his second try of the game when he hit a big gap off the back of a scrum and Western Heights led 27-3.
JPC reduced the damage somewhat when second five-eighth Damon Morgan snatched an intercept and ran the length of the field to score his side's first try with 20 minutes to play.
They then kicked a penalty to give themselves a chance at a comeback, down 27-11 with 15 minutes to play.
However, Western Heights sealed the deal when, after a period of sustained pressure, Connor Shortall raced through a gap to score and make it a comfortable 32-11 win.
Western heights co-coach Dyllon Pedersen said, overall, he was pleased with his side's performance.
"The boys played well, there were moments of brilliance, but also moments of not quite brilliance.
"The defence was good, I was pretty happy with that," Pedersen said.
Western Heights halfback Liam Preston had a standout game, leading from the front with two tries and kicking goals.
"He's been in the first XV for three years now, he's a pretty good player and he played well today," Pedersen said.
Western Heights' focus now turns to a top-of-the-table clash with Te Whare Kura o Mauao next week.
"That will be a telling match I think, that'll be a big game we're looking forward to and we'll hopefully hold on to the Te Kani Shield.
"Defence will be important because they're a strong team with ball in hand."
Meanwhile, in the Super 8 First XV competition Rotorua Boys' High School lost 16-13 to Palmerston North Boys' High School and sit in fourth place with one game to play.
