Five tries give Rotorua decisive first Condor sevens title victory over Scots College

It was a well earned first national secondary school sevens title for Condor Cup champions Rotorua Boys High School. Picture / Pania Gifford

Rotorua Boys' High are the new Condor schoolboys' champions.

Kelston's four-year reign as title-holders came to an abrupt end, knocked out of contention on day one of the 28th tournament on their home ground, and they were also squeezed out of the Bowl final, 22-7 by Gisborne Boys' High.

Rotorua, tipped as champs by old boy Sir Gordon Tietjens at the start of finals day, beat Scots College of Wellington 33-19 to win their first national secondary school sevens, while Hamilton Girls' High edged Southland GHS 14-12 to claim a second successive title.

Rotorua's victory was never in doubt after they raced away to a 21-0 lead with tries to Damian Darlington, Jone Lasigavibau and Ngarohi McGarvey-Black, the latter from an intercept.

Connor Garden-Bachop got Scots on the board following a nice offload from captain TJ Va'a and the Wellingtonians turned with the wind trailing 7-21. However, Isaac Te Aute, later named the tournament's MVP, sealed the victory by scooting away for Rotorua's fourth and McGarvey-Black added a fifth.

Hamilton GHS scored after the hooter to beat the tenacious Southland GHS, playing in their first final. Trailing 7-12, Te Awatea Whitiora-Te Uira scythed through the Southland defence to tie the match whereupon Tenika Willison brought elation to the defending champions with a conversion from close range. Earlier, the flying winger had set the match alight with an 80m solo try to give Hamilton a 7-0 lead at halftime.

Southland captain Jacqui Chamberlain went over after several assaults on the line and Patricia Hopcroft gave the southerners the lead with two minutes to play.

However, another brilliant run from Whitiora-Te Uira saw the title go back to the Waikato.

MAGS beat Motueka HS 17-12 in extra time to win the girls' Bowl and Otahuhu edged Ruawai 7-5 to win the girls' Shield.

In the boys' section, Wesley also won silverware, but it was the Consolation Shield final, 36-14 over Rosmini.

Otahuhu had a clean sheet on day one, led by skipper Saynarvat Srisawat and tournament team player Jacob Iakopo. They beat St Kentigern and looked good with their physical style, taking down Francis Douglas Memorial 31-5 in the Cup quarter-final, but were edged 22-14 by Rotorua in the semifinal, despite a brilliant solo try by Srisawat. The other Cup semifinal was won by Scots 22-19 over Hamilton BHS.