SEVENS AMBITION: Western Heights High School are aiming to take the top spot at the Bay of Plenty Secondary Schools Sevens tournament on Saturday. PHOTO/ STEPHEN PARKER.
Western Heights High School are aiming to take the top spot at the Bay of Plenty Secondary Schools Sevens tournament this weekend.
In the premier boys' competition the Western Heights under-19 side will look to redeem themselves - after just missing out on a semifinal spot last year - when they take to the field at the Rotorua International Stadium tomorrow .
They will face tough competition however - up against the likes of last year's winners Rotorua Boys' High School and with two coveted 2016 Condors national tournament spots up for grabs.
Western Heights co-coach Dyllon Pedersen said the side hadn't had the best preparation after the majority of the squad only recently returned from an eight-day trip to Japan.
But he was confident of challenging for the title with a squad which includes experienced players such as first XV captain Brodie Wood and Liam Preston.
"We haven't had long to train but we are certainly aiming to make the finals," said Pedersen.
"We have a lot of speed out wide and classy players with the likes of Brodie and Liam.
"Of course it will be difficult - Rotorua Boys' have the big reputation in the area and will be ones to watch along with Tauranga [Boys' College] who have a lot of strength and speed.
"But that motivates the side even more. There is a huge prize up for grabs and we were very unlucky last year so we want to put things right."
This year's tournament which kicked-off today has a record 57 teams taking part.
The development and growth of sevens rugby within the Bay of Plenty has seen the competition expand across two days - with the inclusion of both under 14 and 15 boys' grades in addition to the under-16 grade.
The prominent development of women's rugby in the Bay of Plenty is reflected in the inclusion of an under-15 girls and under-19 development grade.
And the premier under-19 boys and girls teams will battle it out in their bid to qualify for the Condor Sevens held in Auckland in early December.
Locally John Paul College leads the way with six teams including girls teams in the under-15 and 19 grades. Tim Hounsell supported by a strong volunteer base has lifted the profile of sevens at the school with teams in every grade.
Meanwhile Rotorua Boys' are looking to retain their 2015 crown and will field two sides - Rotorua Boys Blue (Pool A) and Rotorua Boys Red (Pool B) in the premier competition.
And it's a welcome return for Rotorua Lakes High School who have a strong under-19 team in the development grade.
Rotorua Girls' High under Fred Cox and Carolyn Katu will also be a handful for their arch rivals Tauranga Girls' College.
"I am really excited for the tournament. It is great to be able to host such high calibre teams in the Bay of Plenty and have other schools from outside the Bay keen to participate," said Bay of Plenty Secondary Schools manager Ian Parata.
"We know a weekend of sevens rugby creates a buzz in the schools and we look forward to seeing secondary school sevens rugby continue to grow as it has done thus far."
Saturday's play kicks-off at 9am with semifinals from 3.40pm and finals from 4.20pm.
For all the fixtures visit www.boprugby.co.nz.
2016 Bay of Plenty School's Sevens Tournament
Pools
Under-19 Boys' Pool A
Rotorua Boys Blue (1)
Western Heights (4)
Aquinas College
Palmerston North Boys College
St Johns College
Under-19 Boys' Pool B
Tauranga Boys (2)
Te Whare Kura o Mauao (3)
Trident High School
Rotorua Boys Red
Thames High School
*The top 2 from each pool will progress through to cup semifinals. Only Bay of Plenty schools can qualify for cup semifinals. The two finalists will qualify for the Condors National Sevens. Non BOP schools (+Rotorua Boys Red) can progress through to the plate section.
Under-19 Boys' Development Pool A
John Paul College
Papamoa College
Tauranga Boys Pacifica
Te Puke High School
Rotorua Lakes
Aquinas Tight 5
*The top 2 teams from the grade will qualify for the final.
Under-19 Girls' Open
Rotorua Girls
Tauranga Girls
Opotiki
Te Wharekura o Mauao
Fielding High School
Cambridge High
Under-19 Girls' Development
John Paul College
Mt Maunganui
Piopio
Western Heights
Tauranga Girls B
*The top 2 teams from the Open grade will qualify for the final. Only Bay of Plenty schools can qualify for the final. The top 2 ranked BOP schools will qualify for the Condors National Sevens. Under-19 development will play round robin with top qualifiers playing in the development final.
Under-16 Boys'
Te Puke High School
John Paul
Te Wharekura o Mauao