The biggest crowds seen at the Paengaroa Domain for many years are expected to assemble on Saturday, as the six Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Secondary Schools Rugby Finals are fought out.

The Baywide Secondary Schools Premiership finale will take place when Eastern Bay representative Trident High School will meet John Paul College from Rotorua, in the First Fifteen division one title decider.

JPC made the finals the hard way, having to win two sudden death matches in their last two encounters.

In the last round of round robin play they defeated former division one champions Opotiki College, before despatching top qualifier Bethlehem College in last week's semi-finals.

Trident High School were to the forefront of the title race throughout the regular season and finished second in the qualifying competition, which gave them a home semi-final last weekend.

The Trident 22-20 post section victory over Otumoetai College, reflected a hard fought battle, with the Eastern Bay side only grabbing the ascendancy in the dying minutes of the match-up.

Reporoa College were another team to come from fourth place in the regular season, to earn a division two finals berth.

The team from the Bay of Plenty border, who had Steamers Sam Cane and Carl Axtens in their school team ranks just a few years ago, defeated Katikati College 24-22 in an absolute thriller in the Western Bay last week.

Reporoa will meet Western Bay School Aquinas College who battled past Taupo Nui A Tia 15-11 in the Great Lake region to make the premiership decider.

A Rotorua local derby will take centre stage in the division three final.

Rotorua Boys High School under 15 A representatives will square off against Rotorua Lakes College first fifteen in the 12.15pm game.

Rotorua Boys progressed to the title decider last week running over Kawerau College first fifteen 57-7, while Rotorua Lakes defeated another Rotorua Boys team, their thirds.

Tauranga Boys College under 15 A team squeezed past Mount Maunganui Colleges second fifteen 26-17 in midweek encounter last week for the right to meet Western Heights second fifteen at the Paengaroa Domain, in the Second Fifteen final.

The Rotorua School won a battle of attrition against Tauranga Boys fourths 10-7 to keep their title aspirations alive.

For the second year in a row Trident High School and Mount Maunganui College will fight out the under 15 premiership.

Last season the two rivals proved a real thriller in the curtain raiser to the Steamers ITM Cup game with Canterbury – with Trident coming from behind to take out the premiership with a 24-17 victory.

New entrant Te Wharekura O Mauao, capped an outstanding first year of competition when they made the Under 14 premiership final, after defeating Opotiki College 24-17 last weekend.

The Western Bay School will play Rotorua Boys A side who cruised into the final with a 72-0 win over Western Heights in the semi-finals.

Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Secondary Schools Rugby Finals Day Draw August 18 at Paengaroa Domain

First Fifteen Division One (2pm) Trident HS v John Paul College

First Fifteen Division Two (1.30pm) Reporoa College v Aquinas College

First Fifteen Division Three (12.15pm) Rotorua BHS U15 A v Rotorua Lakes first fifteen

Second Fifteen Division (10.30am) Tauranga BC U15 A v Western Heights HS 2^nd XV

Under 15 Premiership (11.45am) Trident HS v Mount Maunganui College

Under 14 Premiership (10am) Rotorua BHS A v Te Wharekura O Mauao