Reporoa College edged out John Paul College in what effectively was the final of the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Division Two rugby first round competition on Saturday.
The two teams took unbeaten records into the game at Reporoa College.
Solid defence late in the match allowed the home side, coached by former Steamer
Steve Axten, to hold on for a 19-18 victory in front of a good crowd.
From the opening whistle the match had been evenly poised, with the advantage changing a number of times throughout the encounter. John Paul raced to an early courtesy of two penalties, before Reporoa roared back into the contest with a converted try, to take a paper-thin 7-6 advantage into the half time break.
Reporoa quickly took the ascendancy in the second half, running in two further touchdowns, to take what looked to be a match-winning advantage.
However, John Paul were not done, with prop Patrick Aislabie crashing over for a try followed by Matt Temm dotting down in the corner. With the conversion successfully slotted by Trevor Fitzell, the visitors trailed by a solitary point with the clock ticking down.
For the home side Rico Flavell, CJ Carston and Liam Griffin scored tries with Ryan Hathaway adding two conversions.
Rotorua Boys' High School first fifteen, warmed up for this weekend's Division One first round decider with Tauranga by crushing Western Heights High School 57-10.
Trident High School took out the Eastern Bay of Plenty local derby when they defeated Opotiki College 25-14 in a battle of attrition - while Rotorua Boys' seconds got home against Te Puke High School 38-5.
* Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Secondary Schools Rugby 1st XV results:
Division One: Trident HS 25 Opotiki College 14, Rotorua BHS 1st XV 57 Western Heights HS 10 Rotorua BHS 2nd XV 38 Te Puke HS 5.
Division Two Championship Final: Reporoa College 19 John Paul College 18.
Ranking games: Otumoetai 40 Rotorua Lakes 12, Mount Maunganui 17 Rotorua BHS 12, Katikati 21 Edgecumbe 15.
Division Three: Taupo Nui A Tia 17 Aquinas 10.
