Aotea College win silverware in local thriller + Video highlights

Aotea College beat Porirua College 23-15 in the College Sport Wellington Co-ed Cup final  at Jerry Collins Stadium on Wednesday.

The individual brilliance of Aotea College captain and centre (wearing #14) Ropati So’oalo combined with committed Aotea defence which caused a high Porirua error rate was the telling difference in an entertaining spectacle. Porirua College led 15-11 at halftime.

Both schools had many enthusiastic supporters, making for a great atmosphere in the bumper stand as well as on the field. 

Porirua also surrendered the Beard Trophy, a 50-year-old prize which works like the Ranfurly Shield of Porirua schools rugby.

Aotea are Wellington Co-ed champions for the second time and for the first time since 2012.
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Aotea will play Feilding High School in the Hurricanes Co-ed semi-finals in Palmerston North on 25 August.
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Video highlights of the final below: 

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Co-ed Cup previous 10 final winners:
2008: Newlands College
2009: Tawa College
2010: Upper Hutt College
2012: Aotea College
2013: Naenae College
2014: Tawa College
2015: Bishop Viard College
2016: Hutt Valley High School
2017: Porirua College
2018: Aotea College
*Not played in 2011 owing to bad weather.