League: Kamo cruise into final

Kamo High School have breezed past Northland College to grab a spot in next week's Adam Blair Trophy final against Kaitaia College.

Kamo coach Joe Henare said that even though defending champions Whangarei Boys' High School had been knocked out by Kaitaia, they could not afford to get ahead of themselves.

"I'm surprised Whangarei Boys' [High School] went down to Kaitaia," Henare said. "We're definitely not undermining Kaitaia [because] they wouldn't be No1 if they didn't deserve it."

Next week's final at Hikurangi will be the first time the sides have met this season, meaning each team will have a number of tricks up their sleeve.

"They've got size and speed out wide from what I've heard. [However] the hat is on both heads, both coaches are summarising what will happen and assuming what will happen. But at the end of the day, we're just trying to get the best out of our players," he said.

For Henare's players the focus will be on defence.

During the tournament, Kamo have conceded only 48 points from five games, with the most conceded in one match 16 against Dargaville High School.

Conceding under 10 points per match does not happen by accident, with Henare admitting frustrating the opposition on defence is a pillar of their game plan.

In Kamo's semifinal against Northland College, Kamo conceded just six points as they ran away with it 46-6.

"We've had some really good defence results [and] our scorelines show it. Our whole defensive line was trying to keep them [Northland College] inside their green zone so we didn't need to do much work on attack."

When Northland College did make it out of their green zone, Kamo hit their way back into opposition territory thanks to strong carries by Leeroy Poutai, Flynn Rolton and Moriki Read.

"Our forward pack has been building all season," Henare said. "We had some exceptionally good runs from No8 Flynn Rolton, and Leeroy Poutai had a barnstorming game. He probably made as many yards [during Wednesday afternoon's game] as he has all year."

Henare noted one try in particular from Read, who took the ball in and dummied his way through half of Northland College's team on his way to the try line.

In Boys' High's semifinal, Kaitaia College came out on top against the defending champions, who have been hot and cold in the Adam Blair Trophy, by 32-24.

Next Friday night's final will be played at Hikurangi under lights with the plate final to be the curtain-raiser to Kamo and Kaitaia's cup final.