League: Schools begin battle for Adam Blair Cup

The Northland Secondary Schools rugby league competition kicked with 11 colleges from across Northland competing for the NorthTec Adam Blair Trophy and entry to the National Secondary Schools tournament in August.

Hosts Bream Bay College showed they will be competitive this year in the Southern Pool after a close match against Dargaville High School. There were plenty of tries in a fast-paced attacking game that saw the kids from Kaipara winning 36-32.

Meanwhile, newcomers Otamatea High School declared their intentions with a solid 12-all draw at home against Whangarei Boys' High School. Kamo High School crossed the bypass to defeat Tikipunga High School 40-10.

In the Northern Pool, Okaihau comfortably accounted for Whangaroa College 38-18, while Combined beat Northland College 24-14.

The Southern Pool features perennial finalists Whangarei Boys' High, coached by John Komene, with newcomers Otamatea's High School as a second team to come from Kaipara District alongside Dargaville High School. Tikipunga and Kamo High Schools represent north Whangarei with Bream Bay College making up the sixth team.

The Northern Pool will be competed for by five teams. Long-time Kaitaia College representative coach Jim Larkin will no longer be at the helm of last year's grand final champions but a strong challenge is expected.

Whangaroa College are the newcomers in this pool which also accommodates a combined team that sees Taipa College and Abundant Life joining forces. Neighbouring Northland and Okaihau Colleges round out this pool.

Seasoned competitors Bay of Island College were unable to submit a team this year because of smaller senior class rolls this year.

Rugby League Northland GM Duane Fyfe said having Northern Sword' age group coaches involved in the Adam Blair Cup would make for interesting watching.

"Coaches for the Northern Swords 18 and 16-year-old teams, John Radovanovich and Jon Renes also coach the Kamo and Tikipunga High Schools respectively and will be keeping a watchful eye throughout the early stages of the NorthTec Secondary School competition as players are eligible to represent Northland in the Ruben Wiki Shield Challenge," he said.

The Ruben Wiki Shield Challenge is a pre-season representative competition for 16 and 18-year-olds managed and promoted by the NZ Warriors. Rugby League Northland was invited to enter teams for the first time this year and the season kicked off last Saturday at Takahiwai against the Auckland Vulcans.