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31/8/2016
NZ Schools Rugby League finds top 4 Top seeds St Paul’s College live to chase their 16th NZRL National Secondary Schools title, when this year’s tournament enters the semi-final stage at Papakura’s Bruce Pulman Park tomorrow.
But their progress comes at the expense of defending champions Otahuhu College, who bowed out with an 18-6 loss to Aorere College in their final pool outing. Over the opening two days of the 2016 event, Pool A of the premiership competition had developed into a cut-throat affair, with all four teams locked at 1-1 (one win, one loss) and a countback looming. After their loss to Otahuhu yesterday, St Paul’s needed to defeat Manakura School and hope Aorere could do them a favour in the later game. They took care of their end of that equation, dispatching the Palmerston North school 42-12, and then stuck around to find out their fate. Aorere led Otahuhu 14-6 at half-time and scored the only try of the second spell to dispatch the titleholders. In the knockout round, St Paul’s, beaten in the last two national finals and hunting their first title since 2012, face Southern Cross Campus College, who advanced unbeaten from Pool C with a 40-8 romp over Aranui High School. The other semi-final sees Kelston Boys High School, chasing their fourth title and third in four years, take on Westlake Boys High School, both whom secured an unblemished record through pool play. Kelston outlasted Mt Albert Grammar 22-12 in a rematch of the 2013 final, while Westlake progressed to their first semi-final with a 30-18 win over Avondale College. Rugby league lives in the shadows of union at Westlake, but this performance must certainly grab some of the spotlight from the 15-a-side code. “This was a really good result today,” said Westlake coach Jamie Williamson. “We knew if we came out and got the win, we’d go through to the top four, so we’re really looking forward to the opportunity tomorrow. “We knew Avondale would be big and physical through the middle. We’re not the biggest outfit, so we knew we had to rung them off the park and it worked well for us. “Making it this far is huge and that’s half of the drive we have with the boys. We’ve been trying to push rugby league [at school] over the past couple of years and a result like this will help.” While the premiership race was close, the most dramatic finish of the day came in the development grade, where Sir Edmund Hillary College handed Trident High School their first loss to set up a three-way tie, along with Mt Roskill Grammar, in Pool E. All three shared a 1-1 head-to-head record among themselves, so the countback reverted to points difference, with Trident shading Sir Edmund Hillary for the top spot. They will now face Onehunga High School in one semi, while Sir Edmund Hillary take on Tai Wananga, who emerged unbeaten from Pool F. NZRL NATIONAL SECONDARY SCHOOLS TOURNAMENT Bruce Pulman Park, Papakura Wednesday, August 31 Premiership St Paul’s College 42 Manukura School 12, Kelston BHS 22 Mt Albert Grammar 12, Tokoroa HS 16 Wesley College 14, Westlake BHS 30 Avondale College 18, Manurewa HS 28 Papatoetoe HS 14, Aorere College 18 Otahuhu College 6, Tamaki College 22 St Thomas of Canterbury 16, Southern Cross Campus College 40 Aranui HS 8 Development Mt Roskill Grammar 30 Francis Douglas Memorial College 14, Tai Wananga 48 Papakura HS 10, Sir Edmund Hillary College 20 Trident HS 12 Looking for USA Scholarships? Check out USA CONNECT Looking for $40000 University of Waikato Study Scholarships CLICK HERE Looking for Sport Exchange Opportunities to Australia CLICK HERE  St Paul’s College have claimed the Championship title for the second straight year, edging out season debutants Wesley College 23-10 to win the SAS College Rugby League grand final on Wednesday night. It was straight out the gates for St Paul's College with back to back sets to start the game. Prop Sione Ngahe opened the score, storming over the line and under the sticks with standoff Dylan Tavita adding the extras for an early 6-0 lead. St Paul's dodged a bullet when Wesley's standoff Adam Pompey kicked the ball high before Sione Hafoka crossed over, only to be denied points with a knock on. That counted for little in the end with Wesley shifting the ball quickly to the left and an opening try to wing Saia Latu. With the conversion flying wide, St Paul's led 6-4. Further St Paul's tries to wing Duken Williams and hard-working fullback Star Toa took the lead out to 14-4. Tavita added the extras to give his side a 16-4 lead at the break. While St Paul's held a points advantage coming into the second stanza, Wesley have history of showing up in the second half and producing better efforts. It took 15 minutes before points were scored. Wesley accelerated down field before hooker Larenz Tupaea crashed over from dummy half. Pompey converted to get up 16-10. But St Paul's hit back with an offload from prop Zephaniah Aerenga and a shift to the right. Fullback Star Toa proved just why he's worthy of being named in the 1st XIII team of the year, storming through the pack to fall just short of the line before Tavita reached to extend their lead 20-10. Eventually it told, putting the game beyond doubt with another conversion and drop goal to Tavita winning 23-10. The victory was met by a loud applause from the full house of travelling fans at Mt Smart Stadium #2. St Paul's coach Junior Fiu said he was incredibly proud of his team's efforts and their undefeated season. "I'm really proud of the boys and their performance tonight," he said. "They had camp in March and they've worked really hard to defend this title." But Fiu admits it hasn't been all about the physical training, with education being a major key to making the team. "Obviously the physical training is important, but they had to work their butts off at school if they wanted to make the team. "Education was always a priority before taking the field," he said. The rugby league season isn't over for the central Auckland school who now shift their focus on playing in the NZRL Secondary Schools tournament later this month. St Paul's College 23 (Star Toa, Duken Williams, Dylan Tavita, Sione Ngahe tries; Dylan Tavita x3 goals, x1 drop goal) BEAT Wesley College 10 (Saia Latu, Larenz Tupaea tries; Adam Pompey x1 goal) HT: 16-4 at Mount Smart Stadium #2. Manurewa High School 10 Southern Cross 8 Manurewa High School won their first ever piece of SAS College Rugby League silverware on Wednesday night, beating Southern Cross Campus 10-8 in the Pennant grand final at Mount Smart Stadium #2. The match was evenly contested with both schools aggressive on the attacking side of the ball and tough on defence. A great start for Manurewa saw them score first with Nareir Mughal finding space on the left edge to cross over the line. With the conversion flying wide, the score remained 4-0. On numerous occasions Southern Cross looked to score, but great defence from Manurewa held them out. With three minutes left on the clock Manurewa's Tyrone Siua charged over the line to double their lead 8-0. Stand off Jonty Timoti added the extras to make it 10-0. Manurewa gave away a number of penalties, putting them under defensive pressure which eventually led to Southern Cross being awarded a penalty goal before the siren. 5 minutes into the second half and Southern Cross scored their first try with hooker Samiuela Lauhingoa crossing the line and centre Siave Togoiu converting. Manurewa looked to secure their victory when halfback Niko Moala chipped the ball over the top. Winger Mughal chased to collect his second on their left edge but was denied points for stepping out of the line. With 30 seconds left on the clock, Southern Cross endeavored to get in front with an early kick into space. Winger Filifili Feso kicked the ball further down the field only to be held up in time for the full time whistle and Manurewa to claim the 10-8 victory. Manurewa High School 10 (Tyrone Siua, Nareir Mughal tires; Jonty Timoti x1 goals) BEAT Southern Cross Campus 8 (Samiuela Lauhingoa try; Siave Togoiu x2 goals) HT: 10-2 at Mount Smart Stadium #2. Papatoetoe 14 Sir Edmund Hillary 10 It was another thrilling grand final performance for Papatoetoe, winning the SAS College Rugby League Bowl title 14-10 over Sir Edmund Hillary. Wednesday night's final at Mount Smart Stadium #2 was dominated by Papatoetoe from the early exchanges, putting first points on the board with a try to Nakitea Toka and stand off Thornton Edmonds converting to lead 6-0. Camped on Sir Edmund Hillary's line, it wasn't long before Papatoetoe's fullback Joshua Cooper found a gap to double their advantage. Sir Edmund had a chance to add points, splitting the line through props Vincent Ki and TJ Loamanu only to be stopped by Cooper with a great tackle. In a second attempt to get over the line Sir Edmund's centre dribbled the ball through, but with no one around they were unable to score - an impatient end to the set. It was third time lucky for Sir Edmund Hillary's Altalie Solovi, storming over for the school's first try. Halfback Philip Fulutusi added the extras to get up 6-10 before halftime. Crowds at the stadium came to life when Fulutusi was awarded a try with only 5 minutes remaining in the second half. Pressure built on Sir Edmund Hillary's line when Papatoetoe's halfback Paula Mahe rushed through just short of the line. With only seconds left on the clock, centre Melvin Maile-La'a scored out of dummy half to secure the 14-10 victory. Papatoetoe High School 14 (Joshua Cooper, Melvin Maile-La'a, Nakitea Toka tries; Thornton Edmonds x1 goal) BEAT Sir Edmund Hillary 10 (Philip Fulutusi, Altalie Solovi tries; Philip Fulutusi x1 goal) HT: 10-6 AT Mt Smart Stadium #2. Looking for USA Scholarships? Check out USA CONNECT Looking for $40000 University of Waikato Study Scholarships CLICK HERE Looking for Sport Exchange Opportunities to Australia CLICK HERE  Westlake Boys’ High School’s Zae Wallace has been named the SAS College Rugby League Player of the Year at the Auckland Rugby League awards breakfast this morning.
The 17-year-old year 13 student played a starring role for the school this year, qualifying for the championship division before falling short of making the major semi-finals. Wallace was also awarded halfback of the year in the SAS College Rugby League 1st XIII Team of the Year. "The college competition has been awesome this year," said Wallace. "There was a lot more competition with schools like Wesley College coming up to compete so it's been great. "I'm happy with the award but I wouldn't be here without the team and their hard work this season." Already a valued team member of the Mt Albert premier team, Wallace says he's now focusing on club footy and the SAS Fox Memorial competition. "I'm not sure what the future holds for me, but I know I need to work hard until I get to where I want to be," he said. Junior Fiu from St Paul's College was awarded Coach of the Year for the Premier competition while Kelston's Michelle Keenan was awarded Manager of the Year. Tamaki's Raven Takerei won top try scorer with 10 tries, while Wesley's standoff, who was also named in the 1st XIII Team of the Year Adam Pompey took home top goal kicker with 17. In the U/15 nine-aside competition Saunoa Mika from Aorere College topped the try-scoring with nine, sharing top points scored (42 points) with Semesi Ahoatu from Onehunga High School. MVP was awarded to Jake Rutherford from Henderson High School. In the U/85kg competition Mangere College swept the major awards with Lucas Maiko winning top try scorer (5 tries), Raven Tongafofoa winning top goal kicker (5 goals) and Maiko also sharing top points scored (20 points each) with team mate John Korenato. Vanguard Military School were awarded the fair play school award for the Senior A competition while Aorere's Diaz Tauhia was awarded MVP. The SAS College Rugby League finals for the Championship, Plate and Bowl competitions will be played this Wednesday August 10 at Mt Smart Stadium #2. Full list of winners below. U/15 nine-aside Top try scorer (9 tries) – Saunoa Mika (Aorere College) Top points scorer (Joint award – 42 points) – Semesi Ahoatu (Ohehuna High School) and Saunoa Mika (Aorere College) Manager of the Year – Lynne Van Etten (Avondale College) Coach of the Year – Fita Hala (St Paul’s College) MVP – Jake Rutherford (Henderson High School) U/85kgs Top try scorer (5 tries) – Lucas Maiko (Mangere College) Top goal kicker (5 goals) – Raven Tongafofoa (Mangere College) Top points scorer (Joint award – 20 points each) – John Korenato (Mangere College) and Lucas Maiko (Mangere College) Manager of the Year – Carol Andrews (Howick College) Coach of the Year – Joe Tere (Mangere College) Fair play award – Howick College (2nd year running) MVP – Jacob Hollobon (Pakuranga College) Senior A Top try scorer (4 tries) – Nathan Schwenke (Selwyn College) Top goal kicker (5 goals) – Eugene Harris (Selwyn College) Top points scorer (26 points) – Eugene Harris (Selwyn College) Manager of the Year – Lee Ryan (Henderson High School) Coach of the Year – Rod Fielder (Selwyn College) Fair play award – Vanguard Military School MVP – Diaz Tauhia (Aorere College) Premier 1st XIII Referee of the Year – Aaron Kesha Top try scorer (10 tries) – Raven Takerei (Tamaki College) Top goal kicker (17 goals) – Adam Pompey (Wesley College) Top points scorer (66 points) – Raven Takerei (Tamaki College) Manager of the Year – Michelle Keenan (Kelston Boys’ High School) Coach of the Year – Junior Fiu (St Paul’s College) School Sporting Excellence – Westlake Boys' High School MVP – Zae Wallace (Westlake Boys' High School) Team of the Year Fullback of the Year – Starford Toa (St Paul's College) Winger of the Year – Joseph Onyeke (Kelston Boys' High School) Centre of the Year – Fine Inisi (Westlake Boys' High School) Stand off of the Year – Adam Pompey (Wesley College) Halfback of the Year – Zae Wallace (Westlake Boys' High School) Prop of the Year (Joint award) – Utah Ioka (Kelston Boys' High School) and Caleb Uele (Avondale College) Hooker of the Year – Johnny Falelua-Malio (Kelston Boys' High School) 2nd Rower of the Year – Jirah Momoisea (St Paul's College) Loose Forward of the Year – Phillip Makatoa (Aorere College) Looking for USA Scholarships? Check out USA CONNECT Looking for $40000 University of Waikato Study Scholarships CLICK HERE Looking for Sport Exchange Opportunities to Australia CLICK HERE |
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