St Paul's Collegiate have sounded a warning that they will not easily relinquish their Central North Island title, which they have won from 2014-16.
On Saturday, they defeated competition leaders St Peter's of Cambridge 28-10, scoring three tries to one with a dominant second half display.
In wet conditions at St Paul's Collegiate, the visitors seized the early initiative, second five Paula Mahe posing a threat with the ball, and No 8 Ollie Norris ploughing over from close range for the opening try. At the break, St Peter's led 10-3, but their opponents, marshalled well by first five Ferg Burke, looked a different side in the second stanza. They started with intent and swiftly took complete control of the encounter. Player of the day, tighthead prop George Dyer, dived over in the corner for the lead, which they did not surrender.
Centre Valynce Crosby-Te Whare, who was dangerous all day, finished a superb break by Burke, and the No 10 skipped through the defence for a try to cap an 18-point haul.
St Paul's scrum flexed its muscle and there was some nice inter-passing from the forwards.
St Peter's still lead the CNI standings with 23 points from Wesley, who lost 16-13 to Feilding HS, and then back to St Paul's and Francis Douglas Memorial, who cleaned out Te Aute 41-7. Lindisfarne, alma mater of Israel Dagg and Taine Randell, beat Wanganui Collegiate 19-17, while Rathkeale defeated St John's of Hastings 15-0.
Hastings BHS' and Hamilton BHS' form in the Super 8 continues unabated, with the former cleaning out Rotorua BHS 53-0 and the latter winning 55-8 over Napier BHS.
Tauranga BC are in third position after beating Palmerston North BHS 24-17 and will play Hamilton BHS in Saturday's televised match.
The Auckland 1A competition saw just one tight match. MAGS, making something of a resurgence after a very difficult start to the season, edged King's 13-12, despite tries to Zoan Patua and Millennium Sanerivi for the home team. A late penalty goal gave MAGS the points, though they still lie ninth on the table.
On Saturday they will play a catch-up game against leaders St Kentigern, who beat De La Salle 31-3. Elsewhere, Auckland Grammar moved up to second after dispatching Tamaki 67-0, while St Peter's headed Dilworth 45-5. Kelston BHS are up to seventh after beating Liston 29-7.
Sacred Heart continued their fine form in the wet, blanking Aorere 50-0, led by industrious No 8 Christian Fa'avae. Other to impress were wing Terry Pongi and blindside flanker Vikilani Ma'asi.
In the North Harbour 1A, Westlake BHS continue to lead the way, beating second-placed Rangitoto 28-5, while Rosmini defeated Whangarei BHS 34-10. Massey hold fifth after a 26-14 result over Birkenhead, who won their third match of 2017 in a 20-12 midweek victory over Orewa.
Christ's College and Nelson College will contest the annual quadrangular tournament final tomorrow. Nelson defended the Moascar Cup for the 10th occasion, beating Wellington 24-5, while Christ's, third in the UC Championship, edged Wanganui Collegiate 13-7.
Some competitions, such as Auckland's 1A competition, now break for the school holidays, but otherwise have a full round this Saturday or are playing catch-up/traditional games. Franchise Under 18 camps will take place next week.
North Harbour 1A
Takapuna Grammar 37 Orewa 0
Westlake BHS 28 Rangitoto 5
Rosmini 34 Whangarei BHS 10
Massey HS 26 Birkenhead 14
(Midweek)
Birkenhead 20 Orewa 12
Points: Westlake BHS 49, Rangitoto 40, Rosmini 39, Takapuna Grammar 29, Massey 20, Birkenhead 12, Whangarei BHS 7, Orewa 4
Auckland 1A
Auckland Grammar 67 Tamaki 0
St Peter's 45 Dilworth 5
MAGS 13 King's 12
Kelston BHS 29 Liston 7
Sacred Heart 50 Aorere 0
St Kentigern 31 De La Salle 3
Points: St Kentigern 30, Auckland Grammar 29, St Peter's 29, Sacred Heart 28, De La Salle 24, King's 23, Kelston BHS 17, Dilworth 17, MAGS 14, Aorere 9, Liston 1, Tamaki 0
Auckland 1B
(Championship)
Botany Downs 41 Papatoetoe 0
One Tree Hill 20 Macleans 7
Mt Roskill Grammar 19 Pakuranga 19
Tangaroa 29 Onehunga 7
(Plate)
Avondale 12 Mangere 5
Waitakere 8 Howick 7
St Paul's 12 Edgewater 11
Counties Manukau/Waikato
James Cook HS 5 Pukekohe HS 5
Manurewa HS 25 St John's (Hamilton) 23 (Deon Muir Trophy)
Rosehill 16 Alfriston 15
Te Awamutu 31 Cambridge HS 23
Points: Te Awamutu 21, Manurewa HS 20, St John's 19, Cambridge HS 15, Pukekohe HS 12, James Cook HS 7, Rosehill 4, Alfriston 2
Bay of Plenty
Division one:
Te Whare Kura o Mauao 38 Aquinas 0
Western Heights HS 31 Trident HS 13
Rotorua BHS Second XV 15 Bethlehem 8
John Paul beat Opotiki by default
Super 8
Hamilton BHS 55 Napier BHS 8
Hastings BHS 53 Rotorua BHS 0
Tauranga BC 24 Palmerston North BHS 17
Points: Hastings BHS, Hamilton BHS 20, Tauranga BC 16, Rotorua BHS 10, Palmerston North BHS 9, Napier BHS, New Plymouth BHS 6, Gisborne BHS 1
Central North Island
Feilding HS 16 Wesley 13
Lindisfarne 19 Wanganui Collegiate 17
Rathkeale 15 St John's (Hastings) 0
Francis Douglas Memorial 41 Te Aute 7
St Paul's Collegiate 28 (George Dyer, Valynce Crosby-Te Whare, Ferg Burke tries; Burke 2 con, 3 pen) St Peter's (Cambridge) 10 (Ollie Norris try; Bodie Mechell con, pen) HT: 10-3 St Peter's
Points: St Peter's 23, Wesley 21, St Paul's Collegiate, Francis Douglas Memorial 20, Wanganui Collegiate 13, Lindisfarne, Rathkeale 10, Te Aute 6, St John's (Hastings) 1
Wellington
Wellington 50 Kapiti 15
St Pat's (Town) 46 Wairarapa 22
Scots 29 Rongotai 7
St Pat's (Silverstream) 84 Hutt Valley HS 6
Points: St Pat's (Silverstream) 30, Scots 29, St Pat's (Town) 21, Wellington 20, Rongotai 15, Kapiti 13, Porirua, Wairarapa 8, Tawa 7, Hutt Valley HS 0
UC Championship
Marlborough BC 35 Burnside HS 12
Timaru BHS 90 Roncalli/Aoraki Combined 0
Rangiora HS 19 St Thomas 15
St Bede's 38 Mid Canterbury Combined 17
St Andrew's 40 Waimea Combined 12
(Midweek)
Nelson 44 Shirley BHS 20
Christ's 20 Lincoln Combined 15
Points: Timaru BHS 40, Christchurch BHS, Christ's 39, Nelson 35, St Andrew's 32, Rangiora HS 31, Waimea Combined 25, Marlborough BC 24, St Thomas 23, Shirley BHS, Lincoln HS 20, St Bede's 16, Ashburton 6, Roncalli 1, Burnside HS 0
Otago
South Otago HS 43 Mt Aspiring 17
John McGlashan 29 Otago BHS Second XV 12
King's HS 43 Waitaki BHS 3
Taieri 12 St Kevin's 8
Dunstan 62 Kavanagh 17
Traditionals
St Pat's (Silverstream) 71 Palmerston North BHS 0
Quadrangular
Nelson 24 Wellington 5
Christ's 13 Wanganui Collegiate 7