The first round of the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Secondary Schools' rugby competitions saw Whakatane's Trident High School come back from a 13 point deficit, against Western Heights High School to just go down in a real thriller 16-12.
The Rotorua visitors kicked an early penalty in the Division One encounter,
and then followed up with a converted try following the application of intense pressure.
A second Heights penalty saw them lead 13-nil at the break. Calvin Buttirmore crossed for the first Trident try following a break by Graeme Whiri Tai.
On a rare visit into the Trident half in the second spell, Western Heights extended their lead with a beautifully executed dropped goal. In the final minutes Trident's Elijah Nicholas crossed for a touchdown, which was converted by Cameron Watkins for the 16-12 final score. In the other Division One matches played in round one, Opotiki College defeated Rotorua Boys' High School seconds 33-26 - with Tauranga Boys College seconds getting home 19-3 against a game Te Puke High first fifteen, after holding a narrow 5-3 lead at the break.
A real Division Two thriller took place at Reporoa College when Otumoetai College came to call.
The home side made the early running, with Ben Mason, Liam Griffin and No 8 Marty Axtens scoring tries in the first 20 minutes.
A comeback from the visitors including a touchdown to flying winger Jay Michalik and a second Otumoetai try saw the match evenly poised at the break with Reporoa holding a narrow 22-19 advantage.
Otumoetai scored a try early in the second spell to grab the lead, before Reporoa's Cyhan Tukahi capped off a strong game with the match-winning try. The final score of 26-22 to Reporoa College told of a close contest in a game that was up for grabs throughout. James McGruer and Tamati Jory scored the two other Otumoetai tries.
* Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Secondary Schools Rugby Results from April 24 -
First Fifteen Division One:
Western Heights 16 Trident HS 12, Tauranga BC 2nd XV 19 Te Puke HS 3, Opotiki College 33 Rotorua BHS 2nd XV 26.
Division Two: Reporoa College 26 Otumoetai College 22, Mount Maunganui College 7 Tauhara College 5, Whakatane HS 31 Katikati 12, JPC 46 Rotorua Lakes 3, Tauranga BC 3rd XV 31 Edgecumbe College 24.
Division Three: Taupo Nui A Tai 72 Rangatahi 0, Bethlehem 13 Tongariro 7, Aquinas 22 Kawerau 10.
The first round of the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Secondary Schools' rugby competitions saw Whakatane's Trident High School come back from a 13 point deficit, against Western Heights High School to just go down in a real thriller 16-12.
The Rotorua visitors kicked an early penalty in the Division One encounter,
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