By Bruce Holloway and Adam Julian
First XV rugby wrap: Hamilton Boys’ High’s stunning Moascar Cup defence; King’s College on top in Auckland; Francis Douglas’ Stephen Donald moment; Dunstan’s epic upset; Palmerston North retain the Wallace Cup; Nelson and Marlborough flying high; all the action nationwide...
There are a few new faces, but Hamilton Boys’ High School are looking as strong and consistent as ever in first XV rugby this year.
Anyone thinking the reigning national champions might be a diminished force after a modest showing (by their standards) at the Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament in Japan should check the 59-12 scoreline from their dismembering of Wellington College in a Moascar Cup defence on Saturday.
“We’re really thrilled,” said Hamilton coach Cam Moorby. “It’s early days for us but we are excited as a coaching group to see where our ceiling could be.
“After our Japan tour, our forwards in particular were fatigued and we gave them a week off, but we have hit the ground running.
“The boys love playing at home, this was our first time this season on the No 1 pitch – and having the Moascar Cup on the line made it special.”
Wellington had arrived in Hamilton as respected opponents, fresh from a worthy one-point win over Hastings’ Boys’ High School.
But the manner in which Hamilton soaked up pressure in the opening 15 minutes and then steadily took control of all aspects of play soon reduced the contest to one of statistical interest only.
Hamilton ran in nine tries, three of them 50m-plus jobs – and one of them from just outside their own goalline – while first five-eighths Jackson Botherway (son of former Waikato coach Sean Botherway) converted all but two, many from out wide.
And Hamilton did it with three players in Australia with the New Zealand U18 touch team, in Max Kara, halfback Lachie Ross and Koewyn Kearins-Te Whare, and one player on debut in Tevita Halauafu (off the bench).
There were potent displays all over the park. Up front, Liam Van Der Heyden, Caleb Grice and lesser-known forwards such Noah Walker and Corban Dunlop all had strong games. And in the backs, George Roose, Ollie Guerin, Cullen Parai, Carson Hunter and Ollie Barnett all had their moments.
But the real eye-catcher was Nathan Stephens, a Fijian Year 13 student domiciled in the Argyle House hostel for the year. He is faster than a speeding bullet at fullback, and slippery as well.
Stephens arrived in late January, having already represented Fiji Secondary Schools, and quickly made his mark by winning the senior boys 100m final in 11.07s at the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Secondary Schools Athletics Championships in March.
“He is a superstar in the making,” Moorby said. “We had tried to keep him under wraps, but the cat is out of the bag now.
“Nathan only needs a glimpse of a gap and he backs himself to take it.”
Late in the first half, Stephens spied one such gap and in a few seconds had weaved his way to the try line, with daylight behind him.
Hunter also chewed up plenty of metres on the left wing, to score twice, while others to dot down were Parai, Dunlop, Grice, Barnett from a measured Botherway chip kick, and subs Miller Sturm and Hunter Hammond
Wellington gave Hamilton an early scare when hooker Seb Hopkins – better known as a national age-group wrestling champion – finished a maul move to make it 7-5.
But it would be another 60 minutes before Wellington could muster any further points, with prop Cyrus Aiono scoring at the death.
Hamilton were a little inaccurate at the breakdown in the first spell, but once their pack set a platform it was party time. They played quite a structured game for the most part, but were at their best when freestyling it from broken play.
Hamilton will next defend the cup against New Plymouth on Tuesday, June 2.
Their other scheduled defences are Super 8 home matches against Rotorua (June 14), and Hastings (July 26) and they will be taking it on the road against Gisborne Boys’ High (July 19). Their annual exchange with Auckland Grammar is set for May 28.
Wellington schools have a sorry record in the Moascar Cup, schoolboy rugby’s equivalent of the Ranfurly Shield. The first time a school from the capital contested the trophy was in 1938 when St Patrick’s College, Silverstream held holders Te Aute College to a 6-6 draw.
Te Aute College is the old school of Wellington College coach and former All Black Piri Weepu. Wellington College briefly held the Moascar Cup in 1972 when they beat Whanganui Collegiate 13-6 in the final of the annual quadrangular tournament.
In 1973, St Patrick’s College, Silverstream thrashed Wellington College 36-6 to secure the trophy for the only time. Silverstream’s only defeat in 19 games that season was to New Plymouth Boys’ High School to surrender the Moascar.
The last time Wellington College had challenged for the Moascar Cup before Saturday was against Hamilton Boys’ High in a classic 2013 National Top Four semifinal in Rotorua.
Hamilton rallied from 10-0 down to prevail 28-16. Future All Blacks Sevens representative Isaac Te Tamaki turned the game in Hamilton’s favour with an outrageous chip and chase try over 65m. Te Raina Richards-Coxhead, one of Hamilton’s coaches on Saturday, played fullback that day.
Since 2008, Hamilton have won 40 Moascar Cup matches, the most of any school.
King’s College have continued their fine early-season form and edged a point clear at the top of Auckland 1A competition after a 31-17 bonus-point away win over St Paul’s.
King’s had to work hard for their win, and there was a sniff of an upset when St Paul’s College opened the scoring with a converted try to Sebastian Smith.
The visitors couldn’t get on the board until finally engineering a 33rd minute try to No 8 Hemana Connew.
But King’s finished powerfully, with second-half tries to irrepressible flanker Johan Schaumkell, bruising prop Sione Manuopangai and always-dangerous fullback Calvin Harris-Tavita, while Marco Miln made all four conversions and added a penalty.
Earlier, centre Sebastian Smith scored for St Paul’s with Romana Whitiora converting.
St Peter’s also continued their perfect start to the season with a critical 29-22 win over Auckland Grammar School in their Mountain Rd derby.
It’s a good scalp for St Peter’s against a skilful Grammar backline which featured Bastion Armstrong – a week earlier named as a Roosters Academy rugby league signing by Sydney’s Daily Telegraph – at centre and Nico Stanley, one of the stand-outs in the New Zealand Secondary Schools team last year, at second five-eighths.
The steady boot of first five-eighths Malakai Hafoka was key for St Peter’s, as he landed five penalties and two conversions, with tries to blindside flanker Logan-John Sao and halfback Matthew Harris.
For Grammar, there were tries to No 8 Jack Lundon and hooker Santino Naufahu, with Hadley Herman adding seven points with his boot. Auckland Rugby Union’s result’s board reported that a further Grammar try was scored by “Name Withheld”. Grammar’s left wing and two substitutes were listed as “Name Withheld” in player lineups for this match.
Grammar diligently avoid publicity for their First XV. However, the reality is nothing attracts public curiosity and scrutiny quite like scoreboard secrets and a try-scoring mystery waiting to be solved.
Meanwhile, St Kentigern College muscled their way to a 17-3 win over Kelston Boys’ High School, partially avenging their loss to the Westies in last year’s grand final.
For St Kentigern there were tries to hooker Luka Makata, prop D’Angelo Mikaele and Siale Pahulu, who was playing at first five-eighths rather than in his traditional role at centre. Fullback Cortez Kirkpatrick made one conversion.
Sacred Heart College climbed into fifth place on the table with a 32-7 bonus-point win over Mt Albert Grammar.
Highlight of the day was Finn Norrie – playing at fullback and bringing back vivid memories of his older brother Cohen – making a mesmerising late, weaving run to score right on fulltime. Other Sacred tries came from flanker Etikeni Helu, lock Will Quin and winger Kauri Luke, with Keanu Simpson kicking 12 points.
Sacred Heart are always lively on attack but often vulnerable on defence and prone to coughing up penalties, and their clash with St Peter’s this Saturday should make great viewing.
Liston College continued their prominent start to the season with a 34-11 win over De La Salle College, with flanker Sione Katoa, centre Jonathan Simote and subs Daniel Lawrence and Noah Webster among the scorers. It was the first time this season De La Salle have made double figures.
Dilworth School registered their first win of the season with a 59-29 trouncing of Botany Downs Secondary College. Second five-eighths Viliami Katoa accounted for 19 of Dilworth’s points with a try and seven conversions, while Ether Fonoia scored two tries.
Dilworth are again being coached by former All Black Ant Strachan and now have six points – as many as they managed in the whole of last season.
Botany Downs at least got off the bottom of the table with a bonus point for their five tries, with scorers being second five-eighths Connor Bowden (2), right winger Blake Kaukau, halfback Tyler Gagiano and Lucas Justino.
Auckland 1A draw Saturday (home team first, all games 2.30pm): St Paul’s v De La Salle; King’s College v Dilworth; Botany Downs v Liston; Mt Albert Grammar v Kelston; Sacred Heart v St Peter’s; Auckland Grammar v St Kentigern. Points: King’s College 15, St Kentigern 14, St Peter’s 14, Auckland Grammar 11, Liston 10, Sacred Heart 9, Kelston 6, Dilworth 6, Mt Albert Grammar 5, St Paul’s 1, Botany Downs 1, De La Salle 0.
Westlake Boys’ High School won by more than 50 points for the third successive weekend in Kyocera North Harbour First XV competition when they beat Orewa College 71-17.
And that was despite operating a rest-and rotation policy for about eight senior players after their thrilling 29-31 loss to Tauranga Boys’ College midweek.
Westlake were efficient without ever striking top gear, but ran in 11 tries with right-wing Harper Wilson and sub Jeremia Samoa leading the way with two apiece.
Others to seize the opportunity with tries were prop Seth Louw, hooker Morgan Seymour, No 8 Jaxx Latoa-Levi and strapping lock-come-centre Tom Bolger.
Along with Bolger, bulldozing Westlake prop Demetrius Sanft had a field day, running one-off from the ruck.
Best for Ōrewa was athletic No 8 Mataora Marino, who ran straight and hard, while their tries came from flanker Hunter Wallace and winger Brooke Bannan.
Meanwhile, left wing Kason Moller scored two tries as Rosmini College beat Massey High 31-12, with hooker Jeremiah Afu, fullback Kane Te Whiu and centre Josh O’Sullivan also dotting down.
Tries to winger Kauri Flay-Alker (2), fullback Kawana Te Iringa (2) and skipper Brock Reid helped unbeaten Whangārei Boys’ High School to a 38-27 win over Mahurangi College.
But tries to first five-eighths Harper Young, lock Marco Demeulemeester, winger Rocco Lee and fullback Corbin Lees earned Mahurangi a bonus point. Meanwhile Prop Jacob Chown-Mills and hooker Lochie Reid registered their 20th cap for Mahurangi.
A hat-trick of tries to halfback Campbell Bibbie assisted Rangitoto College to a 28-15 win over Takapuna Grammar.
North Harbour draw, Wednesday, 3pm: Rosmini v Whangarei Boys’ High. Saturday (home team first, all 12 noon): Mahurangi v Westlake; Whangārei v Takapuna v Rangitoto; Ōrewa v Massey; Rangitoto v Rosmini. Points: Westlake 15, Rosmini 15, Whangārei 15, Rangitoto 10, Mahurangi 5, Massey 1, Ōrewa 0, Takapuna Grammar 0.
Before Wednesday, the last time Francis Douglas Memorial College (FDMC) had beaten New Plymouth Boys’ High School was in 2014. Back then, Ebola was rampant and Pharrell Williams was hip.
With such a famine of success, it’s unsurprising that there was little contingency for the possibility that FDMC would actually topple their larger cross-town rivals at The Gully.
But when workhorse prop Sam McIntosh crashed over for a late try to make it 8-8, Francis Douglas needed to find a goal kicker fast. The destination of the John George-Max Carroll trophy hinged on the outcome of the conversion.
FDMC’s regular kicker, Rory Gilmore, had left the field injured 15 minutes earlier. When assistant coach Thomas Kalin asked head coach Leo Crowley on his walkie-talkie, “Who’s the goalkicker?” Crowley growled back: “I wouldn’t have a clue.”
“Who’s taking the kick? Not me, pardon me, bemused looks. She was a bit hectic when I ran on water and the tee,” Kalin laughed.
“I’ll do it,” halfback Rico Pryor said. He hadn’t kicked a goal for four years, but there was no way McIntosh was taking the kick, so it fell to Pryor.
Heckled remorselessly from the 1500-strong pro-Boys’ High crowd, Pryor nailed the pressure shot, 10m in from touch, 25m away from the target.
“It was a heck of a kick. A Stephen Donald moment for sure,” Kalin acclaimed.
Kalin himself had been lucky to win this game twice as a player.
“In 2013, we won by a record score at The Gully. My contribution was eight minutes from the bench. Jordie Barrett was pissing blood. We didn’t want to take him off. Eventually, we had to,” Kalin reminisced.
“In 2014, we won 20-17 at Yarrow Stadium. I played centre. We had a fairly handy team that included Jordie and Du Plessis Kirifi. Winning the game as a player was special. Winning it as a coach feels better. I understand exactly what the boys are going through.”
Frustration was the overriding sentiment of the first half. Despite creating plenty of opportunities, FDMC turned 5-3 behind, conceding a try from a turnover to New Plymouth winger Coredae Wipiti-Boylan.
“There was no sign of panic at halftime, until we left the dressing room,” Kalin mourned.
“We had to scramble often and hang in the fight. That’s the nature of this game. It’s a real local derby with no quarter asked and no quarter given.”
No 8 Luteru Isaia was lion-hearted for FDMC, and McIntosh earned his corn, then a cherry, in 70 unremitting minutes.
With the victory, Francis Douglas have secured the right to represent Taranaki later in the year in the Chiefs Regional finals for a place in the National Top Four.
There’s every possibility New Plymouth won’t be the last major scalp for Francis Douglas. Since 2020, they have only won 11 out of 42 games in the Central North Island competition, but in the opening fortnight of the Taine Randall Cup, they have stretched 2024 finalists Feilding High and St John’s College (Hamilton).
Kalin credits the accomplished Leo Crowley for much of the improvement. Crowley was the assistant coach of Taranaki when they won their first NPC Premiership in 2014. In 2022, with Du Plessis Kirifi as his captain, he delivered Wellington its first NPC Premiership in 22 years as head coach. Leo’s brother Kieran was an All Black.
“The old notebook is getting a working over with new ideas about game management and positional play,” Kalin said.
“The other thing Kieran has brought is an old-school honesty. Kieran has a connection to the school with sons and nephews who have played for the First XV. He’s emphasised what a privilege it is to be in the First XV.”
John George-Max Carroll Trophy: First Game: New Plymouth, 34-7, 1996, NPBHS Wins: 23, FDMC Wins: 6, Drawn: 1, Games Decided by Seven or Less: 15.
Central North Island results, Saturday: St Peter’s Cambridge 26 Whanganui Collegiate 0; Wesley College 26 Lindisfarne College 28; St John’s Hamilton 23 Francis Douglas College 6; Feilding High 86 St John’s Hastings 3. Points: Feilding 10, St Peter’s 10, Lindisfarne 9, St John’s Hamilton 5, Whanganui 5, Wesley 2, Francis Douglas 1, St Paul’s 0, St John’s Hastings 0.
Founded in 1962, Dunstan High School in Alexandra is the alma mater of three of New Zealand’s most courageous sportsmen: 1987 Rugby World Cup-winning lock Murray Pierce (54 matches, 50 wins), Olympic Canoeing gold medalist Finn Butcher, and mixed martial artist James Te Huna.
It would seem the fortitude of those esteemed athletes has rubbed of on Dunstan’s First XV, who on Saturday caused a seismic shock in the Freeman Roofing Southern Schools Rugby Championship when they stunned Otago Boys’ High School 22-19 at their fortress in Littlebourne.
Down 19-17 with time expiring, Dunstan earned a penalty and ventured into the hosts’ half. Nine attritional phases later, right winger Flynn Donnelly crossed out wide to spark scenes of unbridled joy.
Head coach Graham Johnson was “stoked” with the outcome and says his phone “hasn’t stopped all weekend”.
“I’m absolutely delighted for the boys,” Johnson said. “This result means a lot to the community that provides us with great support.
“When we were down 14-0 in as many minutes, we thought she’d be a long afternoon, but when the boys finally got the ball, we got in behind them a couple of times. That built confidence. We scored two minutes before half time to tie the scores, and it was game on.”
Fullback Nate McLellan, who earned his cap for achieving 20 games with 15 starts, was influential for Dunstan. He kicked seven points and provided the pass for Donnelly’s winner, having earlier delivered to left winger Ben Poblete.
Regular first five-eighths and captain Zach Johnson surged up the midfield with a sturdy display at centre, but much of Dunstan’s success can be attributed to their pack. The front row of Cody Robinson, Zavier Robb (try scorer) and Jake McGinnis earned four second-half scrum penalties while blindside and vice-captain Jack Sinnamon had a colossal outing.
“We spent a lot of the game defending, which we expected. The heart and patience the boys showed was exceptional. We’ve had the majority of this group since Year 11,” Johnson said.
“We won the bottom four in our first season. The goal in 2025 was to stay in the top six. We might revise that now.”
While Southland Boys’ High School and King’s High School appear a cut above, a semifinal is not out of the reckoning for Dunstan, with fixtures against a struggling John McGlashan College and Southland’s Second XV to come.
Dunstan are astutely advised by four local coaches, Johnson, Nathan Sinnamon, Jono Love and Kevin O’Neil. Strength and conditioning mentor Jonty McKinnell provides additional value by giving back to his old school.
Meanwhile, Otago’s tries were scored by hooker Felix Frew, openside Charlie Ottrey, and winger Coen Breen. First five-eighths Jack Scott kicked two conversions.
Dunstan’s triumph is their first on Littlebourne but their second over Otago Boys’.
The Otago Daily Times reported in 2010: “Halfback Tom Dougherty was the hero for Dunstan High School when he kicked three second-half penalty goals to give his team an upset 9-8 win over Otago Boys’ at Alexandra. It was Dunstan’s first ever win over Otago Boys and was the boilover of the Highlanders First XV rugby competition. The winning goal came just two minutes from the end. The heroes for Dunstan were the hard-tackling midfield combination of Sean Conner and Sam Cant, who kept knocking over the Otago Boys’ attackers and forced them into errors.”
In the other division 1 games, King’s High clobbered John McGlashan College 63-7 on their home turf to lead the competition standings after two rounds. Fullback Lafa Tofiga had a field day scoring two tries and converting all nine tries. Southland Boys’ First XV defeated its Second XV 48-17.
In the Maroon Pool, King’s seconds cruised to a 54-12 away win against Cromwell College, Wakatipu High School thumped Taieri College 84-10 in Queenstown Resort College and Otago Boys’ seconds edged Mt Aspiring College 15-5 in Wānaka.
Fixtures in the Blue Pool were one-sided as well. Central Southland College powered to a 74-5 win against John McGlashan seconds at home. In Oamaru, St Kevin’s College crushed Maruawai College 81-15 and Waitaki Boys’ High School had the better of South Otago High School 33-17.
Palmerston North Boys’ High School retained the Wallace Cup with a 35-32 victory over Wellington Premiership champions, St Patrick’s College, Silverstream.
The annual traditional fixture stretches back to 1933 and honours the Wallace family, four of whom were high achievers at Silverstream and three of whom were first XV players, including 1998 head prefect Michael, now CEO and owner of Waterford Bloodstock Ltd.
There were opposing cousins in each back line, with Silverstream winger Ashton Steere a cousin of Palmerston North fullback Hunter Kennedy. Both boys are related to 1930s All Black Dick Steere.
If it were a joust for family affection, it was Ashton Steere who earned initial acclaim with Silverstream’s first try.
But with scores tied 8-8, Kennedy snatched favouritism away with a length-of-the-field intercept after 20 minutes.
Kennedy’s snaffle was a momentum swinger. Palmerston North scored 15 unanswered points to lead 23-8 at the interval. That lead expanded to 35-15 with 15 minutes remaining.
In turbulent wind, Palmerston North mauled strongly with Year 12 lock Clark Sutcliffe pocketing two tries. Hurricanes Under-18’s blindside Carlo Isaac made several scything rushes, was aerially disruptive, and scored a try. Wingers Charlie Robbie and Nehemiah Sua were frequently involved with first-five Jamie Viljoen unafraid to chance his arm.
The visitors threatened to implode after a yellow card. Silverstream’s bench added urgency. Sprightly fullback Williams Davis was prominent and Year 11 Fletcher Cooper became as brazen and effective as Viljoen. Co-Captain Elijah Solomona scored a brace in an inspired shift on the openside.
But it wasn’t enough and Palmerston North take a 54-32 lead in Wallace Cup rivalry. Palmerston North have won six of their eight matches in 2025.
Sky Sport’s first televised fixture for the year between Nelson College and Marlborough Boys’ College on May 29 is shaping up as a blockbuster.
Marlborough dismantled Shirley Boys’ High School 47-8 to register their second bonus-point victory of the season. Meanwhile, Nelson College extended their Trustbank Cup reign to 11 defences with an impressive 41-26 win over St Thomas of Canterbury College.
Nelson navigated a potentially tricky road trip with a six tries to four victory. Hooker Jack Potter and winger Alfred Leweni were notable performers and each scored two tries.
Late tries to fullback Taika Reihana and second five-eighths Mason Cole guided Selwyn College to an upset 18-12 victory over St Bede’s College, in Rolleston.
It’s possibly the most surprising defeat for St Bede’s since a 15-10 loss to Lincoln High School in 2017. Winger Will Gualter, who played for Tasman, Canterbury and the Crusaders, was a New Zealand Secondary Schools selection from that Lincoln team.
In other matches, Christ’s College outlasted Rangiora High School 38-37 and Christchurch Boys’ High School accounted for St Andrew’s College 33-17.
Christchurch started with abundant energy and tries to Hiro Fuchigami after three minutes and co-captain, Blake Robinson, after 13 minutes, both converted by wing Cam Jones, saw the visitors jump to a 14-0 lead.
Any thoughts of a lopsided affair were banished when St Andrew’s responded with 17 unanswered points to lead at halftime. Second five-eighths Aza Roebeck and lock Charlie Tanner had Papanui Road cheering widely. Fynn Harris was on target with two conversions and a penalty.
A spectacular try to winger Will Brown propelled Christchurch into a 19-17 lead, an advantage they didn’t surrender despite sustained periods on defence. Hooker Mac Chaplin scored an opportunistic try to make it 26-17. No.8 Sione Telefoni settled the contest close to fulltime. Cam Jones kicked four conversions.
Readers are invited to send their first XV rugby updates, news snippets and hot takes to nzschoolboyrugby@gmail.com
Co-ed schools like St Andrew's College and Rangiora High are excluded from the proposal.