The Bay of Plenty Secondary Schoolgirls made an excellent start to their section of the Northern Region competition when they squared off with Counties Manukau on Saturday.

In order to give the side the ideal build-up, they travelled up to the Counties region the day before the game.

Hosted in style by James Cook High School, the team used the time together to further develop the team culture.

'The girls arrived at the game venue fresh and ready to go,” says head coach Charlie Hurihanganui.

The Bay side started well and led 15 nil at the half time break and went on to post a 27 nil victory.

'They stuck to their game plan, defended with authority and we used our impact players off the bench to good effect.”

The Bay try scorers were Crystal Walters, who dotted the ball down twice, with Kathleen Kelly, Shanelle Conwell and Maumahara Peita grabbing a try apiece, with Maumahara converting one of the touchdowns.

Charlie Hurihanganui singled out his team forwards of captain Kathleen Kelly and assistant leader Lorelei Punga along with Natalie Delamere for praise.

In the back line Crystal Walters, Mereseini Tuita and Maumahara Peita all had stand out games.

The team, who are drawn from throughout the Bay of Plenty and the Taupo region, are looking forward to their encounter with Waikato this weekend at the Rotorua Girls High School.

BOPRU Secondary Schoolgirls Results

September 1: BOP Secondary Schoolgirls 27 Counties Manukau 0.

September 8: BOP Secondary Schoolgirls v Waikato, Rotorua Girls High School

September 22: Northern Region Finals Day, Auckland.