The Bay of Plenty Under 16 A team flew the flag of victory, in the first round of the Northern Region competitions that kicked off on Saturday defeating North Harbour 29-12.

Led by a double to Christian Kelly, the Bay side picked up an additional bonus point for four tries (or better) with Shayde Perham and Isaac Te Aute also dotting the ball down, while Perham converted three tries and slotted a penalty goal.

The Bay of Plenty tight five completely dominated the set phase plays of the lineouts and scrums, which set an excellent platform for the back line to run in well-constructed tries.

While Auckland B defeated the Bay of Plenty Development team, the Bay side were right in the game in the first spell, with the score tied at 27 points apiece at the half time break.

Bay of Plenty made most of the running in the first half, before the Auckland team upped the ante in the second spell to post a 61-27 victory.

The difference in the second spell was the Bay mistakes that were heavily punished by the home team.

Jeremy Cave, Matt Clutterbuck and Dan Goodwin crossed for the Bay tries with Willie Ripia adding three conversions and two penalties.

The Bay Under 20 team experienced the firepower of their Auckland counterparts going down 52-0.

The Auckland visitors to Te Ariki Park in the Western Bay of Plenty raced out to a 32 nil lead at half time. However Bay team management reported that the home side showed a number of positives in the second spell, holding Auckland tryless for the third quarter, before conceding two more touchdowns.

A hard fought encounter at Bell Park in Auckland by the Bay of Plenty Under 18 side, resulted in the visitors going down to Auckland East 37-7.

The Bay Under 16 second fifteen ran into the firepower of a well-drilled Waikato team being defeated 70-0.

However team management said that the Bay team went close to scoring on several occasions and praised the performance of Bay captain Jade Murray.

BOPRU Representative Northern Region Results September 1

Development: Auckland 61 BOP 27 (Jeremy Cave, Matt Clutterbuck, Dan Goodwin; Willie Ripia 3 con 2 pen) HT 27-27

Under 20: Auckland 52 BOP 0

Under 18: Auckland East 37 BOP 7

Under 16: BOP A 29 (Christian Kelly 2, Shayde Perham, Isaac Te Aute tries' S Perham 3 con pen) North Harbour 12,

Waikato 70 BOP B 0.