Rotorua Boys' High School First XV perform their haka on the day they won the Moascar Cup off Hamilton Boys’ High School. Video / Supplied
Opinion by Bruce Holloway &Adam Julian
KEY FACTS
Rotorua Boys’ High School defeated Hamilton Boys’ High School 34-28 to claim the Moascar Cup.
King’s College beat Auckland Grammar 23-17, reclaiming the Cooper-Greenbank Cup.
Rangitoto College upset Westlake Boys High School 20-14, marking their first win since 2015.
A special day for Rotorua Boys’; King’s College edge out Grammar; Rangitoto’s upset of the year; Silverstream’s mud-splattered drop goal – all the nationwide action ...
A dynamic Rotorua Boys’ High School have relieved national champions Hamilton Boys’ High School of the Moascar Cup, schoolboy rugby’s version ofthe Ranfurly Shield, with a stirring 34-28 away Super 8 victory.
It is the first time Rotorua have secured the cup since a chequered tenure in 2022, when they held it, lost it to Hamilton, claimed it back by eking out a narrow 20-19 victory in the Super 8 final, only to then lose it in their first defence against Tauranga Boys’ College.
Rotorua’s win, in which they dominated for all but a few minutes with staunch forward play and some inspired backline moves, came after a testing week.
“If we look back, we had one training all week, with 16 boys out crook,” said proud Rotorua co-coach Jake Rogers afterwards. “Come Thursday, we just said ‘we’ll have one crook team run’.
Rotorua Boys' High School skipper Te Ariki Rogers holds the Moascar Cup after defeating Hamilton. Photo / Bruce Holloway
“I suppose sometimes you can train all week and play average or have one decent training and put it out there, as we did today.
“But I think our team deserved it. They’ve worked hard since the off-season. We’ve had a bit of adversity leading into our season but at the end of the day, it comes down to what happens on the field and in that respect, we can’t be prouder.
“We knew what we were playing for today and not looking too far ahead. All we were doing was just staying in the moment.
Rotorua's Isileli Tuutafaiva is challenged by Hamilton's Cullen Parai. Photo / Bruce Holloway
“We knew if we could compete, we were in with a chance. Hamilton are the best in New Zealand and to match it with them today was fantastic.
“The boys need to realise what they’ve done today. We’ve got a pretty young squad and we reiterated to the boys today some rugby players go all their playing days and never win it. There’s probably a lot of All Blacks that have been in this competition and never won it. So for some of these young fellas, today is a special day for them.
Lock Luke Worsp scores a second-half try for Rotorua Boys' High School. Photo / Bruce Holloway
“Now the challenge for us is being able to maintain that standard.”
A hint of Rotorua’s high-energy threat came early. In the second minute, right wing Isileli Tuutafaiva found space on the outide to run 25m to open the scoring, following a lineout maul and a good dab from halfback Arthur-Pep Chisholm.
Bizarrely, first five-eighths Tukotahi Richards-Te Whau couldn’t get a kicking tee in time and unsuccessfully tried for a rushed drop-goal conversion.
Dangerous lock Kent Mills replied with a try out wide not long after, with Jackson Botherway putting Hamilton ahead for the only time in the match with a brilliant sideline conversion.
But Rotorua’s quick-moving mauls were a feature of the day and hooker Bronson Van der Heyden, a New Zealand Under-18 Barbarian last year, ground through 15m to score from a lineout and establish a 12-5 lead.
Rotorua Boys' High School First XV celebrate at the final whistle. Photo / Bruce Holloway
Flanker Jake Hutchings did brilliantly to add a try in the tight not long after, while No 8 Te Ariki Rogers showed his great ball-carrying ability in steaming through a further maul for a 22-7 halftime lead.
In the second half, Hamilton finally tidied up their set plays and briefly threatened. Prop Liam Van Der Heyden crossed from a slick lineout move and Botherway converted to reduce the deficit to eight points.
But dashing Rotorua fullback Tokoaitua Owen then carved Hamilton open for lock Luke Worsp to restore a 15-point margin.
Hamilton halfback George Roose gave his team a fighting chance with a converted try eight minutes from time but Owens soon ended the home team’s prospects with a fine arm-stretching try for Rotorua.
Rotorua Boys' High School perform a haka after winning the Moascar Cup. Photo / Bruce Holloway
In stoppage time, winger Cullen Parai nabbed a consolation converted try for Hamilton.
Inspirational Rotorua skipper Te Ariki Rogers said lifting the Moascar Cup was a huge honour.
“I’m so very proud of the boys,” Rogers said. “Every single member of our 22-man squad has never so much as touched the Moascar Cup, nor won it before. So it’s very special for us and we express our gratitude to all who helped get us here.
“I just want to thank all our supporters in and around Raukura [the First XV]. They’re a massive help to us and they’re just ‘our why’. They are why we wake up in the morning and do all the stuff we do behind the scenes.”
Rogers, 16, is perhaps better known as the Chiefs U18 captain and was a colossus for Rotorua, with his duel of the big boys with Hamilton’s Van Der Heyden a feature of the contest.
Hutchings was a real workhorse for Rotorua, though their most influential player was arguably elusive fullback Tokoaitua Owen, who played out of his skin.
Hamilton were without injured skipper Alex Arnold and No 8 Caleb Grice, and lacked cohesion, though Year 11 Parai was always dangerous with the ball.
This was just Rotorua’s 10th victory against Hamilton in Super 8 (which started in 1998) with seven of those wins occurring between 1998 and 2006 – and they were tanked 41-15 in last year’s Chiefs Cup final.
Rotorua won the Moascar Cup for the first time in 2003, defeating Napier Boys’ High School 31-11 in that season’s National Top Four final – a match which ended Napier’s 45-game unbeaten streak.
Rotorua then successfully defended the Moascar Cup three times in 2004 before losing it to Hastings Boys’ High School, who fashioned a 16-2 record that season and participated in the National Top Four.
In 2020, Rotorua reclaimed the Moascar Cup by beating Napier 25-20 and successfully defended it 13 times before losing 28-19 to Hamilton in 2022. Later that same year, Rotorua won the trophy back from Hamilton by claiming a narrow 20-19 victory in the Super 8 final. A Sione Tupiou try, converted by Kees van der Heyden, was the last salvo of a classic encounter. Rotorua lost the Moascar Cup in their first defence to Tauranga.
King’s reign in derby
It was standing-room only in front of the biggest crowd of the Auckland 1A season as King’s College secured a nail-biting 23-17 away win over Auckland Grammar to stay a point clear at the top of the table.
There were joyous post-match scenes with a passionate King’s haka in front of thousands of their travelling supporters as they celebrated their first win on Grammar turf since 2011.
Grammar supporters show their pride. Photo / Photosport
Despite the massive following matches like this draw, Grammar are staunch in maintaining a blackout of any publicity about their First XV, so it was refreshing to see King’s boldly posting rare social media post-match footage from Grammar’s home base.
King’s had also previewed the fixture with jaunty social media reels, while Grammar’s pre-match Facebook feed remained more soberly focused on pointing to a Korean Cultural Evening in the Centennial Theatre, where the Nanta Drums were playing.
With such a stark contrast, perhaps for the neutrals at least, it was fitting that the school that better embraced the latent public interest in First XV rugby was the winner.
Either way, the result not only ensured Ian Robinson’s King’s team continued their six-match winning run this season and but also allowed them to reclaim the hallowed Cooper-Greenbank Cup, contested between the two schools.
Zion Heiloa Savaka in action for Auckland Grammar. Photo / Photosport
The Cup is named after former headmasters Sir Henry Cooper (Grammar, 1954-1972 ) and Geoff Greenbank (King’s 1947-1973), while the rivalry dates back to 1869. King’s have now won this contest 62 times, Grammar 137 times and there have been 16 draws.
In recent years, this storied rivalry between Grammar and King’s has seldom had much relevance to the outcome of the 1A championship, but that may be changing with King’s consistently top of the table and still to play the two bottom teams in their final five matches.
Grammar scored two tries to one, but the kicking of King’s first five-eighths Marco Miln proved the difference, as he registered 13 points with his boot, including two late penalties to seal the win.
Earlier, two of King’s form players scored tries. Hooker Charlie Burn started proceedings with a third-minute score while fullback Calvin Harris-Tavita dotted down 20 minutes later.
Nico Stanley makes a break against King's College. Photo / Photosport
Second five-eighths Nico Stanley kept Grammar in the contest with a converted first-half try, while replacement front-rower Marlee Jacobs dotted down in the second spell after King’s had enjoyed a 17-10 halftime lead.
Grammar pocketed a bonus point, but have now dropped to seventh after their third loss on the trot and will find it no easier on Saturday against Sacred Heart College.
St Kentigern College’s bonus-point 71-5 hammering of Dilworth School took them within one point of King’s at the top of the table. The game was all over by halftime with a 45-0 lead.
St Kentigern scored 11 tries, with Dilworth’s only reply being a 52nd-minute effort to second five-eighths Solomon Westerlund.
Third-placed Sacred Heart weren’t at their best in beating winless De La Salle College 24-10 away, but nevertheless did enough to collect a bonus point and stay in the frame for the top four.
Sacred hooker Sione Latu opened the scoring from a lineout maul and fullback Finn Norrie went over in the corner shortly afterwards for a 12-0 halftime lead.
In an often messy game with too many unforced errors, Sacred second five-eighths Opeti Sitani extended the lead when he managed to dive over untouched after a big scrum, while replacement front-rower Sateki Misiuata scored the final try from a scrum in front of the posts.
In the closest contest of the day, Liston College beat Mt Albert Grammar 19-14 through two tries to blindside flanker Sione Katoa and one to second five-eighths William Couper.
Kelston Boys’ High School climbed to fourth place on a goal differential just one better than Liston College after a 25-10 away win over Botany Downs Secondary College. There were seven tries in the match, but not a single point coming from a kick. Lively flanker Benji Wichman was credited with three of Kelston’s five tries.
St Peter’s College beat St Paul’s College 28-8 away. Any thoughts of robbing sixth-placed St Peter’s to pay St Paul’s were killed off early with the visitors ahead 21-3 at the break.
For St Peter’s, there were tries to forwards Tamilo Ah Hing, Reuben Lava and Liam-Vaea Lavulavu, and one to skipper and halfback Matthew Harris.
Auckland 1A draw Friday (home team first): Liston v Dilworth, 12 noon; King’s College v De La Salle, 1pm. Saturday (home team first, all 2.30pm): Sacred Heart v Auckland Grammar; Kelston v St Peter’s; St Kentigern v Mt Albert Grammar; St Paul’s v Botany Downs.
Auckland 1A points: King’s College 29, St Kentigern 28, Sacred Heart 24, Kelston 21, Liston 21, St Peter’s 21, Auckland Grammar 18, Mt Albert Grammar 10, Dilworth 7, St Paul’s 6, De La Salle 1, Botany Downs 1.
Rangitoto’s upset of the year
Never mind Dunstan High School’s recent shock win over Otago Boys’ High School. The most staggering national First XV upset of the season came when unheralded Rangitoto College rolled North Harbour leaders and defending champions Westlake Boys High School 20-14 at Windsor Park.
This was Rangitoto’s first win over Westlake since 2015 – and just the second since 1995.
And given fourth-placed Rangitoto had been mauled 52-0 by Westlake in the season-opener on May 3, nobody saw this coming, not even Rangitoto coach Cory Aporo.
“Yes, it was a surprise,” admitted Aporo, who is in his first season at the helm at Rangitoto. “I’m not local so I didn’t realise the historic significance until I noticed everyone was over the moon.”
The flashpoint came with Westlake leading 14-13. With the final play of the game, Rangitoto second five-eighths Joseph Streeter made a break from about 30m out, scything through two defenders to score with Joaquin Dechiara converting.
“I held my breath, because I thought there might have been more time through stoppages, but the whistle was blown,” Aporo said.
“We didn’t win by fluke. We faced a good team head-on and played at their level.”
Aporo called it a breakthrough moment for his team.
“They went to places they have never been before in terms of the hurt factor and had more belief than in the past.
“I don’t believe any of our players have played to that level before. Rangitoto is not what you might call a traditional rugby school, but we are going through a cycle where we are exploring different elements of the game and the belief factor can be a big thing.”
Rangitoto first five-eighths Dechiara scored all Rangitoto’s other points, including a first-half try where he beat a number of defenders with a chip-and-chase.
Westlake hooker Jeremia Samoa had opened their scoring from a lineout drive early, with Luke Waller converting. It was 7-7 at halftime.
Westlake again took the lead through a try to centre Matthew Fleming, with Waller brilliantly converting from the sideline.
Rangitoto’s win allowed Rosmini College to take the championship lead by one point after their 55-7 romp over Takapuna Grammar.
Aporo’s comments about Rangitoto’s growing belief were similar to comments made by Nick Whitfield, back when he was captain of Rangitoto’s 2015 First XV. That was the only team in the school’s history to beat both Westlake and Rosmini College in the same season.
Whitfield reflected on beating Westlake 20-17 in 2015 (when winger Campbell Busby scored the winning try).
“We have earned more respect because we are taking ourselves seriously,” he said. “A couple of years ago, not everybody showed up to practice and we were a bit casual about things. Now everybody shows up and we believe in ourselves a lot more.”
Rangitoto were North Harbour champions in 1990 and 1991. In those two seasons, they won 24 of their 29 matches.
The most notable rugby players from Rangitoto College include former Māori All Blacks hooker Slade McFarland, Tasman centurion and Highlanders lock Alex Ainley and former North Harbour representative Roger Dustow.
Some notable alumni from Rangitoto include Sean Marks (the first Kiwi to make the NBA), Kiwis league legend Gary Freeman and Warehouse founder Sir Stephen Tindall.
Meanwhile, Massey High School scored their best win of the season in beating third-placed Whangārei Boys’ High School 14-7, thanks to first-half converted tries to second five-eighths Jimmy Waqa and flanker Josua Nadredre.
Mahurangi College beat Ōrewa College 32-19 with tries to forwards Marco Demeulemeester, Jacob Chown-Mills and Murdoch Phillips, second five-eighths Loky Chapman and 12 points from the boot of Sam Wech.
North Harbour draw, Thursday Jun 19, 3.30pm: Rangitoto v Massey. Saturday (home team first, all 12 noon): Whangārei v Ōrewa; Rosmini v Mahurangi; Westlake v Takapuna.
St Patrick’s College, Silverstream are sitting pretty atop the Tranzit Coachlines Premiership table while arch-rivals Wellington College scramble to repair a ruined field.
All of Saturday’s fixtures on the No 1 pitch at Dufferin St were cancelled after Wednesday’s Ken Gray Cup slug-fest left Wellington’s surface – along with their unbeaten record – in tatters.
Silverstream won the replay of the 2024 final by 16-15, thanks to a clutch moment of finesse that belied an otherwise ferocious struggle in thick mud, whistling wind and pouring rain.
Wellington College and St Patrick's College Silverstream forwards compete for lineout possession. Photo / Photosport
With three minutes remaining, first five-eighths Fletcher Cooper kicked a 35m drop goal that even his coaches didn’t expect.
The Year 11 pivot calmly dodged a puddle to place the ball gracefully before unleashing a shot that was too swift and precise for the stampede of grubby defenders bearing down on him.
“What a kick!” Silverstream coach John Herbert exclaimed. “I was expecting the boys to tuck it under their sleeves and try to position themselves for a penalty. Instead, they ran a cut in midfield to create the space for Fletcher, who was brave under the conditions.”
Cooper, who showcased the rare gift of being able to kick off both feet in the smothering environment, is a school boarder whose family lives in Paraparaumu and he rises at 6am daily to train. Remarkably, he abandoned basketball last year, where he was a New Zealand U15 representative, after undergoing ankle surgery.
Fletcher Cooper was a standout performer for Silverstream.
Despite regulars Vaitupu Vaitupu, Kingston Hill, Jordan Russell and Shae Taitua being injured, Silverstream seized the initiative from the outset. The first try was scored by winger Ashton Steere, who retrieved a deft kick from openside Elijah Solomona.
Silverstream’s captain Solomona was immense with several brutal tackles and powerful runs.
Wellington College regrouped and took the lead with a converted try from industrious lock Laifone Kamoto, who wore cherry-red headgear. First five-eighths Archie Sims kicked the sideline conversion, putting the home team ahead 7-5.
Wellington’s hooker Seb Hopkins was red-carded just before halftime, and Silverstream capitalised on the one-man advantage, with opposite Riley Brown darting clear on the flank. It was 13-7 to Silverstream at the break.
“I warned the boys that we had another mountain to climb in the second half,” Herbert said. ”Often, a red card galvanises a team. You have to work harder for each other, and that’s exactly what Wellington did.
“You wouldn’t believe it, but last year in this game, we were given a red card and then scored 17 unanswered points before losing on a drop goal.”
Wellington College scored the only try of the second half through blindside flanker Dru Faletolu, set up by No 8 Z’kdeus Schwalger, who showed initiative with a quick tap. Schwalger proved a menace for Silverstream, snaffling several jackal turnovers.
In the 57th minute, Wellington nudged ahead to a 15-13 lead with an Archie Sims penalty, created after two dozen phases of exhausting exertion.
“We had to dig deep; it was a typical Col-Stream dogfight. We have so much respect for Wellington College. I’ve coached a number of their boys in representative programs. It won’t be a massive surprise if we meet them again this season,” Herbert said.
Silverstream have now won the Ken Gray Cup, named in honour of the redoubtable All Blacks prop and Wellington College old boy, 53 times. Wellington College have won it 34 times, with the last of seven draws occurring in 1974. Half of the 94 games have been decided by seven points or less.
At the foot of the table, things were equally compelling, with St Bernard’s College achieving their first victory of the season against winless Rongotai College, 24-22.
Forwards scored seven of the eight tries in the fluctuating affair, with St Bernard’s lock and captain Peteru Leaupepe crashing over for his second try to make it 22-22 close to fulltime. With ice in his veins – and possibly his eyes from the awful weather – fullback Taika Cross converted from near the sideline, 20m out, to break the Lower Hutt side’s duck.
It was a momentous day for Taika and his brother Alio Cross, who earned their First XV caps, awarded at St Bernard’s for playing five traditional or 25 First XV matches. A fortnight earlier, their grandfather, John Cross, had a tidy win betting on a racehorse named Taika to win at Te Rapa.
Rongotai and St Bernard’s compete for the Jim Ting Cup, named after a late rugby coach and teacher at both schools. The rivalry is tied at 5-5 since their inaugural clash in 2011, which was won 15-12 by Rongotai, thanks to a last-minute try scored by future All Blacks captain and World Rugby Player of the Year Ardie Savea.
St Patrick’s College, Town stayed in third, trampling over Beard Trophy holders Tawa College 89-12 on the Evans Bay Park artificial turf. Town successfully converted 12 out of their 13 tries, with Gia Johnston contributing 10 of them. A third of Town’s starting XV – Ioane Aukusitino, Faimalie Tagoai, Ethan Lepou, Alipate Soro, and Charlie Carter – all scored two tries each.
Hutt International Boys’ School (Hibs) narrowly defeated Scots College 29-26. Hibs have secured three wins out of four matches and are on track to replicate their semifinal appearance from 2023. Although Scots earned two losing bonus points, the five-time Premiership champions risk missing the top four for the first time since 2022.
For Hibs, the midfield duo of Liam Phelps and Thomas Prichard proved elusive, each scoring tries. Halfback Will Ashton was lively also, crossing the stripe. Scots employed a direct approach that HIBS struggled to contain.
Several penalties saw Hibs almost let a 10-point advantage slip. For Scots, flanker Joseph Sailo was bustling throughout. First five-eighths Advent Va’a was notable. James Favel and Jacob Epeli have scored tries in consecutive appearances for Scots.
Rathkeale College outmuscled Wairarapa College 20-7 in a fierce local derby. The first half saw only an intercept try from Carlo Mitchell and a penalty by Luca O’Gorman on the scoreboard, as Wairarapa applied significant pressure without profit.
Centre Guy Diederich extended Rathkeale’s lead with an early score in the second half. However, George Pedersen revived Wairarapa’s hopes with a converted try seven minutes before time. Rathkeale remained unfazed and Mason Woodhouse collected the clincher.
Significantly, Silverstream’s Second XV have been unbeaten in the Murray Jensen Cup since 2021, a streak of 47 matches.
Wellington Tranzit Coachlines Cup points: Silverstream 15, Wellington 14, St Pat’s Town 11, Hibs 10, Rathkeale 9, Tawa 7, Scots 5, Rongotai 1, St Bernards 0, Wairarapa 0.
Christchurch retain the Trustbank Cup
Christchurch Boys’ High School successfully defended the Trustbank Cup with a decisive 49-21 victory over Selwyn Combined.
Second five-eighths A.J. Francis Afolaufou scored two of Christchurch’s seven tries, all of which were converted by Cam Jones, who also contributed a try of his own.
Nelson College snapped their three-match losing streak and jumped back into the top four, outrunning Rangiora High School 60-14. Winger Liam Soper scored and openside Jayden Aldworth each nabbed doubles.
Unbeaten Marlborough Boys’ College secured their most important win of the season so far with an impressive 31-24 away victory over third-placed St Thomas of Canterbury.
“All Neal” may well have been the theme of the day, with St Thomas No 8 Bishop Neal credited with three tries and Marlborough flanker Finn Neal getting one.
It helped that Marlborough also had four other try-scorers in prop Mason Nicklin, lock George Adams, centre Anru Erasmus and hooker Jake Gane.
St Andrew’s College left it to the last minute again, securing a third consecutive win against Shirley Boys’ High School. Late tries to Jett Timbrell and Jock Sidey flipped a 26-15 deficit into a relieving 27-26 advantage against a Shirley side whose position on the table is a bit harsh, given how competitive they’ve been in most outings.
Christ’s College climbed to sixth place with a vital 38-26 victory over St Bede’s College. Fullback and captain Gavan Holder converted all six tries, including two scored by hooker Adriaan Pieter Van Wyk.
Miles Toyota Premiership points: Christchurch 30, Marlborough 29, St Thomas 22, Nelson 19, St Andrew’s 18, Christ’s 15, Shirley 13, St Bede’s 12, Selwyn 9, Rangiora 2.
Super 8: Tauranga pushed hard by Napier
When under duress, Tauranga Boys’ College typically lean on game-breakers like Ethan McManemin and Tommy McQuoid to wriggle them out of trouble.
And there was certainly plenty of “Ethereal” excellence from McQuoid in Tauranga’s 31-24 victory over plucky, pacey Napier Boys’ High School.
The firecracker fullback scored two tries, his first after one minute, effortlessly evading four defenders in an elegant finish.
But it was lock Kahn Charlton (Chiefs U16) who stole the headlines with a try and turnover so outrageous they’ll be calling him “Little Lurch”* on Cameron Rd.
In the 51st minute, with Tauranga barely ahead 19-17, Charlton shoved through two front-on tacklers near halfway and galloped free. Napier fullback Angus Lovett loomed ahead.
Without hesitation, Charlton veered to the outside and kept on going. Dale Husband, calling it for Whakaata Māori, grew more animated. Perhaps Sir David Attenborough would have been a more appropriate announcer. This was something that could have been on National Geographic.
Down seven with a minute left, Napier hooker Riley Mullany nearly pulled off something more miraculous. A 65m chip-chase-gather left Napier ominously poised 5m away. But it was snuffed out by Little Lurch getting low and foraging.
Mullany’s audacity was typical of a Napier side that simply refused to surrender. There were six lead changes before the result was settled, Tauranga summoning their reserves for the go-ahead try, scored by Kayden Theron after slick interplay involving backs and forwards.
Is there an openside flanker who punches above his weight more than courageous Carlo Mienie? Napier’s vice-captain scored a 25m runaway try and chopped everything down that charged in his direction. Two tries by winger Tommy Hay-Mackenize were another gift in an enthralling spectacle.
Meanwhile, bulldozing prop Isireli Qaranuvalu celebrated his 50th game, helping Hastings Boys’ High School raise a half century against Gisborne Boys’ High School, 50-12.
Hastings scored eight tries, five converted, in their biggest win against Gisborne since a 68-0 slaying in 2017. Captain Joseph Lilo-Iosefo bagged a deuce.
Palmerston North Boys’ High School continued their unbeaten streak on Thursday with a 38-20 victory over New Plymouth Boys’ High School, even while resting several key players. The New Plymouth pack fought earnestly, managing a share of honours in the second half, but they lack the flair the leading contenders enjoy.
Palmerston North centre Cayden Pardey opened the scoring by sprinting 70m from the kickoff, which highlighted the differences between the teams. New Plymouth managed three dogged tries, all scored by their forwards – Riley Mitchell and Nate Werder (2).
By contrast, “Palmy” were far more enterprising and had the locals in raptures with some scintillating tries and a comfortable 28-10 halftime advantage. Halfback Henry Speedy lived up to his name with two long-range efforts, the best of which came after a huge break by flanker Kisione Ma’asi.
Fullback Hunter Kennedy was in menacing form, the Piopio Express surging 70m for his five-pointer. Fellow try-scorers Flynn White and Carlo Isaac had strong games. First five-eighths Jamie Viljoen steered the ship with authority.
Next week, Palmerston North face the only other unbeaten team, Tauranga Boys’ College.
* Lurch is one of two nicknames given to All Blacks Rugby World Cup-winning lock Brodie Retallick, who never made the First XV at Christchurch Boys’ High School.
Super 8 points: Palmerston North 19, Tauranga 18, Hastings 14, Rotorua 10, Hamilton 8, Gisborne 4, Napier 2, New Plymouth 0.
Top win for Feilding
St Peter’s Cambridge – who had a bye – are the only unbeaten team in the Central North Island First XV Championship after Feilding High School imposed the first defeat of the season on Lindisfarne College.
Feilding enjoyed the luxury of a debut trip over Te Ahu a Turanga – the new expressway connecting Manawatū and Hawke’s Bay – and arrived nice and fresh to record an excellent 45-26 away win.
Feilding made a sharp start, scoring after five minutes, leading 19-0 by halftime and eventually securing tries to Kailan Elmers, Peni Havea, James Tuituba, Nixon Foreman, Van Campbell, Kingston Ngata and Elisala Malili-Malo-Lauano, with Foreman converting five of them.
For Lindisfarne, there were tries to Fletcher Mackay (2) Gus Munro and Noah Rogers, and they did briefly level before Feilding rallied.
Elsewhere, Wesley College picked up their second win of the season, getting home 24-19 over Whanganui Collegiate.
St Paul’s welcomed the return of their skipper and hooker Jackson Hill Brown as they beat Francis Douglas Memorial College 39-12 to rise to fourth in the standings, while St John’s Hamilton cruised to a 52-0 win over St John’s Hastings.
North Island points: Lindisfarne 25, St Peter’s 24, Feilding 22, St Paul’s 15, Wesley 13, Whanganui 12, St John’s Hamilton 11, Francis Douglas 6, St John’s Hastings 0.
Southland’s stampede
The rivalry between Southland Boys’ High School and Otago Boys’ High School is one of the fiercest and longest-standing in New Zealand.
Since their first match in 1902, the two southern heavyweights have faced off in 111 inter-school fixtures, with Southland currently holding a narrow advantage of 52 wins to 45.
The matches are often so closely contested that they occasionally end in draws. In fact, three of the 14 draws have occurred since 2015, and remarkably, there were three consecutive ties between 1986 and 1988.
But on Wednesday, Southland stampeded to a 43-12 victory, leading 38-0 shortly after halftime.
Southland’s win marked their largest since a 34-0 whitewash in 1998. That same year, Otago went on to share the National Top Four title with an openside flanker named Richie McCaw.
Southland’s largest victory over Otago was a remarkable 44-0 romp in 1959. Otago won their first encounter 43-0 and delivered a decisive 59-0 win in 2012.
A highlight of Southland’s impressive seven tries-to-two victory was a hat-trick scored by winger Zeke Siolo. Flanker Josh Cairns and hooker Luka Sales were especially difficult to contain in the forwards. For Otago, Judd Flannery stood out, scoring two late consolation tries.
Southland have now won 16 consecutive matches in the Freeman Roofing Secondary Schools Championship.
In division one, they will be joined by St Kevin’s College, who achieved a crushing 40-5 victory over Mount Aspiring College in the promotion playoff. No 8 Siu Fisipuna and winger Orlando Narruhn each scored two tries, while captain Lachlan Neal contributed five conversions.
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