posted by Tim Turner - 04/04/2008
Secondary school rugby in the Bay has commenced and is oozing with potential. Mount College hosted the BOP sevens tournament where 22 teams battled for the right to be named Bay Champs. On display were boys and girls from 1st XV through to U14.
The scene was set right from the start with perfect weather for rugby, fit eager players eager to prove a point on the field, background music to add to the atmosphere, and plenty of supporters added to the buzz in the air as the day unfolded.
What better way to introduce the U14s into secondary school rugby than a feast of games, which were dominated by Opotiki and Rotorua Boys with Rotorua Boys taking out this division.
On the next field were the future of the 1st XVs, where the U15s displayed determination and finesse and were a force to be reckoned with. Once again, Rotorua Boys took out this division schooling Whakatane High in a lesson on how to play sevens rugby in the final.
In the girls division they put on a spectacle of big hits and slick balls skills which was dominated by Opotiki College. Opotiki College taking out the final against Whakatane High School in a convincing manner.
The highlight of the day was the grand final, which wrapped up the day perfectly in a fierce battle between Western Heights High School and Tauranga Boys College. The game could have gone either way with Tauranga Boys rising to be the tournament champions.
