​Christchurch Boys’ High School are the new holders of the Moascar Cup after defeating Nelson College 22-12 on Saturday.
 
Christchurch may boast the best attacking record in the UC Championship scoring 472 points in 11 games, but this was a triumph of defence.
 
The visitors were forced to tackle stoutly for long periods as Nelson threw everything at the defending UC Champions.
 
Nelson kicked for territory initially and mounted a long attack inside the Christchurch 22. Christchurch held firm and when Nelson fumbled just outside their 22 were made to pay when halfback Louie Chapman set up Yoji Yabe in the ninth minute.
 
Christchurch would lead 12-0 at halftime when Ben Lopas scored the second try. Christchurch won a lineout and drove authoritatively before Lopas hit a hole and strode away.

​On a heavy surface, Nelson dominated possession. No.8 Anton Segner was outstanding in the carry, but often lacked effective support.
 
Nelson dropped the second-half kickoff which almost cost them a try. The first 15 minutes of the second-spell were scoreless until Ollie Lewis kicked a penalty to make it 15-0 to Boys’ High.
 
Nelson emptied the bench in search of greater impact and flanker David Zoharb provided the necessary punch busting through to make it 15-7 with about ten minutes remaining.
 
Nelson again spilled the kickoff and from a five-meter scrum, Christchurch No.8 Corbin Harding ran over untouched. The conversion to Lewis made it 22-7.
 
Nelson had the final say when industrious prop Isaiah Malaulau smashed through the last line of defense.
 
Harri Langworthy, Thomas Schmack, Sam Cadwell, Cam Henderson and Chapman were all excellent for Christchurch. All the forwards tackled strongly while the halfback showed the value of his experience with some great option taking.
 
Nelson defended the Moascar Cup 14 times which is the third longest tenure of any South Island school. Christchurch BHS defended the trophy a record 22 times between 2004 and 2007 while St Bede's College repelled 17 challenges between 2007 and 2009.

Christchurch are unbeaten in 21 UC Championship matches and are guaranteed to host a semi-final.
 
Nelson are sixth, five points outside the top four, with three matches left. The other schools only have two matches to play. Nelson shortly travels to Christchurch to tackle second placed Christ's College in a postponed fixture.
 
Of the other contenders, St Bede’s are in third on (40 points) and are probably the only side that can challenge Christ’s College (44) for a home semi-final.
 
Lincoln Combined are in fourth (37) and their match this coming week against Nelson College looms as a key contest for them ahead of their fixture with CBHS in the last round in a fortnight.

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.
​
Aotea will play Feilding High School in the Hurricanes Co-ed semi-finals in Palmerston North on 25 August.
​
Video highlights of the final below: 

Scroll down for video highlights of the First XV rugby and for basketball and football photos.

It was a record win for Silverstream in the First XV rugby, but Town claimed overall honours in the St Patrick's College sports exchange in Wellington this afternoon.

Football
 
St Pat's Town have scored their second win against Silverstream in five days winning the annual traditional fixture 4-2 at Evan Bay Park artificial.
 
On Saturday, Town beat Silverstream 2-0 in blustery conditions at the same venue. Nathan Simes scored both goals for the hosts, punishing the visitors inaccurate finishing. Silverstream struck the woodwork three times.
 
Today Simes bagged a hat-trick as Town repeated their success from the corresponding fixture a year ago.
 
Silverstream started brightly and Ben Taylor opened the visitors account after 15 minutes.
 
Town rallied and took a 2-1 lead to the interval.
 
Silverstream levelled the scores with a Jack Antonopoulos goal and pressed forward aggressively knowing a draw was not good enough to regain the trophy,
 
Short at the back, Town made Silverstream pay on the counter attack and Captain Samuel Mitrakas was an additional goal scorer.
 
The top four of the Wellington Premiership will be resolved this Saturday with only three points separating the top five teams. Only the leading four schools are contenders to win the title.

Rugby
 
St Patrick's College, Silverstream has crushed St Patrick's College, Wellington by a record score of 52-10 to capture a clean sweep of their annual traditional fixtures for just the 11th time since 1931.
 
Silverstream remains unbeaten in Premier I and are overwhelming favourites to defend their title after their 18th win a row locally.
 
The visitors started ominously when second-five Maika Fifita made a clean bust off a lineout and raced 40-metres  to touch down under the sticks.
 
Wing Fritz Rayasi dropped ball over the line two minutes later as Silverstream were rampant early.
 
Town regrouped and held Silverstream to 7-3 five minutes until halftime. Prop Jeremiah Tuiatua was busy and his bust created a chance which Keelan Whitman failed to grasp.
 
Boston Christe kicked a penalty to close the gap to 7-3 and narrowly missed to the right with his second attempt.
 
Town’s lineout was wobbly and just before the break Iona Apineru collected a loose throw and backhanded to prop Chris Hemi who charged over.
 
From the kickoff Silverstream first five Sam Clark retrieved a half-volley pass and glided into a hole, reaching the 22. Silverstream won a penalty and from the tap stretched play to the opposite wing where Raysai dotted down.
 
The halftime score was 19-3 to Silverstream.
 
Silverstream captain and No.8 Like Mannix scored a soft try, breaking a tackle and galloping 20-metres to start the second spell.
 
At this point Town's will was broken and the floodgates opened.
 
Centre Scott Svenson and lock Neyla Masima scored long range solo tries and reserve halfback Swayde Brightwell made the most of his brief appearance by grabbing a double, including the last try which brought up the record score.
 
Christian Stenhouse was the solitary try scorer for Town.
 
Silverstream and Town have played each other annually since the two St Patrick's College’s split in 1931. Silverstream have won 62 matches and Town 19 with five draws.
 
Stream have only lost twice to Town in the annual fixture since 1997 and today achieved their highest score against, Town passing the 50-14 win in 2004.
 
 In 1988, Silverstream beat Town by the same margin of 42 points, but the score was 48-6.
 
Silverstream has completed their 11th Grand Slam, going through their annual traditional matches undefeated. The other seasons in which a Grand Slam occurred were: 1933, 1936, 1937, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1967, 1985, 1988 and 2017.
 
All Scores

• Golf: Town, 3-0
• Badminton: Town, 5-2
• Hockey: Town, 5-3
• Junior Basketball: Town, 88-48
• Senior Basketball: Town, 81-63
• Colts Football: Silverstream, 5-3
• First XI Football: Town, 4-2
• Cross Country: Town
• Colts Rugby: Town, 17-5
• First XV Rugby: Silverstream, 52-10

In the Feilding High School First XV players record every game in a red notebook establishing individual goals for each fixture.
 
Drew Wild has a packed notebook appearing over 70 times for his school. Wild is explicit about his aims in 2018.
 
“We want to win the Central North Island (CNI) and National Co-ed finals. Last year we lost both those games which left a bitter taste,” Wild reveals.
 
Feilding is a strong contender to make the CNI final, topping the competition with a single game remaining.
 
Feilding has won seven out of eight matches accounting for defending champions Wesley College (11-0), National Co-ed champions St Peter's, Cambridge (24-5) and Te Aute College (126-0) - the largest victory in the history of the CNI.
 
“The culture is different from last year. We've established a senior leadership group which means there are more thinkers on the field taking greater accountability for each other. Last year we lost the CNI final after leading 28-11. Not repeating that mistake is a big focus,” Wild observes when reviewing the present state of the team.
 
Feilding did lose their most recent CNI encounter to St Paul’s Collegiate. Wild acknowledges St Paul’s are the strongest team Feilding has played and the school holidays were timely.
 
“St Paul’s are well balanced team, big in the forwards and quick in the backs. We were a little bit flat. It's been an intense term. Hopefully the break will hopefully freshen us up,” Wild observes.
 
There wasn't much respite for Wild personally. The fullback/first-five was selected for the Hurricanes Under-18 camp in Napier.
 
“It was really good camp with so many learnings. The first two days were all theory focusing on good nutrition, life skills and game patterns. On the last two days we were split into two teams for practical trainings,” Wild recounts.
 
Wild said he particularly enjoyed the ‘live scenarios’ and provides an example of such an event.
 
“We would play normally and then the game might stop for a scrum where we had more time than usual to make a move. The coaches were looking for us to execute what we had learned in class or if we were quick enough change on our feet for a positive outcome.”
 
One scenario Wild would like to change is the infrequent meetings between the Feilding and Palmerston North Boys’ High School. The last time the local rivals met was in Napier in 2015. Wild took part and present Highlanders wing Jonah Nareki scored two tries in a 25-15 Feilding win.
 
“We offered them eight dates and they refused them all. All the boys want it. I'm not sure exactly who refuses it, but it's a shame,” Wild complains.
 
Wild wasn’t complaining in 2016 when Feilding beat Aorere College, Auckland in the National co-ed final, a game which he identifies as his favourite at Feilding.
 
Wild is an accomplished sevens player, in March named the player of the tournament  at the Sir Gordon Tijetjens 7s tournament.
 
In addition to rugby Wild (originally from Bulls) is interested in building and hunting. He has signed with the Manawatu Turbos for the next two seasons.
 
The Central North Island competition concludes next term. For more information click here:

Isolation is proving no barrier for Azalleyah Maaka.

The Year 13 Gisborne Girls’ High School student is flying the flag for the Heartland provinces in the New Zealand U18 Women’s sevens team.

She is also just one of three players - along with Dhys Faleafaga from St Mary’s College, Wellington, and Kalyn Takitimu-Cook from Manaukura, Palmerston North - from the Hurricanes region selected in  New Zealand’s first sevens team to attend the Youth Olympic Games later this year in Argentina.

Emotions ran high in the Maaka household on the day last month when she found out she had made the team. “I was overwhelmed after being selected for the Youth Olympics,” she said. “The first person that found out was my mum; she read the email as I was pretty nervous!”

Right now she is training hard throughout the school holidays. “At the moment I am training twice a day four times a week, that is just on my own as we don’t have rugby trainings yet and they start up when school starts back up.”

Azalleyah’s comparative isolation from regular strong competition and being apart from all of her U18s teammates is an extra challenge she is embracing.  

Many of her teammates elsewhere such as the trio of Hamilton Girls’ High School players selected train and play together, and others such as recently awarded Papatoetoe Rugby Club Women’s Player of the Year Riscshay Lemanu and Faleafaga who scored three tries in a five minute burst for her Norths club on Saturday have regular competition playing 15s rugby.
​
Azalleyah is looking forward to meeting up with her New Zealand’s teammates before the team flies out to Buenos Aries in early October. In April she travelled to Sydney in April with the squad to win the Oceania qualifying tournament. 

She has been playing sevens for just over two years and predominantly just plays sevens owing to fewer matches in Poverty Bay and no local women’s club rugby competition.
​
Azalleyah’s Gisborne Girls’ High School and Lytton High School are the two rival girls rugby schools and three weeks ago and a week after Azalleyah’s selection in the New Zealand team, they met in the Ngati Porou East Coast Secondary School Girls’ final.

Lytton prevailed 31-24 after opening up a five try lead, only for Azalleyah and Gisborne Girls’ High School to launch a furious fightback and close the gap.

The two schools will be hoping to qualify for the Condor 7s again this year in early December.

“We came ninth last year; we just missed out on beating Christchurch Girls’ High School. That was our second Condors and the year before we came about 16th.”

Following Condors, Azalleyah played for the New Zealand U17 Girls team that won the second annual World Sevens tournament, beating the Australian Schoolgirls 20-19 in the final.

In January she was selected for the Poverty Bay Women’s side that competed in the National Provincial Sevens in Rotorua for the first time.

Following that, Azalleyah and Gisborne Girls’ High School teammate Te Maiora Olsen-Baker were invited as two of 28 players to attend the U18 trials in Wellington and Azalleyah was selected for the Oceania Tournament from there.

This is her third year playing rugby. “I used to play Rippa when I was little but then I stopped when I moved to Gisborne. My friends started playing, so I started playing again that way.”

As well as her father, former Ngati Porou East Coast midfielder Tojo Maaka, another person that helped introduce Azalleyah to rugby was local sports legend Trish Hina.

Hina has represented her country in four sports – rugby, rugby league, softball and Touch. She was the New Zealand Women’s Rugby League Player of the Year in 2000 – the year Azalleyah was born – and won the 2010 Women’s World Cup with the Black Ferns rugby union team.

Azalleyah also thanks her strength and conditioning coach Zara from the Poverty Bay union for helping her train and prepare for a big few months ahead.

She also plays netball for her school “anywhere on the court except for shooter” and also social Touch. “When I was younger I used to play everything.”

The Youth Olympics will be her fourth trip overseas playing rugby.

“I went to Japan and New Caledonia on trips with the Pakiea team here in Gisborne. I enjoyed experiencing the culture in those places as well as playing the rugby.”

Azalleyah’s dream is to make the Black Ferns in the future, and sees current national sevens captain Sarah Goss as a rugby role model.

For nutrition, she’s a fan of chicken and rice and P.E and maths are her favourite school subjects.

She is unsure what she will do next year after leaving school “I will just go with the flow and see what happens.” There is a high chance that whatever she does will be rugby or sports related.

​Christchurch Boys’ High School, St Bede’s College and Christ’s College contributed a combined total of 32 players to the Crusaders Knights representative camp and wider training group this week.
 
With three rounds remaining in the UC Championship, Lincoln Combined are the other team in the Top Four. Lincoln has won eight of their 10 matches this season, including six in a row.
 
Second five-eighth Wil Gualter was Lincoln’s only pick.
 
How does Gualter explain such a vast imbalance?
 
“It would’ve been nice to have more Lincoln boys involved, but I guess a lot of our players are new to the competition and aren’t as well known as the established schools,” Gualter responds.
 
Lincoln Combined was founded last year and in 2018 consists of 21 players from Lincoln High School, six from the Ellesmere region and four from Darfield, a 45-minute drive from the team’s training venue. Last year a player from Akaroa Area School, over an hour away, was involved.
 
How do the boys make it work?
 
“Pride and passion is what we're all about. It’s a big opportunity for country boys to play in the UC Championship. We want to make the most of it,” Gualter answers.
 
“We have 31 boys in the squad, which creates a bit of competition for places. We’re lucky to be coached by Michael ‘Critter’ Wilson who has a lot of experience in senior rugby in the Banks Peninsula. Our manager is Juan Shalfoon a really organised ex-Army man,” Gualter continued.
 
Lincoln trains on Tuesday and Thursday with an exception the players do their own fitness work.
 
In their first competition match, Lincoln was narrowly beaten 12-13 by Rangiora High School, a defeat which left a bitter taste.
 
“We felt we should have won the Rangiora game and didn’t. Afterwards we stressed to never forget the feeling of disappointment from that loss. It’s been a big driver mentally,” Gualter reveals.

Lincoln has beaten each of the previous two UC Championship runners up, Shirley Boys’ High School (20-18) and Timaru Boys’ High School (11-0). Additionally St Thomas of Canterbury College were pipped (25-24) and all three combined outfits Aoraki (26-13), Mid Canterbury (34-7), Waimea (40-21) were tamed.  
 
“We’re not the biggest team, but we like to think were fit and play with a lot of agility, smarts and ticker,” Gualter shares of the Lincoln approach.
 
Gualter identifies the 23-10 win over Marlborough Boys’ College in Blenheim as a benchmark performance.
 
“We really clicked that day. It was a real competitive game against a big pack, but I felt like the boys weren’t going to lose,” Gualter acclaims.
 
Gualter scored two tries in the 19-15 win over St Andrew’s College. Others to have thrived this season include flanker Blair Ryall, wing Callum Murdoch, hooker Jack Knewstubb and halfback Robert Sporke.
 
Lincoln have a tough road to the semi-finals travelling to top five sides St Bede’s College, Christchurch Boys’ High School and Nelson College in the final rounds.
 
Lincoln, who won six games last year, actually beat St Bede’s College (15-10) on April 29, 2017, but St Bede’s are significantly improved in 2018.  
 
Combined sides are not eligible to challenge for the Moascar Cup. Regardless of the outcome of the Christchurch versus Nelson fixture on July 28, Lincoln would have been guaranteed a challenge if that rule didn’t exist.
 
“I’m a bit on the fence about the Moascar thing, but it’s beyond our control. We just want to keep proving out point and winning,” Gualter concludes.
 
Christchurch Boys’ High School, with a perfect record thus far, are guaranteed a semi-final, but with only nine points separating fourth and 11th plenty of movement is guaranteed after the mid-term break.

Are Christchurch Boys’ the team to beat in the South Island?
 
Christchurch Boys’ High School are the new holders of the Trustbank Cup after defeating Otago Boys’ High School in their 102nd annual traditional fixture at Linfield Park.
 
In bright, sunny conditions the home team prevailed 26-23 to capture the Ranfurly Shield of South Island secondary schools rugby for the first time since 2014.
 
Converted tries five minutes either side of halftime was the telling difference in a compelling and high quality affair.
 
Down 5-11, Christchurch went to the interval one ahead when Louie Chapman touched down under the sticks following a short side bust and classy black-flip pass by Ollie Lewis.
 
Christchurch stretched their advantage further when Lewis dummied and muscled over from close range.
 
The Christchurch forwards struck a purple patch and bustling prop Ben Lopas slammed the ball down under the black dot to make it 26-11 after 50 minutes.
 
Initially Otago started brightly and almost scored in the opening minute when Josiah Lesa lunged for the corner, but was tackled out by Cullen Moody.
 
Otago wouldn’t have to wait long to break the stalemate though. Harry Hansen barged through to make it 5-0 in the fourth minute. The conversion attempt of Isaak Tehiwi hit the post and rebounded wide.
 
Considerably smaller, Christchurch played expansively and often with tremendous speed, skill and ambition. Turnovers from isolation were more frequent than desired, but with risk comes reward.
 
Clean breaks from Cullen, Chapman and Lewis netted no profit, but a quick tap from a penalty by Chapman caught the visitors napping and Kaa registered Christchurch’s first try.
 
Tehiwi was successful with two penalties beyond 30-metres, but two piercing runs from Reuben Wairau yielded no reward as the momentum turned in favour of the UC Champions.
 
Down 26-11, Otago’s bench added some punch and Lesa was able to close the gap to ten points with as many minutes to play.
 
Christchurch’s defense generally held firm as Otago finished much the stronger. An intercept try from halfway by Lesa was the final play.
 
Chapman recently celebrated 50 matches for the First XV and illustrated why he was a New Zealand Barbarians selection in 2017. His all around display was imperious. Lopas, Mitch Hay and Corban Harding were tireless and effective forwards.
 
Otago's best were Hansen, Taylor Dale, Jesse Vaafusuaga and Wairau.
 
Christchurch is celebrating its first win against Otago in the traditional since a 34-10 triumph in Dunedin in 2013. Overall Christchurch has won 54 times, Otago 46 with two draws in 1974 (7-7) and 1947 (13-13). A remarkable 39 contests have been decided by seven points or less.
 
Meanwhile on Monday, Nelson College retained the Moascar Cup for the 14th time with a 27-3 win over Shirley Boys’ High School. Nelson hosts St Thomas of Canterbury College in another defense on Saturday and if successful will have to topple Christchurch Boys’ High School on July 28 to keep the coveted trophy for the summer. Christchurch holds the record for most defences of the Moascar Cup with 22.
 
Otago are unbeaten in their local First XV competition having won the top of the table clash against John McGlashan College 25-10 on Saturday to briefly reclaim the Trustbank Cup.
 
Teams
 
Christchurch BHS (1-21): Ben Lopas, Henry Craw, George Roysmith, Sam Taylor, Harri Langworthy, Mitch Hay, Thomas Schmack, Corban Harding, Louie Chapman, Cullen Moody, Brigham Riwai-Couch, Ollie Lewis, Tahu Kaa, Yoji Yabe, Max Hughes, Clayden Paranihi, Tom Woelders, Austin Hewitt, Rusi Samuelu, Taine Lanyon
 
Otago BHS (1-22): Marika Parker, Harry Hansen, Tevita Pole, Oliver Haig, Taylor Dale, Nick Washington, Jesse Vaafusuaga, Oliver Griffin, James Arscott, Tevita Asi, Josiah Lesa, Reuben Wairau, Jake Tehiwi, Max Brown, Isaak Tehiwi, Hillary Takau, Zhaviar Wollet, Levi Turoa, Zion Niha, Michael Manson, Tylar Diack.
 
Full Exchange Results

• 1st XV Rugby: CBHS, 26-23
• 2nd XV Rugby: OBHS, 22-10
• U15 Rugby: CBHS, 38-21
• 1st XI Football: CBHS, 2-1
• 1st XI Hockey: CBHS, 3-0
• Basketball: CBHS, 94-86
• Golf: OBHS 3.5 - 2.5
• Trapshooting: CBHS, 249-231
• Squash: OBHS, 3-2