National First XV wrap: Auckland Grammar take Mountain Rd derby

Kelston Salesi Savelio in action during a match against St Kentigern. Photosport

Auckland Grammar have signalled that they are still in the Auckland 1A semifinal hunt after a creditable 27-14 win at The Cage over St Peter's in the traditional Mountain Road derby.

A first half in which the Auckland Grammar pack rolled up their sleeves at the breakdown and in the tight exchanges yielded a 20-0 lead which paved the way for their third victory in five outings.

Led by captain and No 8 Tovo Faleafa and lock Geoffrey Ikani, the Auckland Grammar forwards mauled well, capitalising on field position. Ikani scored from a lineout drive, while nippy halfback Thomas Strachan, son of former All Black Ant Strachan, dived over at the base of the ruck. They might have scored two more first half tries, but No 10 Rylee Samuela lost the ball over the line in the tackle, while a two-man overlap was ignored on the other occasion.

St Peter's, hitherto unbeaten, came out a different side in the second spell. Aided by the yellow card shown to Auckland Grammar centre Simeon Latu, St Peter's were nearly over when No 8 Niko Jones, son of Sir Michael Jones, looked to have scored. It was ruled out, but hooker Josh Fraser did crash over off a lineout drive. Prop Zyon Holo, who anchored a strong St Peter's scrum, finished the scoring for the home side.

Auckland Grammar's final flourish came via a long break by second five Matt Timoko. He actually scored in the corner but a penalty try was awarded as the tackle by St Peter's No 10 Josh Loveday was ruled high.

Auckland Grammar now prepare for the 204th clash with King's on Saturday, sure to draw the biggest First XV crowd of the season, barring the final. King's hold the Cooper-Greenbank Cup and are coming off a 19-0 victory over Aorere, all the points coming in the first spell. They lead the competition on 20 points.

Dilworth kept pace with a 20-5 win over Tamaki, and De La Salle are second after defeating Liston 22-10. Sacred Heart won a solid 16-3 victory over MAGS at BG Williams Field, and St Kentigern were impressive 43-3 victors over Kelston BHS.

Already there looks to be a top seven, bottom five split to the 1A.

Rangitoto are making waves in the North Harbour 1A, their 42-27 win over Takapuna Grammar propelling them to second position behind Westlake BHS, who beat Rosmini 28-13 in their grudge match derby. Whangarei BHS had their first win, a good 39-5 result over Birkenhead.

Cambridge HS, alma mater of the Jacobson brothers, lead the Counties Manukau/Waikato competition after two rounds, beating Pukekohe HS 29-13.

Some big scores marked the opening round of Super 8, of which Hastings BHS' 100-0 shellacking of Palmerston North BHS was the most astonishing. Kini Naholo, brother of All Black Waisake Naholo, scored five tries to raise his 2017 tally to a remarkable 28 from 10 games.

Hamilton BHS were also impressive in dispatching New Plymouth BHS 69-3, as were Napier BHS, who had a good week, blanking Scots College of Wellington 43-0 last Tuesday and beating Gisborne BHS 39-5 in the Super 8. The latter was coming off a 12-all draw with Sacred Heart in their annual traditional.

In a midweek Wellington clash, St Pat's (Town) defeated Wellington College 26-3 for the Ken Gray Memorial Cup.

In the UC Championship, Nelson made another successful defence of the Moascar Cup, 22-10 over a committed Rangiora HS.

North Harbour 1A
Westlake 28 Rosmini 13
Massey 26 Orewa 18
Whangarei BHS 39 Birkenhead 5
Rangitoto 42 Takapuna Grammar 27

Points: Westlake BHS 34, Rangitoto 29, Rosmini 25, Takapuna Grammar 19, Massey 11, Whangarei BHS 6, Orewa, Birkenhead 4

Auckland 1A
Sacred Heart 16 MAGS 3
King's 19 Aorere 0
De La Salle 22 Liston 10
Dilworth 20 Tamaki 5
St Kentigern 43 Kelston 3
Auckland Grammar 27 (Geoffrey Ikani, Tom Strachan tries, penalty try; Strachan 2 con, 2 pen) St Peter's 14 (Josh Fraser, Zyon Holo tries; Josh Loveday con, Tarkyn Loloselo con) HT: 20-0 Auckland Grammar

Points: King's 20, De La Salle 18, Dilworth, Sacred Heart 17, St Peter's 16, St Kentigern, Auckland Grammar 15, Aorere 8, Kelston BHS 4, MAGS, Liston 1, Tamaki 0

Auckland 1B
Avondale 26 Howick 10
Mt Roskill Grammar 32 St Paul's 17
Botany Downs 22 Otahuhu 7
Tangaroa 38 Macleans 7
Southern Cross 27 Edgewater 20
Onehunga 13 Mangere 8
Pakuranga 20 Papatoetoe HS 18
One Tree Hill 21 Waitakere 17

Counties Manukau/Waikato
James Cook HS 60 Rosehill 5
St John's (Hamilton) 49 Alfriston 0
Cambridge HS 29 Pukekohe HS 13
Te Awamutu 32 Manurewa HS 27

Points: Cambridge HS 10, St John's 8, Manurewa HS, Te Awamutu 7, James Cook HS, Pukekohe HS 5, Alfriston 1, Rosehill 0

Bay of Plenty
(Division one)
Te Wharekura o Mauao 35 John Paul 18
Trident HS 29 Aquinas 20
Rotorua BHS Second XV 90 Opotiki 10
Western Heights HS 27 Bethlehem 5

Super 8
Hastings BHS 100 Palmerston North BHS 0
Hamilton BHS 69 New Plymouth BHS 3
Rotorua BHS 35 Tauranga BC 28
Napier BHS 39 Gisborne BHS 5

Central North Island
Wesley 38 Rathkeale 6
Sir Francis Douglas Memorial 38 St Peter's (Cambridge) 21
Lindisfarne 36 Te Aute 32
Wanganui Collegiate 52 v St John's (Hastings) 3
St Paul's Collegiate 26 Feilding HS 15
(Midweek)
Sir Francis Douglas Memorial 34 Wanganui Collegiate 21

Wellington
Kapiti 19 Rongotai 15
Scots 32 Wairarapa 0
Wellington 50 Tawa 0
St Pat's (Silverstream) 62 Porirua 5
St Pat's (Town) 82 v Hutt Valley HS 0
(Midweek, Ken Gray Memorial Cup)
St Pat's (Silverstream) 26 Wellington 3

UC Championship
Marlborough BC 23 Waimea Combined 22
Lincoln HS 15 Burnside HS 0
Nelson 22 Rangiora HS 10 (Moascar Cup)
Mid Canterbury Combined 35 Roncalli 20
Christchurch BHS 32 St Thomas 24
Shirley BHS 17 St Bede's 8

Otago
King's HS 25 John McGlashan 22
Otago BHS Second XV 63 Taieri 10
Waitaki BHS 90 Kavanagh 0
Mount Aspiring 34 St Kevin's 28
South Otago HS 40 Dunstan HS 7

Traditionals
Napier BHS 43 Scots 0
Gisborne BHS 12 Sacred Heart 12