But Rotorua needed a three-way countback to edge ahead of Buller HS and Paeroa College in their competitive group, after losing to Buller by a point in the second morning.

The nine-team boys’ field split into two groups - the top six and bottom three - after two days, and the top teams will split into two groups of three after playoffs early on Day Three.

Meanwhile, last year’s finalists Church College and Rotorua Lakes continued their run towards a showdown in the girls’ round robin format.

Each had a pair of wins on Day Two and they are due to meet on Thursday in what looms as the deciding games.

Furnware NZ “A” Secondary Schools Championships

North Harbour

Wednesday, September 30

Boys
9am
1st-6th

1st-6th

Rotorua Lakes 61 (Sam Appleton 21) Taumarunui 58 (William Marsden 18)

Dunstan 71 (Thomas Mulvihill 37) Paeroa 67 (Te Rongopai Reta 26)

Nga Taiatea 75 (Keoghan Ormsby 22)

Buller 55 (Clave Barry 20)

7th-9th

Stratford 67 (Sam Mako 13) Pinehurst 57 (Tiki Kondic 24)

2.15pm
1st-3rd

Nga Taiatea Wharekura 76 (Kane Mahara 30) Rotorua Lakes 70 (Sam Appleton 23)

4th-6th

Buller 93 (Rueben Elley 28) Taumarunui 85 (Lionel Kawau 44)

7th-9th

Tolaga Bay 100 (Shanan Gray 27) Pinehurst 59 (Tiki Kondic 25)

Girls
10.45am
Rotorua Lakes 54 (Gabby Adams 14) Wairoa 19 (Shontay Rapitini 11)

Church 89 (Maureen Tuia 35) Buller 59 (Ellie Ngatai 22)

12.30pm
Paeroa 59 (P Keith 17) Te Aroha 50 Natalie Mora 21)

4pm
Church 86 (Maureen Tuia 36) Wairoa 62 (Shontay Rapatini 19)