The two new recruits to the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Secondary Schools First fifteen Division One championship, laid down the challenge to the other contenders on Saturday (2 July 2011).

Trident High School, who posted an unbeaten record on the way to annexing the Division Two first round title, showed that Division One holds few fears for them when they dispatched Western Heights High School. Facing last season Div One champions in the Eastern Bay, Trident opened the scoring with Cameron Watkins kicking a penalty goal.

The home sides first touchdown, came after Pryor Collier threw a well timed pass to Taurian Pamana who scored a well executed try. A second Trident try came when winger Mita Rewiti Hona scooped up a mid field ball to dot down under the posts. The Watkins conversion saw him finish the match with a personal tally of ten points in the 20-11 victory.

The Trident win was built upon the efforts of their front row of Nui Lores, Haimora Cossey and L’Angelle Tutapakore, with captain Jordan Rakuraku and Charles Park anchoring the scrum in the engineroom. Western Heights, who showed terrific pace were in the game all the way until the final whistle.

Otumoetai College who were the second team to win promotion to the Division One championship, also impressed when they beat Opotiki College. With the encounter locked at 7 all at the break, the home side put their foot to the pedal in the second spell to take out a 27-14 victory.

Jay Michalik was in outstanding form with his speed and evasiveness leaving the opposition flatfooted. The forwards led the charge for victory with Kingston York and Scott Slegh praised by team management. Zeppelin Kissling led the team from halfback and made several piercing breaks during the game.

The third Div One match-up saw Te Puke High School who have been threatening to cut loose in recent games, pick up a bonus point when they got past John Paul College 37-17, in a match where both sides made good use of the ball.

Bay of Plenty Polytechnic First Fifteen Results 2 July 2011
Division One: Otumoetai College 27 Opotiki College 14, Te Puke HS 38 John Paul College 17, Trident HS 20 Western Heights HS 11.
Division Two: Mount Maunganui 38 Katikati 0.
Division Three: Tauranga BC 32 Rotorua Lakes 24, Aquinas 44 Whakatane 7, Rotorua BHS 26 Edgecumbe 19.

Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Baywide First Fifteen Draw 9 July 2011 (Home team first)
Division One: Western Heights v Otumoetai, Te Puke v Trident, JPC v Opotiki.
Division Two: Katikati v Taupo Nui A Tia, Bethlehem v Tauhara, Reporoa v Mount Maunganui.
Division Three: Rotorua Lakes v Edgecumbe, Rotorua BHS v Aquinas, Whakatane v Tauranga BC.

For Further Information Contact
Neil Alton BOPRU Operations Manager 07 574 2046