First XV rugby: Auckland Grammar produce the most complete performance of the year

Indeed, it would not be over-egging the pudding to call it the most complete First XV performance seen this season and one worthy of a National Top Four showing.

On schoolboy form witnessed so far in 2026, you could argue a case that Grammar rank alongside Southland Boys’ High School as the best on show – notwithstanding that such a call would of course annoy the media-shy Grammar hierarchy, who abhor undue pundit focus on extracurricular activities when education should be the priority.

Meanwhile, for former leaders St Kentigern, this was sobering stuff as it was their first defeat at home in 11 matches and their heaviest in any 1A fixture since a 44-7 hiding at the hands of Kelston Boys’ in 2021.

Dogged defence, swift and often breathtaking counter-attack and an almighty scrum were the tasty ingredients in Grammar’s masterpiece. In the second half, the scrum earned a trifecta of penalties, even making the gormless “big, big scrum” cry melodically appropriate.

Grammar started with greater enterprise, which set them apart. Quick tries to mammoth tighthead prop Kelekolio Asi and workhorse No 8 Ashton Kirke established a 17-7 buffer.

St Kentigern’s lineout drive is a potent weapon. When hooker Connor Mackie rumbled over and reacted like Alexander Zverev winning a rally at the French Open, the visitors might have felt aggrieved with an advantage of only five points.

However, New Zealand Secondary Schools centre Nico Stanley blitzed St Kent’s before halftime.

Relentless, varied phase-attack eventually saw St Kent’s wilt when Stanley stepped twice off his right foot to prise open the royal-blue-and-white hoops and touch down in front of his grandfather, 1987 Rugby World Cup-winning All Black Joe Stanley, who wore a stoic expression.

In addition to kicking four conversions and a penalty, first five-eighths Ethan Halaapiapi kept everyone guessing with his balance of orthodox efficiency and spontaneous flair.

After about 30 minutes, Halaapiapi dashed into a hole at his own 10m mark. Galloping towards the 22 with defenders bearing down, he threw a pass that ricocheted off St Kentigern players and into the hands of the supporting Stanley, whipping the Augusta Army into a frenzy.

Before the score reached 31-7 at halftime, the Army even adapted John Denver’s seminal Take Me Home, Country Roads into Mountain Rd. Though not as exotic as Toots and the Maytals’ ska-reggae version (“Almost heaven, West Jamaica”), if Grammar keep playing like this, more palatable bangers will have to be added to the set list.

St Kentigern banged away fruitlessly for the first 10 minutes after halftime. Round the corner, crash, bash, smash, wallop. This tried-and-tested formula is typically overwhelming. But to outwit Grammar, brawn must be accompanied by brains. A 60m breakout by Grammar after a prolonged shift tackling showed the gulf in class between the schools on the day.

While lock Razelang Slade, formerly of Manurewa High School, and blindside Brad Matthews were industrious for St Kentigern, the backline lacked imagination and penetration.

By contrast, there wasn’t a weak link in the Grammar chain. Fullback Louie Du Plessis had a blinder and kicked a 25m penalty to make it 34-12. Replacement lock Otis Neely had the last say with a lunge over from close range after co-ordinated forward raids.

Auckland Grammar were the last side to beat St Kentigern at home, winning 26-24 on August 3, 2024. They lead 40-25 in all matches between the two schools and their largest win was 46-0 in 1983, when they were National Top Four champions with an 18-2 record, captained by future National Cabinet minister Sam Lotu-Iiga. His sister, Brigitta Lotu-Iiga, was a Rugby World Cup-winning Black Fern, while future All Blacks and Dilworth College coach Ant Strachan was the halfback.

Home defeats in 1A for St Kentigern are extremely rare. They went unbeaten at home from 2011 to 2013 and again in 2015, 2016, 2019, 2023 and 2025. They tasted defeat only once on their patch in 2014, 2017, 2018, 2022 and 2024.

Grammar will start as hot favourites when they seek to regain the Cooper-Greenbank Cup, away to King’s College on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Sacred Heart College surged into third place with a game-of-two-halves 25-14 victory away to St Peter’s College.

Sacred chalked up a bonus point before halftime with four tries, though ultimately the win was due to determined defending in a second spell where they could only add one Keanu Simpson penalty.

But it made it four wins on the trot for Sacred in defending the Hibernian Shield and, more critically, even denied St Peter’s a bonus point, which may be significant later in the season.

Sacred hooker Ryan Smeath opened the scoring in the third minute, finishing a 20m rolling maul and right wing Troy Hola almost immediately added a second, busting through a couple of tackles.

However, try of the day was a weaving, scything 16th-minute effort to St Peter’s first five-eighths Bryce Palelei to keep his team in the hunt after being 10-0 down.

Sacred’s elf-like halfback Koia Cook chipped in with a try after muscular forward work and Smeath added his second try three minutes before the break to give his team a margin of comfort.

Bruising St Peter’s prop Bailey Tupu Tuia kept it interesting in forcing a 49th-minute try after Sacred conceded a host of penalties, but Simpson made the game safe with a 61st-minute penalty.

For Sacred, openside Ngawai Amoamo was effective in the loose, while skipper Simpson’s territorial kicking was almost scientific at times.

Hooker Zak Schramm led the way with two tries as Kelston Boys’ High School beat Mt Albert Grammar School 40-17, six tries to two, to move a point clear at the top of the table. First five-eighths Max Talbot converted five of the tries with his trusty left boot. For Mt Albert Grammar, there were tries to flanker Rhys Wilkinson and halfback Dylan Yare.

There is good reason for celebrations out East Tāmaki way this week, as at their 28th attempt across two and a half seasons, Botany Downs Secondary College have finally secured their first win in 1A ranks.

They nervously secured this long-awaited milestone with a 26-24 victory away to Liston College. Botany made their presence felt early, with tries to winger Russ Bowden, prop Kalib Pasikala and lock Ryder Russ-Ilaoa within the opening 25 minutes.

But it was not enough to move off the bottom of the table, with Liston pocketing two bonus points.

De La Salle College and St Paul’s College, Auckland battled to a 22-22 draw, with three tries apiece. Halfback Giovanni Sooa, prop Topeto Fuimaono Pulotu and second five-eighths Liam Fanolua did the business for De La Salle and lock D.J. Papalii and winger Brendon Leota for St Paul’s, who also benefited from a penalty try.

De La Salle are a modest eighth on the table, with St Paul’s two places back. Both colleges are perhaps better known as the two powerhouses of Auckland premier schoolboy rugby league, and on that front, St Paul’s have bragging rights after winning their clash 20-6 last month.

Sources tell us that if some of De La Salle’s heavyweight league lads were ever to switch to rugby, the college would confidently crack the 1A top four.

But readers can make up their own minds. While De La Salle are fervently opposed to media coverage of first XV rugby, they have no problem with homespun livestream feeds of their rugby league First XIII on Facebook – and it’s a pretty good watch, attracting thousands of views this season.

Dilworth School notched their second win of the season, and it was a notable one, 34-25 over King’s College, despite being without skipper Solomon Westerlund. For context, last year King’s won this contest 54-22, and 52-17 in 2024.

Dilworth No 8 Amjayden Tafatoa Mauga gave his team a sixth-minute lead and flanker Elemani Liufau added a 13th-minute try.

Tries to winger Karson Hawkins and centre Noah Moss kept King’s in the hunt. But Dilworth left wing Steven Live Luatua and Peyton Hale executed further tries each side of halftime, meaning a late try to King’s right wing Leo Kirkland wasn’t enough to bridge the gap.

Auckland 1A draw, Saturday (home team first, all 2.30pm): Dilworth v St Kentigern; King’s College v Auckland Grammar; Kelston v Botany Downs; Liston College v Mt Albert Grammar; St Peter’s v St Paul’s; Sacred Heart v De La Salle. Points: Kelston 25, Auckland Grammar 20, Sacred Heart 21, St Kentigern 20, St Peter’s 17, Mt Albert Grammar 13, De La Salle 7, King’s College 6, Dilworth 4, St Paul’s 4, Liston 4, Botany Downs 4.

Westlake win again, but questions remain

Westlake Boys’ High School continued their table-topping march in the Kyocera-sponsored North Harbour championship with a 50-10 home win over Rangitoto College to bring the first round to a close.

Fifty points against opponents still likely to make the top four is a worthy effort, though you still wouldn’t rank this among Westlake’s greatest hits. Questions linger about whether Westlake are anywhere near the levels they reached last year, as Blues region champions.

Yes, they are four points clear at the top and they get the job done every week, complete with a cautious rest-and-rotation approach.

But even with one-sided scorelines such as this, you get the impression Westlake have still not got out of second gear this season. They’ve lost a lot of last year’s razzle-dazzle, kick too much and are capable of so much more.

Maybe it is all part of a cunning plan to peak at just the right time and once again swan off with the regional title.

Having said that, there is no doubt at all about left wing Yisrael Tukania. The Fijian is phenomenal every time he gets the ball. Lock Mana Smith is also an exciting prospect, displaying the pace of a back, and first five-eighths Levi Leith has his moments, as shown by his three tries against Rangitoto.

Other scorers were Tukania, Smith, centre Matt Fleming, fullback Nikau Opuarkio and sub Jett Heta in an eight-try fiesta. For Rangitoto there were tries to No 8 Macsen Frith and winger Oscar Williams.

Rosmini College mauled Mahurangi College 56-0, running in eight tries, with substitute No 8 Luchian Opperman bagging a hat-trick off the bench.

Whangārei Boys’ High School moved into third place, beating Ōrewa College 34-5 after leading 15-0 at the break. For Whangārei, Quintyn Mahanga-Edmonds and No 8 Brodie Mahon scored two tries apiece.

Takapuna Grammar School picked up their second win of the season, defeating Massey High School 31-17, with right wing Will Taylor scoring twice.

North Harbour draw, Saturday (home team first, all 12 noon): Westlake v Whangārei; Ōrewa v Mahurangi; Rangitoto v Takapuna; Massey v Rosmini. Points: Westlake 35, Rosmini 31, Whangārei 24, Rangitoto 21, Mahurangi 11, Ōrewa 10, Takapuna 9, Massey 2.

Rotorua staunch in Super 8’s Battle of the Bay

Under foreboding skies and trailing Rotorua Boys’ High School 17-15 in a Super 8 opener, the Tauranga Boys’ College horn band roused the hopeful home crowd with Journey’s 1981 hit Don’t Stop Believin’.

With over two-thirds of second-half possession and territory, the hosts had the National Top Four champions on the ropes.

But by fulltime, a sombre tune like Missed Opportunity by Hall and Oates would have better reflected the mood at Nicholson Field.

Because somehow, Rotorua remained unbeaten for a 15th consecutive match, stubbornly foiling the tenacious “Titans”.

“Hard game, aye, G,” Rotorua’s soaked and exhausted Rylin Rasmussen said while embracing a mate in oversized gumboots and a hoodie afterwards.

Such a laconic summation was apt from the tigerish openside, whose late jackal defused another threatening Tauranga attack.

Taowaru Waititi, Hiwa Warbrick, Luke Worsp, Te Ariki Rogers and Loki Chapman made defensive interventions to rival Rasmussen’s snaffle. Collectively, Rotorua were malleable, bent but not broken.

Earlier, the ardour of the haka was dampened by a cagey kicking duel. Those on nearby construction scaffolds had the best view.

Then, Tauranga, buoyed by comprehensive victories over Wellington College, Gisborne Boys’ High School and Westlake Boys’, mounted their first serious assault, which Rotorua resisted.

Frustration at a lack of profit led to Tauranga penalties. In the 15th minute, Rasmussen burrowed over from a lineout drive and fullback Chapman converted from the sideline.

Two minutes later, second five-eighths Waititi – who will go close to New Zealand Schools selection this year – scored a scintillating try, battering through the first wall of defence and leaving several others grasping with nifty footwork.

Taowaru Waititi is the son of Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi. In the spirit of his father’s Michael Jackson-inspired Budget rebuttal, in which he opened and closed his address by singing lines from They Don’t Really Care About Us and Beat It, his song for the day needed to be Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough.

Tauranga locks Seremaia Salikikoro and Khan “Little Lurch” Charlton never stopped. Salikikoro snatched the restart after Waititi’s stunner, responding with his own. Captain Charlton cut a conspicuous figure in his cherry red headgear, winning scads of lineout possession and tackling and charging with intent throughout.

In the 24th minute, Tauranga struck again, with winger Nathan Theron dotting down out wide. The conversion from Finn Curtis struck the post, leaving the score at 12-10.

Tauranga pressed again, earning a penalty at the 22. Curtis kicked for the line. Rotorua winger Massey Mills scrambled to palm the ball infield in another huge defensive stop for the visitors.

The second half was a prolonged Tauranga onslaught. Rotorua lock Worsop was yellow-carded in the 42nd minute for cynical obstruction. In the 49th minute, Theron scored a second try to propel Tauranga 15-12 ahead.

Hooker Matt Bell, with his Henry Pollock mop top, performed with gusto. Centre Matiu Te Maipi was tough to restrain and walloped Waititi in one crushing tackle.

But Waititi had the last laugh in the 55th minute with a try out wide, following a rare foray by Rotorua into Tauranga’s territory.

Held up over the tryline, inopportune fumbles and dutifully firm opposition meant Tauranga just couldn’t crack it in the last 15 minutes.

It’s likely these teams will meet again later in the season. For now, Rotorua hold a 21-6 lead in Super 8 clashes between the long-time Bay of Plenty rivals. Fifteen of those games have been decided by less than a converted try, including two draws. In all matches since both became boys’ schools, Rotorua lead by 45 victories to 35, with nine draws.

Palmerston North navigate local wind to stay top of Super 8

Using the arduous local wind, Palmerston North Boys’ High School subdued the often lively, sometimes skittish Hastings Boys’ High School 45-35.

The hosts and defending champions trailed 21-7 after 21 minutes but levelled the ledger by halftime, piling on 21 unanswered points in 17 minutes after the break to bank a second bonus-point victory.

Even when “Palmy” were reduced to 13 players late in proceedings, Hastings struggled to exit their territory. Fullback Manaia Rudolph gently chipped over a 63rd-minute penalty to make it 45-28 shortly after lock Josh Stevens was dismissed.

Then Rudolph was yellow-carded for interference before Hastings’ fifth try. Down 10 against 13 players with two minutes left, the visitors had a fleeting chance until a long, wobbly restart was followed by a languid return, leading Hastings to concede a goal-line dropout.

An animated affair opened with a like-father-like-son highlight. Palmerston North first five-eighths Micah Steinmetz (nephew of former All Black Paul Steinmetz) put Cole Cullen (son of All Blacks great Christian Cullen) into a gap at halfway, and the latter sprinted free.

Hastings responded swiftly when prefect and second five-eighths Carter Ah Kiong busted 40m. The defence was further stretched with slick distribution to the right and a classy finish by winger Jimione Ratuere, whose grin resembled that of former heavyweight boxing champion Frank Bruno.

Metaphorically speaking, Ratuere delivered a flurry of punches for Hastings, completing a hat-trick a dozen minutes later with his second try, a 90m intercept. Ratuere scored a hat-trick a week earlier against New Plymouth Boys’ High School and towards fulltime collected a second quartet of the season following his St Pats Town heroics.

Seven tries in two games for two defeats. Has that ever happened before? Please let us know at the email below if you can recall a previous instance.

Despite the individual threats of Ratuere, first five-eighths Mika Iossa and tighthead prop Sione Kaufononga, Palmerston North had game-breakers too, especially Steinmetz, centre Cayden Pardy and Rudolph, who combined with Iossa to convert all 12 shots at goal.

Furthermore, Palmerston North were more tactically astute and profited richly from a heavy-duty rolling maul, one even going 40m, and dagger-like pick and goes close to the ruck.

“Nihil Boni Sine Labore” is the school motto. For non-Latin scholars, it translates as “Nothing achieved without hard work”. Forwards Stevens (2), loosehead prop Max Hill and hooker Wills Madden all burrowed over for tries from less than 5m after earlier earnest endeavour.

Meanwhile, Hamilton Boys’ High School needed a last-play try from Year 11 No 8 and Carwyn James Trophy winner for Most Promising Junior, Isaiah Edwards, to avoid a draw against New Plymouth Boys’ High School at The Gully.

The visitors won 24-17 after trailing 10-5 at halftime.

With time up and the score locked at 17-17, the winning try was sparked by debutant substitute halfback Mateo Coll with two sniping breaks. Hamilton also secured a four-try bonus point with Jackson Botherway, Chiefs Under-18 rep Deon Fifita and Hunter Hammond as other tryscorers.

It was another harsh loss for the “Tigers”, whose points came from tries scored by Year 12 player Jermaine Mattock and captain Nate Werder. Bastien Lallemand kicked two conversions and a penalty.

Napier Boys’ High School outlasted a passionate Gisborne Boys’ High School 26-14 to regain the Football Challenge Cup, which has been contested annually since 1915. Gisborne have 58 wins and Napier 41, with five matches drawn.

Super 8 draw, Saturday (home team first, all games 12 noon): Hamilton v Palmerston North; Hastings v Napier; Rotorua v Gisborne; Tauranga v New Plymouth. Points: New Plymouth 6 (two matches), Palmerston North 5, Hamilton 5, Rotorua 4, Tauranga 1, Hastings 1, Gisborne 1, Napier 0.

St John’s keep the shield

Hamilton’s St John’s College have defended the Rick Francis Memorial Shield with a 20-7 home win over Wesley College in tricky conditions in Central North Island competition.

St John’s second five-eighths Ollie Penfold played a critical role in the win, slotting all four of his kicks, including a 40m penalty and an excellent sideline conversion of right winger Cooper Smith’s opening try.

Centre Laizel Tevaga, in his cap match, then hit the line at pace to score the second try after an initial dab from Kautu Maeuea, and St John’s led 14-0 at the break.

St John’s had vast territorial dominance and went further ahead in the 62nd minute through a Penfold penalty and then his stunning long-range effort from out wide.

Wesley had few attacking opportunities but skipper Levi Byers wriggled through six minutes from time for Oscar Fraser to convert from in front.

Wesley and St John’s are now 5-5 in head-to-head matches.

Meanwhile, Feilding High School returned to form with a 58-5 home win over Matamata College, with fullback Emosi Vucago bagging a hat-trick of tries and halfback Iosua Tyrell two.

Jone Lecia, Austin Tunnicliffe, Endre Dickson, Kingston Ngata and Alfereti Raka also scored for Feilding, though the player of the day for the team was loosehead prop Kingston Ngata in his 30th appearance. Ngata contributed some willing ball-carrying as well as being part of a strong scrummaging unit.

Winger Oni Naitiqatabua scored a first-half try for Matamata.

The match was also notable for first cousins Ngata, Tevita Fakava and sub Wairangi Fakava-Galloway playing together for the first time. Tevita became the third Fakava brother to have played 50 First XV matches for Feilding, while Fakava-Galloway was making his debut.

Lindisfarne College eased into third place with a 58-5 home win over St John’s Hastings and have now won all 15 games in this match-up.

Francis Douglas Memorial College beat Whanganui Collegiate 21-17, though that scoreline at least allowed Whanganui to collect their first point of the season. Francis Douglas now lead Whanganui with nine wins and six losses.

Central North Island draw, Wednesday (home team first): Feilding v Francis Douglas; Wesley v Whanganui. Saturday: Feilding v Lindisfarne; St Peter’s v Matamata; Francis Douglas v St Paul’s. Points: St Paul’s 23, St Peter’s 21, Lindisfarne 18, Feilding 15, Wesley 14, St John’s Hamilton 14, Francis Douglas 9, Matamata 5, Whanganui 1, St John’s Hastings 0.

Pukekohe go through

Pukekohe High School beat Manurewa High School 29-25 in a Counties Manukau First XV fixture which doubled as a Chiefs region Top Four qualifier. As a result, Pukekohe have also displaced Manurewa at the top of the Counties Manukau table.

While Manurewa scored five tries to four, the winning difference was in the goalkicking of Pukekohe second five-eighths Izaiah Sakisi, who added three conversions and a penalty, while Manurewa did not manage any points from the boot.

Pukekohe won the Auckland 1C competition in 2019 and were Waikato finalists in 2022, the same year they upset Wesley in a Chiefs qualifier, a result they repeated in 2024.

Pukekohe play their matches on Rod Ketels Field. Ketels was Pukekohe’s first All Black and played in the 1970 First XV, which had “considerable but varied success” with 12 wins and six losses. Ketels played 171 games for Counties and scored 18 tries. He was part of the 1979 NPC-winning team. That year, the Steelers won nine out of 10 round-robin games and remain the only Counties team to win the NPC.

He was chosen for the All Blacks’ northern tour in 1979. He played 16 games, including five tests, and won them all. Ketels also managed Counties, Blues and All Blacks legend Joeli Vidiri, who was coaching Pukekohe’s First XV shortly before his death in 2022.

Counties-Manukau First XV points: Pukekohe 25, Manurewa 22, Rosehill 20, Waiuku 15, Papakura 6, Wesley Development 5, Tuakau-Onewhero 1.

Huge scores in capital as top teams brace to meet

Top of the table and unbeaten St Patrick’s College, Silverstream and Wellington College will clash in a replay of the 2025 Premiership final in Upper Hutt on Wednesday (June 10), both in optimistic form.

Silverstream won their 21st successive competition fixture, crushing St Bernard’s College 94-10.

The reigning champions scored 14 tries with talismanic first five-eighths Fletcher Cooper back in form after his hand injury. He scored twice and kicked 12 conversions for 34 points, the highest individual haul we can recall this season.

Troy Waldrom (2), Jahvaan Hunt (2), Tyron Tupou (2), Shae Taitua, Val Tufui, Issac Sanele, Leeron Aunese, Ryder Thompson and Jaxon Ropitini also kept the scoreboard attendant busy.

At least St Bernard’s fullback Taika Cross had the distinction of being the first player to score any points against Silverstream in the Premiership for 167 minutes when he kicked a seventh-minute penalty. His father, police officer, referee and Avalon Rugby Club junior convener Stephen Cross was coaching the team a fortnight ago but has since moved on.

Wellington College thrashed Rongotai College 62-19 on Wednesday, prevailing 10 tries to three after leading 38-0 at halftime. They were in a commanding position after just 15 minutes, 17-0 ahead, and secured a four-try bonus point soon after the 25-minute mark.

Four of Wellington’s six first-half tries started from penalties and lineouts inside the 22, while the other two were long-range strikes by sprightly backs. Hooker Noah Sipeli scored the first two tries and centre Liam Phelps also pocketed a double.

Flankers Laifone Kamoto and Connor “Notorious” Gregor, halfback Ben Willocks, tighthead prop Harry “Bam Bam” Baddington and left wing Tom Hughson were among those to enjoy productive first halves.

Wellington emptied the bench at the interval and predictably lost some spark and structure, a reality exacerbated by a pedantic referee who dished out a handful of yellow cards. However, a chip-chase try to fullback Cooper Werkhoven was a stylish way to raise half a century.

Rongotai scored the first try of the second half following a turnover at the ruck by openside Cameron Jacobson, a kick ahead inside the 22 by halfback L.J. Curtis, and an earnest chase from left wing Jonah Radravu. They also had the last say when barrel-chested prop Kanah Pahulu barged over after spirited resistance.

Wellington College and Rongotai College contest the Heron Scarf, a rivalry dating back to 1988. Wellington lead the series with 29 wins to Rongotai’s nine. H.A. Heron, after whom the trophy is named, refers to Harold Alexander Heron (1902 to 1984). A former student of Wellington College, he served as principal of Rongotai College from 1946 to 1951 and then returned to Wellington College from 1951 to 1963. He authored The Centennial History of Wellington College, 1867-1967.

Forwards were responsible for seven of 11 tries for St Patrick’s College, Wellington (Town), in their 69-19 romp over Scots College. Captain Rémy Fitisemanu scored four times.

Town and Scots compete for the Willie Leota Tangoa. Leota, who died in 2024, anchored the scrum for the historic 1995 and 1996 Town First XVs. Town won the 1995 Wellington Premiership and swept their annual traditional fixtures in 1996 to achieve a rare “Grand Slam”.

In that meteoric ′96 season, Town won 20 of 26 games and set an oversized Year 11 Jerry Collins on the pathway to stardom. He later coached both schools, achieving his greatest success with close mate Sam Rasch at Scots from 2016 to 2021. In that span, the Scots have won 51 out of 62 games in Wellington, securing Premierships in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Rathkeale College whitewashed Hutt International Boys’ School 40-0, and Wairarapa College beat Mana College 38-14.

Tranzit Coachlines Premiership: Silverstream 15, Wellington College 15, Rathkeale 10, Hutt International 10, St Pat’s Wellington 7, St Bernard’s 7, Wairarapa 5, Scots 5, Rongotai 0, Mana 0.

St Andrew’s win big traditional

The gathering of Canterbury glitterati at the annual “College Match” between Christchurch Boys’ High School and Christ’s College wasn’t the only long-standing fixture in the Garden City last week.

St Andrew’s College continued their good run in the Miles Toyota Premiership, rolling Timaru Boys’ High School 34-17, after holding defending champions Christchurch to a draw the previous Saturday.

In a well-rounded display, St Andrew’s outscored Timaru by six tries to three. Fullback Jett Timbrell, centre Tom McIntosh, winger Matthew Wilcox, prop Iosefo Tito and replacement hooker Caleb Collins (2) scored tries. Timaru responded with tries from Zy Goodham, Harry Davis and Jackson Robinson.

Since 2013, the teams have contested the Milliken-Williams Cup, named after All Blacks Harold Milliken (St Andrew’s) and Claude Williams (Timaru), who locked the scrum on the unbeaten 1938 tour of Australia.

St Andrew’s lead 10-4 in matches for the silverware. The St Andrew’s-Timaru clash started in 1929, the year the Edmonds Band Rotunda was built and the Academy Awards began.

Miles Toyota Premiership points: St Bede’s 19, Christchurch Boys’ 18, St Andrew’s 15, Timaru 10, Shirley 10, Marlborough 8, St Thomas 8, Nelson 5, Christ’s College 4.

A new phase down south

The Freeman Roofing Southern Schools Rugby Championship (SSRC) has now entered the next phase of qualifying for the top six and bottom five competitions.

Waitaki Boys’ High School, St Kevin’s College and Dunstan High School play the top three sides from pool B: John McGlashan College, South Otago High School and Wakatipu High School. The top three teams from these six will earn the right to play in the SSRC Division One alongside King’s High School, Otago Boys’ High School and Southland Boys’ High School.

John McGlashan College continued their growth with a fourth consecutive win, handing Waitaki Boys’ High School a second straight loss, triumphing 31-25. Captain, first five-eighths and Otago age-group touch rep Zac Cunningham scored two tries and kicked three conversions. Apisai Tapa’atoutai, an Otago U16 metro player, was impactful from the bench with two tries.

St Kevin’s College conquered South Otago High School 41-28 in a free-flowing game with 11 individual tryscorers. Wakatipu High School were too strong for Dunstan High School, winning 31-10. Hokonui Colleges beat Mount Aspiring College 26-17. Central Southland College tamed Cromwell High School 39-22, with first five-eighths Lachie Forde noted for scoring four tries.

Southern Schools, Top 6: John McGlashan 15, St Kevin’s 15, Waitaki 9, South Otago 6, Dunstan 1.

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