Power and pace the key

A combination of power and pace are the key to Rotorua Boys' High School outclassing a determined Opotiki College in the second round of the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic secondary school 1st XV competition.

Rotorua Boys' High were schedule to play Western Heights High School today but with Heights' postponing the match, they will now travel to Opotiki to play Opotiki College.

Rotorua Boys' High School rugby manager Bruce Buckton said despite a narrow 26-20 loss to Wesley College in the Chiefs Schools' 1st XV competition last week, the team were feeling confident but wouldn't be taking their opponents lightly.

"With the Baywide it's another level and we are just looking for continuity. We're not going to be taking [Opotiki] lightly. They're a proud rugby school, who have produced some good rugby players recently."

Buckton said the opposition were always hard to beat on their home turf and would need to use all of the team's strengths to overcome them.

"For us our strength is our forwards, getting them working so we can use the speed in the backs."

This will come down to their captain and first five-eighth Ryubyn Vaipo, who Buckton said was great at putting his speed men like Isaac Te Aute and Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi into space.

Although the team have lost a lot of their experienced players from last season such as Marnus Hanley and Matthew Axtens - other youngsters have stepped up to the plate Buckton said. "We have 18 of 22 players who are new to the team ... Like Jade Honeycombe, he's our openside flanker. He's only small but he's effective in his role and is constantly disrupting and turning over [opposition] ball and is solid on the tackle."

Opotiki were beaten by their Eastern Bay neighbours Trident High School last week, in an entertaining display of rugby, both sides picking up bonus points for four tries or better, before Trident prevailed 48-24.

Last week saw an emphatic start to the season with John Paul College and Mt Maunganui College both posting big wins.

JPC beat Te Puke High School 53-0, while Mount posted 65 unanswered points over Tauranga Boys' College.

The Rotorua side are hosted by defending champions Bethlehem College in what promises to be a tough encounter.

Rotorua Lakes High also had an impressive win, clocking up a 55-14 victory over Rangatahi College in their division three match, while the other results in that division were: Reporoa 31, Rotorua Boys' 3rd XV 10; Aquinas College 17, Whakatane High School 5; Edgecumbe College 22, Kawerau College 0.

The only division one match will be Rotorua Boys' High School 2nd XV taking on Trident High School in Whakatane.

Taupo's Tauhara College will enter the fray for the first time, after the bye last weekend. They will play Rotorua Boys' thirds in Rotorua. Reporoa - former top echelon contenders - are on the comeback road, and will host Rotorua Lakes.

Bay of Plenty Polytechnic secondary schools 1st XV Rugby results for April 28:

Division One: Trident High School 48, Opotiki College 24

Division Two: John Paul College 53, Te Puke High School 0; Katikati 40, Tauranga Boys' College 3rd XV 3; Mount Maunganui College 65, Tauranga Boys' College U16 0.

Points: JPC 5, Katikati 5, Mount Maunganui 5, Te Puke 0, Tauranga BC3 0, Tauranga BC U16 0

Division Three: Pool One: Rotorua Lakes 55, Rangitahi College 14; Reporoa 31 Rotorua Boys' High 10. (Pool Two): Aquinas College 17 Whakatane High School 5; Edgecumbe College 22 Kawerau College 0.

Points (Pool One): Rotorua Lakes 5, Reporoa 5, Rangitahi 0, Rotorua Boys' 3rd XV 0. Pool Two: Aquinas 5, Edgecumbe 5, Whakatane 0, Kawerau 0.

Bay of Plenty Polytechnic secondary schools rugby draw:

(Home team shown first):

Division One: Trident High School v Rotorua Boys' 2nd XV.

Division Two: Te Puke HS v Taupo Nui A Tia, Bethlehem v John Paul College, Tauranga BC3 v Tauranga BC U16, Mount Maunganui v Katikati.

Division Three: Pool One: Reporoa v Rotorua Lakes, Rotorua BHS3 v Tauhara, Rangitahi the bye. Pool Two: Edgecumbe v Aquinas, Whakatane v Kawerau.