This year is the fifth edition of the Girls Top 4 rugby competition in Palmerston North. Testament to the current growth in the girls’ game, two new teams will be represented for the first time – St Mary’s College (Hurricanes) and Kaipara College (Blues). Like the boys and co-ed tournaments down the road at Massey University, the girls competition at CET Arena, is played over two days. On Friday, Kaipara College plays last year’s beaten finalists Southland Girls’ High School in one semi-final and defending champions Hamilton Girls’ High School and St Mary’s meet in the other. The teams return on Sunday with the winners from day one playing in the final and the losers meeting in a third and fourth placed playoff matchKaipara College won the North Harbour 10-a-side Championship for the third successive year, beating a combined Glenfield/Hato Petera combination 42-10 in the final, extending their undefeated run to 28 games. This achievement meant Kaipara was able to challenge the best in Auckland for a chance to represent the Blues Region this weekend. Last Friday they travelled to Southern Cross Campus to take on the reigning Auckland Champions. The match was a tight affair, with Southern Cross starting strongly and scoring the first try to lead 5-0. Kaipara then battled back against the wind, gaining field position to equalise, before working the ball wide to create the try to take the lead 10-5. The offensive highlight of the first half was when Anna Steele pounced on a loose ball from a Southern Cross knock-on, to run 65 metres to score under the posts. This try was converted by Sophie Fisher to make the score 17-5. It then required a great deal of tenacious defence by Kaipara to hold out against the much bigger Southern Cross team. Despite them scoring two more tries, Kaipara was able to hold on for a narrow, but well-deserved 17-15 victory. Coach Callum Finlay acknowledged that this is a fantastic result for the girls and it is a huge honour to be the first North Harbour secondary school to ever qualify for the four 4 Tournament. This achievement is a reflection of all the hard work and commitment the girls have put in over the past two years. Kaipara’s team has several up and coming players, with North Harbour Women’s NPC wing and co-captain Rina Paraone key amongst them. The Kaipara College squad is: Madi Wells (co-captain), Rina Paraone(Co-captain), Sativa Tarau-Peehikuru(co-Captain), Malia Hemehema, Jazelle Hemehema, Anna Steele, Carissa Mansell-Sawyers, Zoe Mansell-Sawyers, Georgia Logan, Caitlyn Cox, Lauryn Rhind, Sydney Topine, Sophie Fisher, Aleiscia Phillips, Jamie Allen, Ngahuia Pike, Hailey Beale and Merenia Paraone. Top 4 Girls schedule at CET Arena, Palmerston North Friday 2 September: 12.00pm Kaipara College vs. Southland Girls’ High School 2.00pm Hamilton Girls’ High School vs. St Mary’s College Sunday 4 September 2016 10.00am Play-off for 3rd and 4th 12.00pm Final 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 So far just two schools have won the Girls Top 4 rugby tournament since its inception in 2012. Feilding High School won the first two and Hamilton Girls’ High School were crowned winners in 2014 and 2015, and this weekend the Hamilton school returns to Palmerston North hoping to retain the Hine Pounamu RugbyGIRL Trophy. Representing the Chiefs region, Hamilton Girls’ High School are joined in the Girls Top 4 by Southland Girls’ High School (Highlanders/Crusaders) and first time qualifiers Kaipara College (Blues) and St Mary’s College (Hurricanes). The format sees Hamilton Girls’ High School and St Mary’s College meet in one semi-final on Friday and Southland Girls’ High School and Kaipara College play in the other. The teams return on Sunday with the winners from day one playing in the Final to decide the 2016 National Champion and the losers meeting in a third and fourth placed playoff match. Hamilton Girls’ High School has been playing in the Waikato Secondary Schoolgirls competition this year. Coach Dean Devcich explained the team’s recent path to the Top 4. “We beat Te Awamutu College in the Waikato final to advance to the Chiefs final. This was the third time we had played Te Awamutu this season after narrowly winning both round-robin fixtures. The final was a different story - played on home turf the girls were well prepared for finals rugby and ran out eventual winners 72-0. The forward pack laid a strong platform and [centre] Jazmin Hotham scored five tries. “This put us through to play Tauranga Girls’ College in the Chiefs final, whom we had lost to in a traditional fixture between the schools a few weeks prior. On that occasion Tauranga beat our girls up at ruck time and we eventually got tipped up in a close match 22-25. “However, our players prepared well this time and after another keenly contested match we came out victors, with Jazmin Hotham again staring with good support from Rianna Aspinal.” Dean said that Hamilton is re-building this year after recent successes. “We have several Year 10s and 11s. It is probably a 50/50 split between players returning from last year and new players coming in, so to make it to the Top 4 is a huge honour and is payback for this group of girls who have worked so hard to get this far.” Dean noted that Hamilton has few expectations on what the other sides will bring this year. “The new teams that have qualified is great for the competition. All we know is that as a playing and coaching group we will be leaving no stone unturned and the tank will be empty at the end of each game regardless of the result. “The support from the school has been immense with Marie Gordon our Principal often being a keen spectator and supporter. Marie has supported the Rugby here at HGHS with passion and pride and the girls would love nothing else than to not only go all the way for themselves but also for Marie and to represent their school to a high level.” The Hamilton Girls’ High School squad is: Rianna Aspinal, Lena Mitchell, Ana Teokotai, Litara Allan, Ali Mills, Nyesha Hamilton, Tara Kingin, Agnus Solofa, Kiana Beattie, Calista Wihone, Muri Martell, Jazmin Hotham, Keely Jennings, Kelly Forward, Kiriana Nolan, Daniella Shepard, Riria McFayden, Stephanie Lualua, Katie Hunia.
30/8/2016
National Top Four Boys PreviewWho is the best First XV in New Zealand schoolboy rugby? The answer to this question will be resolved at the Rugby Institute in Palmerston North this Sunday when the 34th annual tourney occurs. Here is a breakdown of the four contenders. Blues - Mount Albert Grammar School Mount Albert Grammar School went 17-0 the season they last attended and won the National Top Four in 2010. Hurricanes lock Michael Fatialofa was the captain. MAGS won their 23rd 1A title this season taming Sacred Heart College 15-13 in the final. MAGS was the only team to beat Sacred Heart this season. In 13 1A games MAGS scored an impressive 75 tires. MAGS are spearheaded by a huge and mobile pack, but have the backs to play expansively to. Key players include: Robert Cobb (prop), Waimana Reidlinger-Kapa (lock), Isaiah Papalii (openside/midfield) and Niven Longopoa (fullback). Papalii scored 12 tries in 1A, Longopoa 11. MAGS record in all games this season reads: 17 wins, 1 defeat, Points scored: 688, Points Against: 144. Chiefs - Hamilton BHS Since 2003, Hamilton have won 242 out of 288 games, including the National Top Four on four occasions. Hamilton didn't win the Super 8 for the first time since 2011, but won the Chiefs Cup and battled past St. John's College (32-29), New Plymouth BHS (36-10) and Rotorua BHS (26-24) so they are definitely the strongest team in their region. Hamilton have won 18 out of 22 games and that includes a five-match tour of the UK. Hamilton is a well balanced team, but lacks the potency of former sides. Still expect nothing less than a very competitive showing. Hamilton's key players include: Austin Pepperell (Prop), Quinn Tupaea (centre), Rameka Pohipi (10/12) and Patrick McCurran (No.8). Hurricanes - Hastings BHS Hastings BHS have been a rampant juggernaut this season. They have won all 17 games and their closest win in 2016 has been a 22-7 victory against Gisborne BHS at the Rectory, historically one of the hardest places to win in First XV rugby. Hastings beat Wellington College 40-14 in the Hurricanes final, but led 33-0 after 40 minutes. Hastings have an abrasive and dynamic forward pack and serious speed out wide. They are extremely clinical at set-piece and especially dangerous on turnover ball. Folau Fakatava and Lincoln McClutchie combine beautifully at halfback and first-five, fullback Danny Toala is a livewire and an accurate goal-kicker. He has slotted 17 goals from his last 21 attempts while prop Kianu Kereru-Symes and No.8 Devan Flanders are among the leaders in the forward pack. South Island - Southland BHS The last time Southland Boys' won the South Island title and advanced to the National Top Four finals was in 2003.That day captain and prop Jamie Mackintosh scored three tries as Southland Boys' beat Christchurch Boys' 25-15 in the 2003 final. Current co-coach David Hall was also part of a Southland BHS team to play in the national top four tournament. Hall's coaching partner, Peter Skelt, was the SBHS first XV coach in 1997 when Hall played in the top four finals in Auckland. Can Southland become the first team since Christchurch BHS in 2006 to win the big dance? Southland's overall record of 13-7 suggests they are only an average side, but Southland are far from it. They went 7-6 in the Dunedin Premier Colts competition which features several 21-year olds and 80 minute matches. Otago lost two games in the last minute at the National Top Four in 2015 playing in the same competition. Southland won their interschool matches convincingly against Otago BHS, Waitaki BHS, King's HS and John McGlashan College. Last Saturday Southland trounced Christchurch BHS 41-20 at Straven Road, despite the fact it was 24-20 in the second-half. Southland boats a tough forward pack, but Southland isn't short of backs who can sparkle. Their key players include: Flynn Thomas (hooker), Kaleb Talamahina (fullback), Logan Jones (No.8) and Jay Renton (halfback). The Program Friday 2 September 1.10pm - Mount Albert GS vs. Southland BHS - Televised 2.55pm - Hamilton BHS vs. Hastings BHS - Televised Sunday 4 September National 1st XV Championship – Finals 1.10pm - Play-off for 3rd and 4th 2.55pm - Final Televised A group of secondary school girls are involved in the nine provincial squads in this year’s Farah Palmer Cup Women’s NPC rugby competition. The Farah Palmer Cup is now into its fourth week. This week College Sport Media caught up with Bay of Plenty Volcanix squad member Parekura Whareaorere (Te Puke High School). Name: Parekura Whareaorere Secondary School: Te Puke High School Women’s NPC squad: Bay of Plenty Volcanix Playing position (s): Lock, Flanker College Sport Media: When did you start playing rugby? Parekura Whareaorere: My first involvement with rugby was through school when I was a year 10, aged 14. I didn't know anything about the game except from what my friends said about it. I was eager to be part of the Girl's 1st XV Rugby team. At first I couldn't get my head around the game and didn’t understand the rules at all. It was all confusing. However, with the knowledge and support from my Koro (Grandfather) my understanding of the game progressed over time. Two years later I began to get noticed by the BoP selectors. CSM: Do you play XVs rugby for your school or a club team or both? PW: I played for both school and club. For school we played in the BoP competition where we faced other school teams in the Bay. It was very challenging for my school team in this year’s competition, as we had a lot of young players who had never played rugby before. Me and a couple of other girls however did have a bit of experience and I'd like to say we helped our young team mates better their knowledge about the game and encourage them to continue playing rugby. This was my first year playing for a club (Rangiuru) and it was a huge step up from secondary schools rugby! It was a lot more physical. However I really enjoyed the culture of women's rugby and the physicality. Rangiuru did well for our first time in this BoP Women's competition and third was a great success. CSM: What’s a memorable rugby moment? PW: When I was selected for the BoP Women's Sevens rugby team in 2015, my Koro kept telling me that if I keep up training I could go all the way. He saw the potential in me that I couldn't. The encouragement I received from him after being selected drove me to be better and take those steps up the ladder. After I was selected in the Volcanix team I felt that this was the next step up from the BoP U18's Secondary School's team and the opening to the Black Ferns. CSM: Do you also play Sevens rugby and have you competed in the Condor Sevens? PW: Yes, I play Sevens and last year (2015) my school team, Te Puke High School competed in the Condors and placed third. CSM: Do you or have you played other sports as well: PW: I used to play netball and was selected in a Bop U15's netball team. I also played for my school. However, netball took a lot of commitment and time so eventually I had to choose either rugby or netball. So I chose rugby. I was also involved in Waka Ama for my school and we competed in the Secondary School's Waka Ama National's. CSM: Do you have rugby or sporting role models that you respect or aspire to emulate? PW: Portia Woodman is definitely my idol and the woman I look up to. CSM: What would you say to other school girls hesitant to try rugby? PW: To keep playing because the more you play the more understanding you will get about the game and the more you will love it. 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 At least one Southland school will be flying the flag for the South Island schools at the National Top Four rugby tournament at Palmerston North from 2-4 September.
Southland Girls’ High School comfortably defeated Motueka High School on Saturday to claim the South Island berth for the Top Four Girls tournament. They could also be joined by Southland Boys’ High School, who play Crusaders region champion Christchurch Boys’ High School this Saturday. Southland Girls claimed their fifth consecutive South Island title with a convincing 57-18 win over Tasman’s Motueka High School in neutral Oamaru. Vice-captain Alena Saili scored a hat-trick of tries and Emma Hopcroft and Brooke Churstain two each in the nine tries to three win. Southland led 26-10 at halftime. Motueka had qualified for the final after earlier beating Christchurch Girls High School 49-17 in the Crusaders region final. Southland Girls coach Nathan Muir said the win over Motueka was good reward for his team. "We’re really pleased with the way we played as a team,” he said. “We are trying to play an up-tempo game with our players making the right decisions for what the opposition is showing us. We were happy that we were able to achieve this for large parts of the game. "Scoring first after halftime was important to us, we discussed as a team at halftime that if Motueka were first to score after halftime and their forwards got a roll on that they would get back in the game. "We’re very proud of the girls, we have won the South Island title every year since its inception and every year we talk about meeting that expectation and so far every year the team has responded. We are really looking forward to heading back to Top Four again." Last year Southland beat Hurricanes qualifier Feilding High School in their semi-final and lost to Chiefs team Hamilton Girls’ High School in the final. Ten players are returning to Southland’s team from last year. Southland will play the Blues qualifier on the opening day of the Top Four tournament. This will be either North Harbour’s Kaipara College or Auckland’s Southern Cross Campus who meet on Saturday. Yesterday, Southern Cross defeated Otahuhu College 15-12 in the Auckland final. Scoreboard: Southland Girls High School 57 (Alena Saili 3, Emma Hopcroft 2, Brooke Churstain 2, Kendall Buckingham, Molly Wheeley tries; Lauren Christie 6 con) beat Motueka High School 18 (Tangiwai Koopu, Hannah Beech, Nike Schofer tries; Risaleanna Pouri-Lane pen) The Southland Girls High School squad is: Kendall Buckingham (c), Alena Saili (vc), Kayla Brocks, Rebecca Peseta, Simone Caughey, Kate Cochrane, Ariana Te-Whata, Jess Dermody, Libby Napier, Bree Thomas, Emma Dermody, Jaidene Marshall, Makenzie Bates, Sipa Saili, Millie Robert, Molly Wheeley, Alice Chamberlain, Amy du Plessis, Lauren Christie, Bridget Carleton, Emma Hopcroft, Siobhan Hazlett, Brooke Churstain, Devon Grey, Shakoia Tonihi
20/8/2016
Christchurch Boys High on cloud 9Christchurch Boys' High School have won the UC Championship for the ninth time denying Shirley Boys' High School of a maiden title by one point as they did in 2003. It was cracking final played in front of a huge crowd in lush conditions at Rugby Park. Two thrilling tries scored by Christchurch winger Atu Manu just before and just after halftime proved to be the telling difference. In the 34th minute Christchurch was down 10-6 and had a scrum 30-metres out from their own line. First-Five Alex Harford threw a 20-metre skip pass to centre Matt Jensen who glided into a hole. Jensen linked with Manu who shoved off the last defender and sprinted 30-metres to finish. Early in the second-half Jensen broke from his own 22 and distributed to Manu who bagged his 14th try of the season. Both sides made an apprehensive start and penalties were traded in the first fifteen minutes. Harford scored first for Christchurch and Taine Jacobs-Lawson responded for Shirley. Shirley was able to create trouble for Christchurch when their forwards run hard and directly close to the ruck. No.8 and Man of the Match Cruz Topai-Aveai was unstoppable at times and in the 24th minute he bullied his way into the Christchurch 22 before passing to second-five Logan Bell. Bell was tackled short of the line, but managed to rise swiftly to his feet regain the ball and burrow over. Fifteen minutes into the second-half Shirley was down 16-10, but put together repeat phases allowing reserve flanker McGregor Best to crash over. Christchurch retaliated when No.8 Zachary Wilson scored an outstanding individual try dashing 25-metres on the wing. He beat multiple defenders and scored a try he had no right to. Bell celebrating his 50th match for Shirley scored his second try with about 10 minutes to go. He drove low through traffic to make it 21-20. Unfortunately the conversion from a relatively handy position drifted wide of the target. It would be the last scoring chance for either team. There wasn't a bad player on the field, but others to really shine included Ewan Milnes (3) and Ben Donkers (7) for Christchurch. Glen Beardsley (7), Josh Archer (2) and Boris van Bruchem (5) were excellent for Shirley. Christchurch finish the UC Championship with a record of 14 wins in 16 games. They scored 94 tries and will tackle Southland BHS in the South Island final next Saturday for a place at the National Top Four. In Invercargill, Southland halted John McGlashan's winning run of 19 games prevailing 31-17 in the Highlanders final. 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
20/8/2016
MAGS claim 23rd, 1A Rugby TitleMount Albert Grammar School: 15 (Waimana Reidlinger-Kapa, Isaiah Papalii tries; Niven Longopoa 1 con, 1 pen) Sacred Heart College: 13 (Melino Huihui’Uia try; George Witana 1 pen, Ben Engels 1 con, 1 pen) Mount Albert Grammar School have won their 23rd 1A Auckland title, edging Sacred Heart College 15-13 in a torrid and tense decider at Eden Park. Sacred Heart's title drought is extended to 52 years, but they almost produced a miracle play to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. In the last minute MAGS big pack cradled the ball in tight and cautiously advanced inside the Sacred Heart 22. A fumble was made by MAGS and Scared Heart slung it wide. Reserve Terry Ponga dashed 60-metres and was caught 15-metres shy of the MAGS goal line. Despite being isolated, Ponga recycled cleanly and Sacred Heart stretched to the opposite touchline. Prop Fatongia Paea charged to within five-meters of the line, drawing in two defenders. He attempted to offload to the unmarked winger, but the ball squirted forward. MAGS won the defensive scrum and kicked the ball out to terminate time. As a spectacle it was a match with few genuinely exciting moments. MAGS played a very direct forwards orientated game, but tough defense by Sacred Heart and basic handling errors often hampered MAGS momentum. It took 20 minutes for the first points to be scored. A penalty goal was kicked by Sacred Heart First-Five George Witana after a 20-metre burst by sprightly halfback Taufa Funaki. Two line breaks by slippery MAGS fullback Niven Longopoa resulted in no profit, but a bustling run by halfback Salyn Tonu'u moments before halftime sent Sacred Heart into retreat. MAGS scored the first try when lock and Captain Waimana Reidlinger-Kapa broke two tackles and stretched out. Down 7-3, Sacred Heart enjoyed their best period of the match immediately after the break. Hooker Joseph Casey rumbled into the MAGS 22 and quick hands down the short side saw winger Melino Huihui’Uia cross unopposed. Fullback Ben Engels converted from near the sideline and it was 10-7 to Sacred Heart. From the kick-off Sacred Heart blindside Iosefo Masoe made a storming 50-metre run and Engels doubled Sacred Heart's advantage with a successful penalty kick. Cheekily Longopoa dribbled the ball just over the ten-metre line and reclaimed possession as Sacred Heart was stationed for a deep restart. A penalty was conceded at the ruck and Longopoa made it 13-10. MAGS mauling from lineouts was outstanding. They frequently shoved Sacred Heart 20-metres backwards and the maul was the source of the winning try. Initially openside Isaiah Papalii broke and chipped ahead towards the Sacred Heart goal line. Sacred Heart managed to clear to the 22, but MAGS pushed hard again and Papalii barged his way over with about ten minutes to go. MAGS controlled territory and often forced Sacred Heart to kick. MAGS win wasn't pretty, but it was brutally effective. Props Robert Cobb and Michael Palmer enjoyed top games, Papalii became very influential and Tonu'u controlled things nicely, often causing trouble when he ran. For Sacred Heart openside Jack McHugh enhanced his growing reputation, No.8 Hoskins Sotutu had some vibrant moments, second-five AJ Kepaoa was rock solid on defense and Witana used what little ball he had effectively. MAGS will play the winner of Westlake BHS v Whangarei BHS for a place in the National Top Four. MAGS have won the top four twice in 1982 and 2010. 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 The make-up of the National Secondary Schoolgirls Top Four tournament in Palmerston North from 2-4 September is becoming clearer. Tonight at Jerry Collins Stadium, St Mary’s College defeated Aotea College 27-10 at Jerry Collins Stadium in Porirua in a hard fought and exciting Wellington final. The first half was dominated by big hits and super competitive close-quarter play, before the St Mary’s backs sparkled in the second half to break Aotea’s defence out wide through their fast running and savvy kicking game. St Mary’s College go on to play Feilding High School in the Hurricanes region final in Palmerston North on Saturday 27 August. In the Blues region final, North Harbour’s Kaipara College will meet either Otahuhu College or Southern Cross Campus who contest the Auckland final next Monday. Bay of Plenty winner Tauranga Girls’ College and either Hamilton Girls’ High School or Tokoroa College (played today ) from the Waikato will battle for Chiefs supremacy this Saturday. Also this Saturday, Crusaders region winner Motueka High School and Highlanders champions Southland Girls’ High School will meet in Oamaru to decide the South Island School that will represent the South Island at the Top Four tournament. 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
15/8/2016
Busy Boy – Taine WattieThere wouldn’t be many schoolboy sportsmen in New Zealand busier than Taine Wattie from Rosmini College. The North Harbour age group rugby and basketball representative trains 12 times a week with the First XV and First V basketball teams. All winter Wattie has been playing basketball on a Friday night and rugby on a Saturday afternoon. Rosmini were the defending 1A rugby champions heading into the semi-finals against Massey High School on the weekend. Despite beating Massey twice in the round-robin, Rosmini stumbled 13-11. Obviously the defeat is a disappointment, but Wattie achieved plenty in rugby. The robust midfielder helped Rosmini win their first championship since 2009 last season when they toppled Westlake Boys’ High School 13-12 in the final. “That was a great moment. Westlake had the wood on us during the season, but to tip them over in the final was awesome. To be honest I didn’t see much of the ball that night. Our forwards kept it pretty tight. It was like 76 pick and goes to 10, but I didn’t care,” Wattie fondly recalls. Another highlight was this season’s 15-13 victory over Westlake on Land Rover First XV rugby. Connor Leather kicked all five penalties. “The matches against Westlake are always really close and intense. Any win against them is awesome,” Wattie says. Wattie’s dad is a representative league coach and the 13-man code is where Taine’s immediate future after school resides. “I have played league most of my life. I will be involved with the Warriors next year. Rugby means a lot at Rosmini and I wanted to be a part of it. Mum wouldn’t let me play in Year 11, but she did in Year 12 and I have really enjoyed it,” Wattie says. Rugby finishing doesn’t provide any respite for Wattie. This Friday he will be a key figure in the Premier Auckland basketball semi-final against Westlake Boys’ High School. Wattie has been a point guard in the schools’ top team for three years and has seen a seismic change in the culture of the side. “We didn’t have a good season last year. A few boys turned up late or not at all to training. Dave McKay has come in as coach and he has made a huge difference,” Wattie explains. National Champions in 2011, Rosmini started in ropey fashion dropping games against Mount Albert Grammar School (twice) and 2015 National Champions Rangitoto College. McKay shaking things up and Wattie finding fire soon reversed Rosmini’s fortunes. Rosmini have won ten games in a row. They beat Rangitoto 82-75 with Wattie scoring 15 points. Twice they have overcome Westlake 71-63 and 98-89. The latter game went to extra time and Wattie top-scored with 23 points. “The wins against Westlake have been great. We have played some great ball, but to win on Friday night we will have to shut down their key players. James Moors scored 37 against us last time and I don’t think he can score that many again,” Wattie believes. Wattie was also the top scorer in the win against Kelston BHS contributing 30 points. He helped the Harbour U17’s win the National title last year and was a member of the U19 side this year. His attributes in basketball include speed, precise passing and accurate shooting. The other semi-final features Rangitoto College against Auckland Grammar School. P.S. Wattie has also represented New Zealand at age group level in touch.
15/8/2016
The Wood on Otago at last...April 30, 2016, the Otago Boys' High School second XV is poised to beat the John McGlashan College First XV. In the first game of the Southern Wide Real Estate First XV competition scores are tied 24-24 with a minute to play. Otago has a scrum five-metres out from the McGlashan line. McGlashan lock Woody Kirkwood explains what happened next. "We pushed really hard in the scrum realising the importance of the situation. We managed to win a tighthead and score a length of the field try. Our prop Reon Lowery got it," he says. McGlashan wins 29-24, but the prospect of a fixture against the Otago First XV at this stage of the season seems insurmountable. Otago's Firsts are South Island champions three times in the last four years and went 60 interschool matches unbeaten in their region, thrashing McGlashan 55-0 in 2014. McGlashan recovered from their shaky start to clean up the Southern Wide Real Estate competition for a second straight year. They beat Waitaki BHS 23-0 in the final to go through unbeaten in 14 games. Impressively they scored 120 tries with loose-forward Rory Ferguson scoring 26 of them, including a run of four hat-tricks in a row! McGlashan passed fifty points against eight weak opponents, but still battled to beat Otago second's 16-0 in the semi-final. By contrast Otago firsts beat Press Cup leaders Christ's College (41-0) and Christchurch BHS (43-19) in traditional fixtures. Southland BHS were dispatched (35-12) in the Dunedin Colts competition. Saturday's Highlanders regional playoff between McGlashan (the top school team) and Otago (the second ranked of the two school teams in the Colts grade) on the above evidence appeared like it would be a mere formality for Otago, Kirkwood disagrees. "We went in with the mentality they are the same as us. They have two arms and two legs just like us. If you look at their results against King's and Waitaki they weren't dissimilar to ours so we took confidence from that. We knew if we could start well, we could challenge them." Despite being forced to defend early, McGlashan did start well. They held Otago out and took a 10-0 lead after 18 minutes when Lowery scored a converted try after a series of pick and goes, adding to an earlier penalty. Kirkwood sensed Otago was rattled. "We knew we had to drive low in hard to tackle the big boys and we did that. They didn't seem like the normal Otago Boys' team. They started to make mistakes and get very annoyed with themselves, us and the referee." Otago's problems grew larger in the second-half. McGlashan first five-eighth Luke Jarvie poached an intercept and ran 80-metres to score a converted try to make it 17-0. "We started to believe at this point. The crowd at Logan Park started getting noisy and that spurred us on even when things got harder," Kirkwood says. Despite conceding a yellow card and having a Sione Asi try disallowed, Otago predictably rallied. Two tries reduced the deficit to 17-10 and then on fulltime Otago scored a third try in the corner meaning if fullback Burns Mills converted Otago would advance to the Highlanders final because in the event of a draw the side which scores the greater number of tries wins. "We all knew the rules so obviously to leave things hanging in the balance was bloody nervous. It was a tough kick and it only just missed. I guess that's footy," Kirkwood says. McGlashan have won 19 games in a row this season and 27 in the Southern Wide Real Estate competition. Kirkwood believes the closeness of his team and the hard work of the coaches is the reason for the stunning upset over Otago. "We are a tight team who have come through the grades together. There are about 15 of us living together in the hostel. Our coaches John Kyle and Martin Scaife have done a great job. The boys really look up to them," Kirkwood says. Kirkwood first played rugby for the Te Anau club. He has played every game for McGlashan in the last two years and has scored four tries this season. In the summer Kirkwood is a keen rower. He won a bronze medal in the Under-16 double sculls at the Maadi Cup. Next Saturday McGlashan travels to Invercargill to tackle Southland BHS in the Highlanders final. Last year Southland beat McGlashan 8-0 in a mud bath. John McGlashan College 17 Reon Lowery, Luke Jarvie tries; Ryan Neill 2 con, pen Otago Boys’ High School 15 Sam Jones, Mitch Pryde, Sam Dickson tries. 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 |
Archives
October 2023
Categories |
OrganisationCollege Sport Media is dedicated to telling the story of successful young sportspeople in New Zealand
|