A couple of last minute withdrawals caused two byes in the WBOPCA Schools cricket competitions, with the most notable seeing Trident High School sit on the sideline in the First XI title race.

This Saturday the Eastern Bay of plenty school will open their First XI campaign, when Mount Maunganui Gold pay a visit to the Eastern Bay.

Trident have been extremely competitive in the Western Bay Schools competitions in recent seasons, however they could have a good battle on their hands against Mount Gold, who draw the majority of their players from Mount Maunganui College.

An interesting match-up is the encounter between Bethlehem College and their Otumoetai counterparts. Bethlehem College won the 2014 Term Four competition, while Otumoetai has a proud cricket tradition having produced two Black Caps in Trent Boult and Graeme Aldridge.

The two Tauranga Boys' College sides, who both won their first-up assignments in the Term One competition, take different paths this weekend. TBC Blue host Katikati College while the TBC White team will sit out the bye.

Taupo Combined schools made a winning start to the title race, when they beat 2014 Term Four titleholders Bethlehem College last weekend.

However, the Taupo Schools side could have their hands full this Saturday, when Aquinas College travels to the Great Lakes region to play them.

Aquinas is the defending First XI champions and they kick started their title defence with a solid win over Otumoetai last weekend.

WBOPCA Secondary School draws:

Division One

Bethlehem College v Otumoetai College, Taupo Schools v Aquinas College, Trident HS v Mount Maunganui Gold, TBC Blue v Katikati College, TBC White the bye.

Division One Results from February 14

Aquinas 1st XI (251 (Ryan Timoney 55, Joe Robinson 34, Andrew Norman 43, Max Delaney 3/46) defeated Otumoetai 1st XI 185 (Max Delaney 54, Johnny Hill 35, Cayne Dew 3/19)

Bethlehem 1st XI 161 (Mike Bryenton 30, Reece McDonald 3/21) lost to Taupo Schools 162/6 Mel Paynter 63)

Tauranga Boys' College Blue 164 (Jacob Logan 32, Steve White 3/29) defeated Mount Maunganui Gold 133 (Jared Tutty 4/18, Euan McNaught 4/23)

Tauranga Boys' College White 238/8 (Kinnon Nelson 95, Dominic Crombie 50, Shris Wooller 35, Blake Gilroy 3/40) beat Katikati 1st XI 156 (Max Morton 59, Rhys Mischefski 3/20)

Trident High School – bye

Points Table: Aquinas 6, Taupo Schools 6, TBC Blue 6, TBC White 6, Otumoetai 0, Bethlehem 0, Mount Maunganui Gold 0, Katikati 0.