Kaitaia College 22 Aniwaniwa 28: Last year's grand finalists, Te Rangi Aniwaniwa, beating Far North neighbours Kaitaia College 28-22 in week 3 of the Adam Blair Trophy tournament on the Kaitaia College top fields last Wednesday afternoon.
On a heavy pitch in moderate late-winter conditions, Aniwaniwa - featuring a number of Taipa Area School players - led at the break and never fully relinquished control of the game although the home side pressed hard during the second half.
Aniwaniwa standouts included Conor O'Sullivan, who has been selected for the Northland Swords prems (seniors), and Tumoana Halkyard in the Swords 17s, for the national provincial competition which kicks off this weekend. Halkyard recently set a national record in the yoyo beep test by scoring 19.6 (the average was 17) at the NZ16s trials earlier this year.
Other results from August 15, were as follows. North Zone: Opononi 8 Okaihau 14 at Whirinaki, Bay College 60 Northland College 0 in Kawakawa; South Zone: WBHS 40 Dargaville 4, Kamo 30 Bream Bay 10, bye Tikipunga. At this stage, Okaihau College are the only unbeaten team in the North Zone division.
Adam Blair TrophyThe Northland secondary schools rugby league competition for the Adam Blair Trophy is set to run through until the end of September.
Alex Smits, general manager of Rugby League Northland (RLN), said there had been "good growth" in the competition with 11 teams registering for this year's competition, up three from the eight who contested the title in 2011.
"Kids want to play league!" he exclaimed of the surge in interest. The tournament was being played in north zone and south zone pools for the first six weeks with the top four from each qualifying for the quarterfinals while the losers in the quarterfinals will go on to a plate competition.
Finals day will be played at Simson Park in Moerewa on Saturday, September 29. Whangarei Boys High School are the defending champions after defeating Te Rangi Aniwaniwa in the 2011 grand final.
RLN was also preparing to introduce two one-day "challenge cup" tournaments to be contested by Northland schools.
The Year 7/8 cup will be played for at Kensington Park, Whangarei, on August 29, the Year 9/10 challenge at Lindvart Park, Kaikohe, on September 27.
And results from several junior competitions recently finalised included the following.
Under-17s, Portland 8 Otaua 6: played in very muddy and wet conditions in Moerewa on July 26.
Under-15s, Hora Hora/Hikurangi 60 City Knights 0: played under lights at Hikurangi RFC on Friday, July 27, and a surprising outcome after both teams had drawn the previous week.
Under-13s, Hikurangi/Whangarei Intermediate 60 Kaikohe 0: played at College Old Boys RFC on Saturday, August 4.
The draw for games in week 4 of the Adam Blair (North Zone round only) tomorrow features inside today's Age.