Rotorua Boys' High School got their 2019 Super 8 First XV campaign off to a winning start with a hard-fought 29-13 home victory over Tauranga Boys' College in front of the SKY TV cameras on Thursday.

The 101^st encounter between the Bay of Plenty rivals was closer than the score indicates with a converted try to halfback Kane O'Connor in the last play of the match pushing the score out.

But Rotorua never looked like losing this clash with the game won in the first half as Rotorua took a 17-3 lead into the break after pushing into a stiff breeze.

Following on from a tour to Europe this was the ideal opportunity to keep that spirit going. Rotorua had not played for three weeks since returning from Europe and the lack of game time showed at times with the combinations not always gelling up against a determined Tauranga defence that never gave in.

There were plenty of individual stars on show for Rotorua.

Captain and hooker Bernie Hati led by example grabbing two tries with blindside flanker Stuart Leach and barnstorming No 8 Tukimihia Simpkins also crossing for tries.

But the pick of the players was second-five Carlos Karaitiana who the Sky TV commentators selected as Player of the Match. He made several telling tackles as Tauranga got back into the game in the second spell. He also created plenty of opportunities out wide for wingers Manu Akauola and Jaden Kingi to exploit.

Rotorua dominated field position in both halves with the Tauranga team conceding way too many penalties as the Rotorua pressure took its toll. The driving maul from attacking lineouts looks to be a weapon that Rotorua will use to their advantage this season.

When Rotorua jumped out to a 22-3 lead after 42 minutes it looked like they would have a comfortable win but no one told Tauranga that. They showed some real commitment and no little skill to run in two good tries scored by first-five Lucas Cashmore and prop Curtis Palmer.

The gap closed to 22-13 with minutes to play but a smart piece of thinking from halfback O'Connor saw him cross untouched to clinch the game.

Rotorua captain Hati was proud how his team stuck to their guns right through to the end.

'Our whole plan for today was spreading the ball wide. We have been working on that the whole pre-season and it definitely paid off today.”

Player of the Match Carlos Karaitiana says the key to the win was just keeping to the structure, trusting their process and getting the job done for the team.

'Team first is our focus. That's what we live by. We had our strategy coming into the game to tire them out and use our fitness. We had a big pre-season this year so the boys are coming out firing.

'They really brought it to us. They are a good team but we came away with a good win.”

Rotorua play Gisborne Boys' High School in round two of the Super 8 rugby competition on Saturday 15^th in Gisborne.