The Bay of Plenty's Roller Mills team got off to a flyer at this year's tournament, beating Auckland West 28-0.

It's a great result for the team who, alongside last year's winners Auckland East, are counted as one of the favourites to take out this year's tournament at the Kensington Oval in Northland.

Photo: File.

Unfortunately for Thames Valley, their first up match proved a torrid affair with the side going down 62-7 to North Harbour.

In other results from yesterday's matches, Waikato were too strong for debutants Taranaki, winning 33-7.

Hosts Northland also had a strong opening performance, taking out King Country 48-12, while both Auckland East and Counties Manukau received a bye.

Today's matches will see the Bay of Plenty take on Taranaki, while Thames Valley will look to make amends for yesterday's performance when they face Northland.

In the other two matches, defending champions Auckland East will clash with North Harbour while Counties Manukau and Waikato are set to meet. King Country and Auckland West have today's byes.

The week-long tournament is a showcase of the rising stars of rugby. Players like Sonny Bill Williams, Keiran Read and Richard Kahui have all played at the tournament, which has been running since 1925.