Bay of Plenty Times
  • Bay of Plenty Times home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Sport

Locations

  • Coromandel & Hauraki
  • Katikati
  • Tauranga
  • Mount Maunganui
  • Pāpāmoa
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Thames
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Bay of Plenty Times / Sport

Rugby: John Paul College crowned Division 1 champions

David Beck
By David Beck
Multimedia sports journalist·Rotorua Daily Post·
19 Aug, 2018 12:45 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

John Paul College first XV held their nerve to beat Te Wharekura O Mauao 14-12 in a thrilling Baywide Division 1 final.

The game, played at Rotorua International Stadium as a curtain-raiser to the bay of Plenty Steamers' game against Taranaki, was highly competitive and could easily have gone either way.

John Paul College 1st XV players celebrate their Baywide Division 1 final win over Te Wharekura o Mauao the at the Rotorua International Stadium.  Photo/Ben Fraser
John Paul College 1st XV players celebrate at the final whistle after defeating Te Wharekura o Mauao in the Baywide Division 1 final at the Rotorua International Stadium.  Photo/Ben Fraser
John Paul College 1st XV players celebrate at the final whistle after defeating Te Wharekura o Mauao in the Baywide Division 1 final at the Rotorua International Stadium. Photo/Ben Fraser
Te Wharekura o Mauao players are devastated after losing the Baywide Division 1 final against John Paul College 1st XV at the Rotorua International Stadium. Photo/Ben Fraser
John Paul College 1st XV players celebrate at the final whistle after defeating Te Wharekura o Mauao in the Baywide Division 1 final at the Rotorua International Stadium. Photo/Ben Fraser
Sam Lennie.  Photo/Ben Fraser
Ethan Graham. Photo/Ben Fraser
James Dender in action.  Photo/Ben Fraser
Keegan Comber. Photo/Ben Fraser
John Paul College 1st XV player Hadyn Benge roars after kicking winning penalty. Photo/Ben Fraser

Image 1 of 11: John Paul College 1st XV players celebrate their Baywide Division 1 final win over Te Wharekura o Mauao the at the Rotorua International Stadium. Photo/Ben Fraser

Te Wharekura O Mauao came out firing in the first half as their big forward pack gave them plenty of momentum. On the back of consecutive penalties they worked their way inside the JPC 22m and scored the first try of the match. After sucking in defenders in the middle of the field, they shifted the ball left and fullback Luca Tahere raced through a gap to score.

Te Wharekura O Mauao continued to be the dominant side and minutes later had their second try, which they converted to make it 12-0.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

After a slow start JPC, who have been the form team all season, began to find their feet.

Twenty minutes in they were enjoying more of the possession, but came up against a solid, hard-hitting defensive line. They won a penalty just outside the 22m line and in front of the posts and opted to go for goal, reducing the deficit to 12-3.

John Paul College first XV players celebrate a win in the Baywide Division 1 final against Te Wharekura O Mauao. Photo/Ben Fraser
John Paul College first XV players celebrate a win in the Baywide Division 1 final against Te Wharekura O Mauao. Photo/Ben Fraser

JPC backed up their first points of the match with a try to Sam Lennie, who had been one of their best players up to that point with his powerful running game. The try was unconverted and at halftime Te Wharekura O Mauao led 12-8.

JPC kicked another penalty early in the second half to trail by just one point at 12-11.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The game became a real arm-wrestle in the middle of the field and with every minute that passed the crowd in the grand stand got louder and more on edge. Every tackle break, big hit and turnover produced a roar.

JPC had a chance to take the lead for the first time when they won another penalty in a very kickable position. However, the kick went the wrong side of the posts and Te Wharekura O Mauao clung on to their narrow lead.

John Paul College 1st XV players celebrate their Baywide Division 1 final win over Te Wharekura o Mauao the at the Rotorua International Stadium.  Photo/Ben Fraser
John Paul College 1st XV players celebrate at the final whistle after defeating Te Wharekura o Mauao in the Baywide Division 1 final at the Rotorua International Stadium.  Photo/Ben Fraser
John Paul College 1st XV players celebrate at the final whistle after defeating Te Wharekura o Mauao in the Baywide Division 1 final at the Rotorua International Stadium. Photo/Ben Fraser
Te Wharekura o Mauao players are devastated after losing the Baywide Division 1 final against John Paul College 1st XV at the Rotorua International Stadium. Photo/Ben Fraser
John Paul College 1st XV players celebrate at the final whistle after defeating Te Wharekura o Mauao in the Baywide Division 1 final at the Rotorua International Stadium. Photo/Ben Fraser
Sam Lennie.  Photo/Ben Fraser
Ethan Graham. Photo/Ben Fraser
James Dender in action.  Photo/Ben Fraser
Keegan Comber. Photo/Ben Fraser
John Paul College 1st XV player Hadyn Benge roars after kicking winning penalty. Photo/Ben Fraser

Image 1 of 11: John Paul College 1st XV players celebrate their Baywide Division 1 final win over Te Wharekura o Mauao the at the Rotorua International Stadium. Photo/Ben Fraser

With 10 minutes to go JPC had all the momentum and threw everything at their opposition. Te Wharekura O Mauao's goal line defence was mighty as they held out wave after wave of attack.

With five minutes left to play, JPC were awarded another penalty, 22m out and in front of the posts. Step up Haydn Benge. The fullback nailed the kick, sending the home crowd wild.

Discover more

Opinion: Bring on provincial rugby

16 Aug 03:00 PM

Dream start to Mitre 10 Cup for Steamers

18 Aug 09:52 AM

Hockey: Central too good for Midlands

20 Aug 09:00 PM

Lisa Carrington and Caitlin Ryan dominate

23 Aug 09:00 PM

JPC survived a nervy final five minutes before booting the ball out of play and claiming the title. It was clear how much the win meant to them as they embraced their schoolmates, friends and family who had turned out in force to support them, before performing an impressive haka for their fans.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Sport

Sport

Weighlifters named NZ Team flag bearers

Bay of Plenty Times

'Biggest summer of cricket' shapes up for Bay Oval

25 Jun 07:00 PM
Bay of Plenty Times

Mount Maunganui's big summer of cricket

There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Sport

Weighlifters named NZ Team flag bearers

Weighlifters named NZ Team flag bearers

Weightlifters David Liti and Tui-Alofa Patolo have been named flag bearers for the New Zealand Team at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games.

'Biggest summer of cricket' shapes up for Bay Oval

'Biggest summer of cricket' shapes up for Bay Oval

25 Jun 07:00 PM
Mount Maunganui's big summer of cricket

Mount Maunganui's big summer of cricket

Small but mighty: Kyro gets set for Tai Mitchell challenge

Small but mighty: Kyro gets set for Tai Mitchell challenge

24 Jun 09:26 PM
From early mornings to easy living
sponsored

From early mornings to easy living

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Bay of Plenty Times e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Bay of Plenty Times
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP