By JENNI RUTHERFORD
The Auckland premier 1A first XV schoolboy rugby competition, which kicks off today, has been known to be one of the toughest college championships in the world.
Kelston Boys High, Auckland Grammar and St Kentigern College are traditionally the strongest teams in the competition and they, in
particular, will be eager to raid defending champion St Peter's treasure trove of trophies.
AUCKLAND GRAMMAR SCHOOL
2000 position: 3rd.
Coach: Grant Hansen.
Acting captain: Luke Eketone.
Auckland Grammar are always tough competitors. But they have suffered a major blow to their season, losing under-19 World Cup back Ben Atiga, who needs knee surgery. Talented athlete Ben Allen will be in the starting lineup. The side boasts a number of Auckland age-group representatives.
AVONDALE COLLEGE
2000 position: 12th.
Coach: Robert Solomone.
Captain: Falaniko Leauga.
Avondale retained their place in the 1A competition after defeating Macleans College, winners of the 1B championship, in their promotion-relegation match. Avondale struggle for size this year and will find it tough going against hulking teams such as Kelston. They are aiming to better their two wins of last season.
DE LA SALLE COLLEGE
2000 position: 10th.
Coach: Geoff Moon.
Captain: Robbie Avei.
No hype is the approach new coach Geoff Moon is adopting for his side this year. Moon, coach of last year's Gallaher Shield winners Otahuhu, is keeping his season low key with the aim to win more than two matches. He would be happy with a mid-table finish, but he demands high quality from his side.
KELSTON BOYS HIGH SCHOOL
2000 position: 4th.
Coach: Rob Sturch.
Captain: Ray Tuivaiti.
Kelston are raging hot favourites for a top-four placing come playoff time, despite losing the excellent Sam Tuitupuo and Ray Isara. The forwards are stronger than last year, all returning to the side after a steep learning curve in 2000. However, the backs are all new to first XV rugby.
KING'S COLLEGE
2000 position: 9th.
Coach Richard Stead.
Captain: Cameron Jowitt.
King's are focusing on a better finish than last year. Their pre-season has been short with mixed results. The forward pack is young and relatively inexperienced, with two fifth-formers packing down in the scrum. But the backline includes speedy left wing Anthony Koonwaiyou. King's won't start their campaign for two weeks.
MT ALBERT GRAMMAR SCHOOL
2000 position: 6th.
Coach: Mac Olsen.
Captain: Berry Tahere.
New coach Mac Olsen is excited about the amount of raw talent in the Mt Albert side this year. One player he is pinning his hopes on is Buster Tahere, who is a fullback turned lock. Olsen will be calling on good, old-fashioned rugby, with the forwards to control the ball and the backs to score from it. He is expecting a top-four finish. "We're a confident pack of dudes," he said.
ONEHUNGA HIGH SCHOOL
2000 position: 8th.
Coach: Nick Tuialii.
Co-captains: Leu Nago, Lei Aholelei.
Boosted by a convincing 48-21 win over St Peter's College pre-season, Onehunga are hunting for their first top-four spot and coach Nick Tuialii believes this could be the year. The squad are full of experience, with most of the side in their third year of first XV rugby. Tuialii will revolve the squad of 26, with three players supplementing the second XV each week.
OTAHUHU COLLEGE
2000 position: 7th.
Coach: Leua Tamati.
Captain: Andrew Smith.
Otahuhu have lost both props and locks from last season and were initially apprehensive about how the new players would cope. But they have come through pre-season training and early games impressively, gelling well. Compensating for their fledgling forwards, the backline have had more experience. Their goal is to win two matches to avoid relegation. That conquered, they will reassess their aims.
SACRED HEART COLLEGE
2000 position: 5th.
Coach: Paul Melloy.
Captain: Michael Thompson.
Sacred Heart will foot a reasonable side in this year's competition. They have lost talented players and still have some work to do after a mixed build-up. Coach Paul Melloy says their all-round game needs some tweaking, but believes they have strong players in the backs and forwards. Two Fijian boys, who are new to the school, are in the squad and will be filling the locking positions. All Black Finau Maka's cousin Geoffrey is a key player at No 8.
ST KENTIGERN COLLEGE
2000 position: 2nd.
Coach: Craig Monaghan.
Captain: Tim Lemiprieve.
St Kentigern are always a dangerous side, and with 60 per cent of the team returning from last year they will be hard nuts to crack. A straight winning run pre-season will buoy the side. Coach Craig Monaghan says they are solid across the board.
ST PAUL'S COLLEGE
2000 position: 11th.
Coach: Mark Rice.
Captain: Kevin Tafuna.
St Paul's have trained harder than usual in preparation for this year's competition. They will be concentrating on avoiding relegation to the 1B championship and on being competitive. Young fifth-form twins Dudley and Amaur Tuiiavisolomona are showing promise.
ST PETER'S COLLEGE
2000 position: 1st.
Coach: Eric Kohlhase.
Captain: Chris Merrick.
St Peter's are gaining some ideal preparation for the Auckland competition in Japan at the world secondary school first XV championships. They are through to the quarter-finals and return to New Zealand on Tuesday.
The defending champions reached their peak last year and are back to rebuilding the team. Still, they are expected to finish in the top half.
First round matches today (home teams first, kick-off 2.30pm): Otahuhu College v Auckland Grammar, St Pauls College v St Kentigern College, Kelston Boys High School v De La Salle College, Sacred Heart College v Avondale College, Mt Albert Grammar v Onehunga High School.
By JENNI RUTHERFORD
The Auckland premier 1A first XV schoolboy rugby competition, which kicks off today, has been known to be one of the toughest college championships in the world.
Kelston Boys High, Auckland Grammar and St Kentigern College are traditionally the strongest teams in the competition and they, in
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