A record 23 teams will launch into the WBOPCA Secondary Schools Term One competition on Saturday across three Bay of Plenty regions.

Trident High School, who has long played in the Western Bay Schools cricket competitions, will be joined by three teams from the Taupo regions who will play under the banner of Taupo Combined Schools.

In the last couple of seasons, Aquinas and Bethlehem Colleges have fought out the Division One titles.

While Aquinas College beat Bethlehem in two straight title deciders, they had to bow to Bethlehem in the 2014 Term Four Championship. Aquinas batted first and was bowled out for 111, with Bethlehem College having a hard fought battle to take out a four wicket win.

This weekend, Bethlehem College opens their campaign for two successive Division One titles, when they are at home to Taupo Combined Schools. Aquinas will play longtime rivals Otumoetai College with Katikati hosting Tauranga Boys College White.

Mount Gold, who draws most of their players from Mount Maunganui College, will meet TBC Blue at Blake Park two.

A Tauranga Boys derby will open proceedings in Division Two with TBC Lords and Wanderers squaring off.

Eastern Bays Trident High School, who has dropped down to Division Two with an influx of new recruits, will travel to play Taupo Combined Schools second team in Taupo.

Papamoa College who are making their competition debut will face TBC Kensington, Aquinas Black will play TBC Sabina with Aquinas White travelling to play Te Puke High School in Te Puke.

In Division Three, Mount Maunganui Green is at home to TBC Hagley, with TBC Cavaliers travelling to play the third Taupo Combined Schools team in the Great Lakes region. Bethlehem College second eleven will sit out the opening round courtesy of drawing the bye.

WBOPCA Secondary School Draws

Division One

Katikati v Tauranga Boys College White, Mount Gold v TBC Blue, Otumoetai v Aquinas, Bethlehem v Taupo Combined Schools.

Division Two

TBC Lords v TBC Wanderers, Aquinas Black v TBC Sabina, Te Puke HS v Aquinas White, Taupo Schools v Trident HS, Papamoa College v TBC Kensington,

Division Three

Mount Maunganui Green v TBC Hagley, Taupo Schools v TBC Cavaliers; Bethlehem College2 the bye.