The Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Secondary School Rugby semi-finals played on Saturday produced a variety of minor upsets, close run affairs and dominant performances.

There was plenty of action at the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Secondary Schools semi-finals at the weekend. Photo: BOPRU File.

In the first fifteen Division One playoffs, John Paul College continued their recent run of form to come from fourth place in the qualifying rounds, to upset top qualifier Bethlehem College 22-10 in the Western Bay.

While John Paul College had a good territorial advantage, the Bethlehem defence remained firm until late in the encounter.

The sole JPC touchdown was awarded to Trey Watson, with Petelo Kelemete posting a match winning performance when he slotted five penalty goals and a conversion.

Trident High School from the Eastern Bay will square off against JPC after a battle of attrition in the Eastern Bay. The 22-20 victory over Otumoetai College reflected a hard fought battle with Otumoetai College taking the encounter down to the wire.

Reporoa College in Division Two, were another school to defy their regular season finishing position, when they surprised top seed Katikati College in the Western Bay of Plenty.

In another match that went down to the wire, the team from the southern Bay of Plenty Union border got home 24-22 to book a berth on Grand Finals' day. Their opponents will be Aquinas College who sneaked past Tauhara College 15-11 in the Great Lake region.

A nine try romp took Rotorua Boys' College under-15A team into the final of the Division Three title race, when they beat Kawerau College 57-7.

Rotorua Boys Kaine Lewis was in dynamic form breaking the advantage line and scoring two long distant tries. Rotorua No 8 Renton Barrett was equally impressive. With his second try a solo effort. He received the ball from the kick off broke three or four tackles then out paced the cover defence to run 60m to score. Kawerau showed glimpses of their potential but frustratingly made too many mistakes. The Eastern Bay teams only try came against the run of play. Right-winger Desmond Neilsen intercepted a two on one situation and ran 90m to score for his first-five Midas Te Kakara to convert.

Rotorua Boys will meet Rotorua Lakes in the Division Three championship, after the Lakes side got past the other Rotorua Boys team in the playoffs, to book a place in the title decider.

The Second Fifteen finale will be an intercity derby between Tauranga Boys' College under-15 and Western Heights High School.

Top seed Tauranga Boys despatched Mount Maunganui College 26-17 while Western Heights sneaked past Tauranga Boys fourths 10-7.

Trident High School will have two teams contesting the Baywide playoffs, after their under-15 premiership side emerged triumphant against Western Heights. The Eastern Bay side posted a 17-12 win and will face Mount Maunganui College in the championship final after the Western Bay School defeated Opotiki College 26-22.

New season entrant Te Wharekura O Mauao has made the under-14 premiership final in their first year. On Saturday they defeated Opotiki College 24-17 and will meet Rotorua Boys who stormed past Western Heights 72-nil.

Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Secondary Schools Rugby Semi-Finals Results August 2012

First Fifteen Division One: John Paul College 22 Bethlehem College 10, Trident HS 22 Otumoetai College 20.

First Fifteen Division Two: Reporoa College 24 Katikati College 22, Aquinas College 15 Tauhara College 11.

First Fifteen Division Three: Rotorua BHS U15 A – 57 Kawerau College 7, Rotorua Lakes defeated Rotorua BHS3.

Second Fifteen Division: Tauranga BC U15 A – 26 Mount Maunganui College 17, Western Heights HS 10 Tauranga BC4 – 7.

Under 15 Premiership: Trident HS 17 Western Heights HS 12, Mount Maunganui College 26 Opotiki College 22.

Under 14 Premiership: Rotorua BHS U14 A – 72 Western Heights HS 0, Te Wharekura O Mauao 24 Opotiki College 17.