ST. KENT'S SMASH SCOTS IN EARLY SEASON STATEMENT!

St. Kentigern College has won the 2016 Presbyterian Schools' Quadrangular tournament with a commanding victory over Scots College. St. Kentigern College: 57 (Tanielu Tele'a 2, Kayleb Milne, Te Ahiwaru Cirkidaveta, Ryan Jones, Keb Melrose-Wahi, Tevita Mafileo, Etonia Waqa, Peni Lasqa tries; Carlos Price 4 con, Rivez Reihana 2 con) Scots College: 3 (Malo Manuao 1 pen).

It's only April but already and predictably St. Kentigern College have announced themselves as serious contenders for the National Top Four finals. They demolished Scots College 57-3 in the decider, the biggest win in the final since St. Kent's beat St. Andrew's 86-3 in 2014. The very first scrum of the match set the tone. St. Kent's pushed Scots off the ball and won a tighthead.

It was 24-3 at halftime and despite rolling subs there was no mercy shown by the Auckland champions on the occasion of Scots centenary. St. Kent's were a combination of brute force and silky subtly as they showed few apparent weakness against a Scots side that wasn't entirely polished, but far from awful. The first of St. Kent's nine tries was an absolute cracker. After a midfield bust, the ball was recycled quickly and winger Tanielu Tele'a danced around burly Scots No.8 Jack Loader and galloped 25-meters to the line.

he clash between Tele'a and Loader was like a ballet dancer avoiding a tractor. St. Kent's pack is big and mobile. Their ability to keep the ball alive after contact was a source of a lot of their breaks and points. Tighthead Tevita Mafileo (Brother of Sione), hooker Sam Toloke and No.8 Te Ahiwaru Crikidaveta are a particular menace. First-Five Rivez Reihana takes the ball to the line with authority and shows sings he can read a game astutely. St. Kent's scored a beautiful try from a scrum, quickly switching the point of attack in midfield to fool the Scots defense.

It should be noted in 2014 Sacred Heart beat Scots 43-0. Scots went onto share the National title and Sacred Heart missed the 1A final. However Scot's don't have the Umaga-Jensen twins and Alex Fidow, player of rare quality. Still Scots will take heart from the form of centre Tai Neli who is quick on his feet and strong. Loader whose work rate never yields, halfback Jack Mexted who defended bravely and made a couple of partial breaks and prop Moala Katoa who produced an honest shift. St. Kent's with their power and pace setting a high benchmark again.

Lindisfarne College: 27 (Robbie Freebain, Tafa Varea, Josh Dearden, Loqorio Waqanidrola tries; Dearden 2 con, 1 pen) St. Andrew's College: 14 (Llew Johnson, Sam Gilbert tries; Gilbert 2 con)

Lindisfarne College finished third after a superior start and withstanding a brave St. Andrew's fight-back midway through the second-half. Lindisfarne scored an early try when second-five Robbie Freebain pushed through some feeble defence to touchdown under the posts. St. Andrew's failed to match Lindisfarne's early intensity. They dropped the ball regularly and were bullied in the scrums. Halfback Josh Dearden kicked a penalty to make it 10-0. On the first occasion St. Andrew's entered the Lindisfarne 22 they scored a try. Swift and skilful offloading by the forwards saw fullback Llew Johnson ferret in.

Tighthead Tafa Varea was a fearsome figure for St. Andrew's. He was a dominant on his side of the scrum and carried strong. He scored a try from a five-meter tap and it was 15-7 to Lindisfarne at the break. Lindisfarne extended their lead early in the second-half when Dearden cruised over following some meek defence. St. Andrew's finally fired up.

They enjoyed a long passage of play inside the Lindisfarne 22 and first-five Sam Gilbert broke the defence to reduce the deficit to eight points. Johnson dropped the ball in the clear after a set-move from a scrum deceived the Lindisfarne defense and wing Jack Symes was called back after sprinting 90-meters from an intercept. These moments were the last of St. Andrew's resistance.

Loqorio Waqanidrola, who impressively switched from the wing into the forwards, scored on fulltime to seal the victory for the 2015 champions.
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Previous Quad Winners
1989-1990: St. Andrew's College 1991-1993: St. Kentigern College 1994: Lindisfarne College/St. Andrew's College 1995: St. Kentigern College 1996-1997: Lindisfarne College 1998-2001: St. Kentigern College 2002-2003: St. Andrew's College 2004: St. Kentigern College 2005: St. Andrew's College 2006: St. Kentigern College 2007: St. Andrew's College 2008-2009: St. Kentigern College 2010: St. Andrew's College 2011: Lindisfarne College 2012-2013: Scots College 2014: St. Kentigern College 2015: Lindisfarne College 2016: St. Kentigern College

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