A large crowd was on hand at Blake Park on Tuesday for the playoffs in the inaugural Western BOP Co-Educational Secondary Schools pre-season rugby tournament.

The participating schools were also using the tournament as early season preparation for the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Secondary Schools competitions, which commence on May 7.

Te Puke High School and Bethlehem College were the finalists.

The co-ed initiative came from an idea floated by Jamie Davis from Otumoetai College, who believed the co-educational schools should have additional rugby opportunities, such as are available to Tauranga Boys' College and Rotorua Boys' High.

On Saturday April 9, Aquinas, Bethlehem, Kawerau, Otumoetai and Mount Maunganui College along with Te Puke High School took part in the preliminary matches, which led to the co-ed finals playoffs.

Each team played two 20 minute each-way games in the first round.

The final match-up of 35 minutes each-way was the Championship Shield playoff, with the winner becoming the first Western BOP Co Ed Schools Champion.

Bethlehem College, which belied their place in the 2011 BOP Polytechnic Secondary Schools Division Two, which commences on May 7, faced off against Te Puke High School.

Te Puke made the early running to run in two tries, and lead their opponents 10-7 at the half time break. The game was up for grabs in the second spell, before Bethlehem College asserted their authority to post a 24-10 victory.

Fitness, outstanding handling, and good decision making on the field of play, paid real dividends for Bethlehem College coach Andy Bartrum. However, coach Bartrum may have been later regretting a promise to his team to shave his head if his charges won the inaugural co-ed rugby tournament.

Otumoetai College was in charge throughout most of the match for the third place in the cup final.

While Mount Maunganui College never gave up the battle, Otumoetai finished the contest with a significant 45-7 victory.

In the Plate playoff, Kawerau College, which played in the tournament by invitation, made a valiant attempt to peg back Aquinas College.

However, Aquinas College finished strongly to take out fifth place to post a 32-17 win.

Bay of Plenty Co Ed Schools Rugby Tournament Results

Championship Shield – Bethlehem College 24 Te Puke High School 10.

Cup (Playoff for Third) – Otumoetai College 45 Mount Maunganui College 7.

Plate (Playoff for Fifth) – Aquinas College 32 Kawerau College 17.