Trident High School started the first round of the 2013 WBOPCA Secondary School 1st XI cricket competition from where they left off last year.

The 2012 champions posted a huge target against John Paul College in the first round of the term one competition in a high scoring encounter.

The outstanding success of the inaugural WBOPCA First XI competition in term four has seen an expanded competition in the start to the new school term.

John Paul College from Rotorua will play in the expanded Western Bay competition by invitation - with Tauranga Boys College fourth eleven joining the expanded competition.

Batting first the Eastern Bay side blazed away to post a remarkable 333 for the loss of six wickets.

However JPC weren't fazed and made a valiant run chase, led by Sam Kelly who top scored with 49 runs, with Liam Kelly adding to his two wickets with 31 runs.

The Trident bowlers then won the battle between bat and ball to dismiss JPC for 217.

Aquinas College won another high scoring battle when that accounted for Otumoetai College. Taking first use of the batting strip, Aquinas got through to 231/7 with James Church (78) and Josh Ormrod (58) getting amongst the runs.

In spite of Otumoetai batsmen Christian MacDonald top scoring with 74 runs an outstanding bowling performance saw Otumoetai bowled out for 181.

Ryan Foord ripped through the Otumoetai batting attack to take five wickets at the cost of just nine runs.

Bethlehem College, who finished runner-up to Trident in the 2012 title decider, made a good start to the new competition defeating Tauranga Boys third eleven.

After setting a target of 189, the Bethlehem bowlers removed the Tauranga Boys representatives for 160 to claim a first up victory.

Tauranga Boys' fourths made a grand competition entrance defeating Katikati College.

The Tauranga Boys' posted a solid 222/9 then removed Katikati for just 94.

However one Katikati player who had the best possible reason for not fronting for his team was Brody Gilroy.

The Katikati youngster has had a spectacular twelve months in cricket and earned selection as the Bay of Plenty 12th man in their Hawke Cup defence against Manawatu.

WBOPCA Secondary School 1st XI Term One Competition Results February 9

Trident High School 333/6 (C Wood 2/44, L Kelly 2/57) defeated John Paul College 217 (S Kelly 49, L Kelly 31, T Seumanatafa 25)

Aquinas College 231/7 (J Bradley 2/42) defeated Otumoetai College 181 (C MacDonald 74, J Bradley 49)

Bethlehem College 188/9 defeated Tauranga Boys College 3ed XI – 160

Tauranga Boys College 4^th XI – 222/9 defeated Katikati College 94