Otahuhu claims 2015 league title

Otahuhu College captain Komiti Vetenotu guided his team to a dramatic comeback victory over St Paul's College to snatch the 2015 NZRL National Secondary Schools crown.

With a few moments remaining, St Paul's wing Daymon Abbey crossed in the corner for a try that gave his side a 17-12 lead and seemed to have clinched their 16th title.

But Otahuhu were not to be denied, responding in kind at the other end and leaving Vetenotu with a conversion attempt after the buzzer for victory.

With both teams huddled in prayer, Vetenotu coolly slotted his kick to send his team-mates into rapture and his opponents to despair.

"It was a team effort," he insisted afterwards. "If it wasn't for the boys scoring that try, I wouldn't have had the chance.

"No credit for me, all to the boys."

St Paul's seemed headed for a walkover, when they reached halftime 13-0 ahead.

But their rivals had not given up the ghost and with the ball at their backs after the restart, they piled on two converted tries to close the margin.

"I just kept telling the boys we had been in this position before and to have faith that we could come back," said Vetenotu.

Earlier this week, Otahuhu drew their final pool game with Westlake Boys High and needed a countback to progress to the semis.

"We've been trading points in other games, but this time we dug deep and came out victorious.

"I'm really proud of my boys - we stuck together from Day One and showed our full potential in this game."

Otahuhu's only previous national title came in 2011, when current Kiwis fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck inspired them to victory over St Paul's in the final.

Meanwhile, rugby union breeding ground Wesley College have successfully crossed over to the 13-a-side code, taking out the development final.

The South Auckland school have shown their rugby league potential over the past two seasons, storming through pool play at the last two tournaments.

They ran up 50 points on each of their pool opponents this week and cruised past Francis Douglas Memorial College 30-4 in yesterday's semi-finals.

But after dominating last year's plate competition in similar fashion, Wesley hit the wall in the final, falling to Papatoetoe High School at the last hurdle.

This year, they completed their assignment, defeating St Thomas of Canterbury 18-12, but had to dig deep.

The southerners jumped out to an early advantage, through tries to Aukilani Tu'au and Klayton Waikato.

But Wesley hit back to draw level shortly before halftime and clinched the win, when half Wetere Pompey split the defence for a try, which he then converted.

"I guess, for me and the team, it was a matter of having that experience and knowing what to do when the heat came on," said coach Lawrence Lawrence.

"Wesley is known for rugby, but a lot of the boys come into the school from a league background and it's a matter of tapping back into that."

Management are now resigned to promotion to the big time - the championship grade - next year.

 

Summary Of Results

Day 1: Otahuhu College: 22 (Alred Smalley 2, Paletasala Patelesio & Joseph Afemui tries; Komiti Vetemotu 3 goals) Aorere HS: 0

Day 2: Otahuhu College 20 (Henry Pei 2, Pahiva Fonua & Don Seuala tries; Komiti Vetemotu 2 goals) Whangarei BHS 6 (Wiremu Greig try; Dylan Brown goal)

Day 3: Otahuhu College: 24 (Phoenix Hunt 2, Alfred Smalley & Paletasala Patelesio tries; Sion Fineisaloi 4 goals) Westlake BHS: 24 (Hemi McCarthy, Moses Leo, Zae Wallace & Ryan Doubell tries; Wallace 4 tries)

Semi-final: Otahuhu College 24 (Don Seuala, Alfred Smalley, Phoenix Hunt, Henry Pei & Joseph Afemui tries; Sion Fineisaloi 2 goals) Tamaki College: 18 (George Salu 2, Johnny Tea & Lepa Tua tries; Takerei goal)

Final: Otahuhu College: 18 (Pohiva Fonna, Alvin Vaisa & Komiti Vetenotu tries; Vetenotu 3 goals) St Paul's College: 17 (Daymon Abbey, Sione Fakapelea & Sione Ngahe tries; Beau Cordtz two goals, Dylan Tavita one field goal)

Credit - NZRL Press Release

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/league/highlights-otahuhu-down-st-paul-s-in-nzrl-national-secondary-schools-final-q09045.html 

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