Western Heights 'excited' about final

BUZZING: It is finals day for secondary schools rugby in the Bay of Plenty this weekend. Pictured is Western Heights High School 1st XV player Liam Membery in action this season. PHOTO/BEN FRASER

The Western Heights High School 1st XV are among the local teams chasing Baywide secondary schools rugby titles this weekend in Rotorua.

Western Heights 1st XV co-coach Steve Smith said the school side was buzzing ahead of their BOP Division One final tomorrow.

They will go up against Opotiki College 1st XV in their final at the Rotorua International Stadium.

"It was definitely the goal at the beginning of the season to make the final and we are pretty excited," Smith said.

"Over the last three weeks I've been pretty pleased with how we have been playing ... especially against Te Wharekura O Mauao last weekend in the semifinal. They were always going to be a tough opponent."

Western Heights have only lost one match this season, coming at the hands of their grand final opponents Opotiki.

Smith said it would be a bonus playing at home this weekend, especially at the Rotorua International Stadium.

Meanwhile, the Rotorua Boys' High School 1st XV will also be in action tomorrow in the BOP premier secondary schools final against Tauranga Boys' College 1st XV.

That match is the only final not being played at the Rotorua International Stadium and will be held at Rotorua Boys' High.

The winner will earn the right to represent the Bay of Plenty as they try and earn a place in the National Top 4 competition during the coming weeks.

Rotorua Boys' High will be heading into the final as favourites but Rotorua Boys' 1st XV coach Ngarimu Simpkins said they would be showing Tauranga plenty of respect.