The first term of the new school year brings the preliminary rounds of the NZ Cricket schools competition.

There has been a multitude of games played in the Bay of Plenty Cricket region, from Taupo to the Eastern Bay up to the northern extremity of Katikati.

The premier secondary school competition is the Gillette Cup and last year Tauranga Boys' College finished fifth in the national final.

Their tournament highlight was the century blasted by Cameron Neal against Hutt (Valley) International School.

The preliminary Bay of Plenty rounds of the prestigious secondary school trophy saw Bay of Plenty sides taking place in T20 Field Days.

At the first field day, Otumoetai College beat Mount Maunganui with Bethlehem College getting past Katikati College.

In the day's final stanza, Bethlehem defeated Otumoetai to advance to the next round

In the other side of the draw, Trident High School got past John Paul College with Aquinas College proving too strong for Campion College.

The day's final was taken out by Trident High School.

While Tauranga Boys' College gets a free pass to the later rounds – Bethlehem College and Trident High School now move on to a further Field Day on March 13.

Aquinas College moved through to the next stage of the NZCT Secondary Schoolgirls competition to be held at Waipuna Park in the Western Bay on Tuesday, March 20, where they will face two Waikato Valley teams and Tauranga Girls' College.

Defending NZ Cup champion Tauranga Intermediate cruised through the first stage of the Bay of Plenty playoffs accounting for JPC and Whakatane Intermediate.

Te Puke Intermediate defeated Bethlehem College and Taupo Intermediate while Aquinas College beat Rotorua Intermediate and Katikati College.

Tauranga, Te Puke and Aquinas will now contest a round robin mini tournament, with the top two progressing to the next round.

Bay of Plenty Schools Cricket Results

Gillette Cup Results

Field Day One; Otumoetai College defeated Mount Maunganui College, Bethlehem College defeated Katikati College; Bethlehem defeated Otumoetai

Field Day Two: Trident HS defeated John Paul College, Aquinas College defeated Campion College; Trident defeated Aquinas.

NZCT Secondary Schoolgirls

Rotorua GHS defeated Te Puke HS, Aquinas College defeated Taupo Nui A Tia; Aquinas defeated Rotorua GHS

BOP Cup (Intermediate Boys)

Pool One: Te Puke Intermediate defeated Bethlehem College & Taupo Intermediate

Pool Two: Tauranga Intermediate defeated John Paul College & Whakatane Intermediate

Pool Three: Aquinas College defeated Rotorua Intermediate & Katikati College