The old firm meets again in the decider.
While the six-team North Harbour premier competition was far more competitive overall in 2015, with Orewa performing well in the top flight, it will be Westlake BHS and Rosmini that meet again, for the fourth time in a row, in the traditional Thursday night final.
Westlake are gunning for their 15th North Harbour championship, and their fourth on the trot, while Rosmini have not tasted success since the Gareth Anscombe days of 2009.
But it matters not when these two schools, separated by just a mile or so in Takapuna, clash. Last season Westlake stole the final 26-20 with an epic try four minutes into overtime through No 8 Izaak Scheib. This season Westlake have twice prevailed, 16-3 and 24-10. Not that those games count for much now, says Westlake coach Hugh McGahan, who would reluctantly accept the favourites tag for his team.
"No one likes to be favourites, and there is a lot of pressure for kids this age but we've handled that well with a lot of new boys in the side," said McGahan. A clutch of players are back who played in the 2014 climax, such as halfback and kicker Sam Babb. He has handled the pressure better than most, as he switched from Rosmini at the start of 2014. Others such as first five Ammon Moller, lock Ben Reidy and wing Calvin Vari bring experience.
McGahan says the 2015 season has been a struggle for consistency, even though Westlake have suffered just one defeat, a first round upset to Rangitoto. A 45-6 win over the same opponents in the semifinal was more like it, and now Westlake have chosen from a full complement. Some boys were unlucky, but there is good depth off the bench.
Rosmini defeated Massey 17-12 in a close semifinal, and they will look to build much of their play off their solid scrum and the generalship of No 10 and captain Jack Bergin, despite the loss of tighthead prop Joe Clarkson to injury.