New champions to be crowned at U15 Youthtown Condor Sevens

There will be new champions on Friday in both the boys and girls competitions at the Under-15 Youthtown Condor Sevens at Sacred Heart College in Auckland.

Both defending champions,  Rotorua Boys’ High School and Rotorua Girls’ High School, were eliminated from the Cup in pool play on Day One.

Rotorua Boys’ won their first two matches against Feilding High School 12-10 and Kerikeri High School 24-10, but weren’t entirely polished in each effort. Rotorua’s initial victory against Feilding required an outstanding 75-metre solo try by Cassius Cowley to earn the cash.

By contrast hosts Sacred Heart played with greater aggression, precision and pace. In the deciding fixture in Pool A, Sacred Heart comprehensively accounted for Rotorua 22-0. Blake Makiri bagged a hat-trick for the hosts - scoring  two individual tries from past halfway. The diminutive Sean Weir (with his searing turn of pace) and Gray Walshe (with his tigerish defense) were standouts for the Catholics.

Rotorua Girls’ were underwhelming losing two out of three games. In their first pool match Rotorua was upset 12-10 by Auckland’s One Tree Hill College. Milani Tuala-Taufoou and Poini Lutui scored tries for One Tree Hill.

Facing elimination, Rotorua had to topple Gisborne’s Lytton High School, but were overpowered 38-0. Gabriell Wainohu was outstanding throughout the day for Lytton. In the game prior against One Tree Hill she burst away for two tries from inside her own 22.

Manurewa High School beat Wesley College in a Counties local derby in Pool C which was telling in earning Manurewa a quarter final place. In a close and tough tussle, Liukhane De Thierry-Rhind,Koroi Ratusau and Tupou Langi scored tries for the victors.

Hamilton Boys’ and New Plymouth Boys’ looked particularly imposing. Hamilton achieved the only half century of the day while New Plymouth Boys’ was the only side not to concede a point. Otahuhu College was the only side not to score a point.

Hamilton Girls scored 123 points in three games which was the most of the 47 teams in both sexes competing.

​U15s quarterfinals Friday: 

Boys Cup Quarterfinals:
Sacred Heart College v Kelston Boys’ High School
Manurewa High School v Westlake Boys’ High School
New Plymouth Boys’ High School v St Peter’s Auckland
Hamilton Boys’ High School v Palmerston North Boys’ High School

Girls Cup Quarterfals:
Lytton High School v Southland Girls’ High School
Aorere College v One Tree Hill College
Hamilton Girls’ High School v New Plymouth Girls’ High School
Kerikeri High School v Howick College

Disclaimer: All names are based on numbers in the tournament program