Rugby: Rotorua hosting secondary school finals

The Baywide secondary school rugby finals are being played at Rotorua International Stadium on Saturday. Photo/File

Get out your knives and forks, there is a feast of secondary school rugby action on the menu at Rotorua International Stadium tomorrow.The Toi Ohomai Baywide Secondary Schools' Finals Day marks the end of another fantastic competition in 2018.

The best of the best will take the field at Rotorua International Stadium in the lead up to the Bay of Plenty Steamers' opening Mitre 10 Cup game against Taranaki at 7.30pm.

Starting at 10.30am, Trident High School will take on local team John Paul College for the Toi Ohomai Baywide Under-15 Championship title. Trident High School have been the form team in the division, but the battlers from John Paul College cannot be underestimated, especially with the home town support and their First XV playing as the Steamers' curtain-raiser later in the day.

At midday, powerhouses and rivals Rotorua Girls' High School and Tauranga Girls' College will play for the Baywide girls' First XV title.

Both teams have struggled with injuries and defaulting opposition, but will be eager to not only win the Bay honours, but the right to represent Bay of Plenty in the National Top Four Girls' semifinals on September 1.

Tauranga Girls' have beaten Rotorua Girls' this year, but a lot of time and training by coach Jimi McClean will see the local girls come out firing. Another inspiration will be the memory of Mark Edmonds, the team's long-time trainer who died earlier this year.

On the number two field, Rotorua Boys' High School Red will play Tauranga Boys' College White for the Toi Ohomai Baywide Under-14 title. A surprise win by Rotorua Boys' High School over Trident High School, who had dominated all season, should send a strong warning to the Tauranga Boys' team.

At 1.30pm, the Toi Ohomai Baywide Under-15 Premiership final between Taupō Nui a Tia and Tauranga Boys' College White will be a titanic battle, with Taupō Nui a Tia coming from fourth spot to play on finals day. Tauranga Boys' have been the next best team in the division behind Te Whare Kura o Mauao – with their only loss occurring in the semifinals.

Katikati College First XV will meet Tauhara College First XV in the Toi Ohomai Baywide Division 2 final. In pool play, Tauhara College put 70 points on Katikati College team. Their form last week over Opōtiki College in the semifinals was only bettered by the teams' post-match singing.

The main event, at 5.15pm, sees John Paul College First XV, the number one ranked team all season, face off against the ever improving Te Whare Kura o Mauao team. John Paul College had a comfortable win over Trident High School in the semifinals, while Te Wharekura o Mauao had a tough physical battle against Te Puke High School.

The teams have contrasting styles and the John Paul College win in pool play was on the back of tight structured play. Te Wharekura o Mauao on the other hand love the free and expansive style which has been the hallmark of their play all season.

Toi Ohomai Baywide Secondary Schools Finals Day
Saturday at Rotorua International Stadium

Toi Ohomai Baywide Under-15 Championship Final
Trident High School v John Paul College
Kickoff: 10.30am, Field 2

Toi Ohomai Baywide Under-14 Final
Rotorua Boys' High School Red v Tauranga Boys' College White
Kickoff: 12pm, Field 2

Toi Ohomai Baywide Girls First XV Final
Tauranga Girls' College First XV v Rotorua Girls' High School First XV
Kickoff: 12pm, Field 1

Toi Ohomai Baywide Under-15 Premiership Final
Taupo Nui a Tia v Tauranga Boys' College White
Kickoff: 1.30pm, Field 2

Toi Ohomai Baywide Division 2 Final
Tauhara College First XV v Katikati College First XV
Kickoff: 3.30pm, Field 2/1 (Weather dependent)

Toi Ohomai Baywide Division 1 Final
John Paul College First XV v Te Wharekura O Mauao
Kickoff: 5.15pm, Field 1