Rotorua Boys' High School are through to the National Top 4 after beating New Plymouth Boys' High on Saturday. Pictured is Rotorua Boys' player Jessie Williams. Photo / Ben Fraser
Rotorua Boys' High School are through to the National Top 4 after beating New Plymouth Boys' High on Saturday. Pictured is Rotorua Boys' player Jessie Williams. Photo / Ben Fraser
It is quickly becoming a season to remember for Rotorua Boys' High School.
The school's 1st XV rugby team have earned a spot in the National Top 4 tournament, after knocking over New Plymouth Boys' High School 27-12 at home on Saturday.
It is the first time since 2006 the Rotorua school has qualified for the National Top 4 for the country's top four rugby schools.
A big home crowd is expected this coming weekend when the prestigious tournament is hosted at Rotorua Boys' High School - with semifinals on Friday and finals on Sunday.
The teams to qualify for the top four this year are Rotorua Boys' (Chiefs region champions), Scots College (Hurricanes region champions), Otago Boys' High School (South Island champions) and St Kentigern College (Blues region champions).
Rotorua Boys High School 1st XV players celebrate their win against New Plymouth Boys High School during their Chiefs region final at RBHS fields on Saturday Photo/Ben Fraser
Rotorua coach Ngarimu Simpkins said it was the goal since the start of the year to make the top four in the country.
"I'm just really proud they are reaching their potential.
"We always knew [our team] were a good side and it would have been a shame to lose today, but I think they are in their rightful place mixing it with the big boys in the top four."
Simpkins said they showed a lot of character to beat New Plymouth on Saturday, who boasted a big forward pack.
Despite knocking on the ball in the opening seconds on Saturday, New Plymouth managed to score the opening try.
Rotorua Boys' responded in front of their home supporters through winger Ngarohi McGarvey-Black, who picked up the ball off the back of the ruck and scored from close to the line.
The home side scored again off a lovely play down the right side, started by first-five Kaleb Trask and finished off by captain Te Aute.
The ball made its way through about five sets of hands before Te Aute dotted down.
Coach Simpkins gave his team a rev-up at half-time and it seemed to work as they came out firing in the second spell.
Rotorua made a series of little breaks down the field and got a slice of luck when an offload took a favourable bounce and Trask scooted in to score.
New Plymouth scored shortly after to make things interesting but could not close the gap any further.
Rotorua scored a late try to Hayze Perham, to see them safely into the top four.
Scots College (Wellington) will head into the top four as favourites, after sharing the national title last year with joint winners Hamilton Boys' High School.
-Rotorua Boys' High School 27 (Ngarohi McGarvey-Black, Isaac Te Aute, Kaleb Trask, Hayze Perham tries; Kaleb Trask 2 con, pen) New Plymouth Boys' High School 12 (Bradley Slater, Matthew Guthrie tries; Brayton Northcott-Hill con).
-Draw for National Top 4 semifinals this Friday (at Rotorua Boys' High School):
Premier: 1.10pm: Scots College v Otago BHS; 2.55pm: St Kentigern College v Rotorua BHS.
