NZRL National Secondary Schools Tournament - Old foes face off
Archrivals Kelston Boys High and St Paul's will tangle once more for the NZRL National Secondary Schools premiership
title at Bruce Pulman Park, Papakura, tomorrow.
Seeded one-two for the five-day event, the Auckland teams have lived up to their billing - barely - for a rematch of the
last two provincial finals.
Last year, St Paul's defeated the westies for the Auckland title, before stumbling in the semis of the national
tournament. Kelston took out that NZ crown 12 months ago and added the local prize last month.
They booked their spot in this year's national final with a 20-12 win over Aorere College, drawing away in the second
half, after the rivals were locked 6-6 at the break.
But St Paul's needed extra time to overcome Manurewa High 22-20, with scrumhalf Beau Cordtz kicking a goal to put his
team through.
For Manurewa, it was their second heartbreak of the week - they had led Kelston by 16 points early on Day One, before
the titleholders snuck past in the closing minutes.
The development grade will be decided between Wesley College and Papatoetoe High.
Wesley overcame a serious challenge from Aranui, who held the lead with minutes remaining, only to stumble in a 24-22
decision. Mat Latai had two tries for the victors.
Papatoetoe continued their unbeaten run through the tournament with a 22-10 win over Northcote College.
NZRL NATIONAL SECONDARY SCHOOLS TOURNAMENT
Bruce Pulman Park, Papakura
Thursday, September 4
Premiership
Otahuhu College 23 (Joseph Afemui 2, Vincent Tofilau, Paletasala Patelesio & Alfred Smalley tries; Komiti Vetemotu goal & field goal) Tokoroa HS 20 (Isaiah Cooper-Tetevano 2, Reagan Fox & Cleveland Poko tries; Manuia Alaelua 2 goals); HT: 19-16
Kelston BHS 20 (Junior Pauga, Peter Scanlan, Zion Ioka & Shane Hannam tries; Ioka 2 goals) Aorere College 12 (Tyler Mohi & Frost Mika tries; Mika 2 goals); HT: 6-6
Mt Albert Grammar 32 (Ethan Nukanuka 2, Connor Purcell 2, Cooper Hutchinson & Mattaias Timoloa tries; Kahil Johnson 4 goals) Papakura HS 6 (Tevita Paea try; Tipene Tuirirangi goal); HT: 16-6
Southern Cross Campus 24 (Junior Saumani, Sila Ulugia, Jan Sepuloni, Viliami Maamaloa & Tevita Vetuna tries; Sepuloni 2 goals) Rotorua BHS 10 (Joshua Taylor & Kaydis Hona tries; Ma'ake Taulahi goal); HT: 18-10
St Paul's College 22 (Beau Cordtz 2, Scott Tofa-Timoteo & Elijah Alefaio tries; Cordtz 3 goals) Manurewa HS 20 (Jackson Faavaoga 2, Nanga Iloa & David Tusiane tries; Denzel Tutakitoa 2 goals); HT: 20-4
Westlake BHS 34 (Willy Lea;atoa 2, Nafe Helu, Zae Wallace, Jake Antonio-Rooney & Leon Thambian tries; Harry Valverly 5 goals) Western Springs College 8 (Zeniff Asa & Nikheil Bhana tries); HT: 12-4
Development
Mt Roskill Grammar 24 (Luke Edmonds, Robin Faumuina, Tom Ale, Tukino Rakei & Alosio Lui tries; Reginald Lino-Sciascia 2 goals) Whangarei BHS 10 (Shane Paraha & Steele Kaka tries; Journee Cassidy goal); HT: 8-4
Pakuranga College 30 (Gerald van Wyk 2, Nick Tukiri, Luke Armiger & Tautalanoa tries; Armiger 4 goals) Taita College 6 (Jordan Gogo-Simeona try; Ryan Pene-Stevens goal); HT: 24-0
Wesley College 24 (Ma Latai 2, Sam Haunga & Sione Koloamatangi tries; Aria Cerei 4 goals) Aranui HS 22 (Cyrus Timo-Latu 2, Aki Tolo & Fa'aaliga Tailua tries; 3 goals)
Francis Douglas College 44 (Josh Perrett 3, Tyler Feakins, Feterika Fidow, Eli Kneepkens, Mason Taylor & Henry Miles tries; Kneepkens 6 goals) Greymouth HS 4 (Riley Gibbens try); HT: 22-0
One Tree Hill College 20 (Aukiland Teau-Paku, Sam Iese, Tevita Afu & Brayden Maea-Brown tries; Walima Vila goal) Rosehill College 12 (Nathan Linford, Cliffored Mann & Barry Ierome tries); HT: 20-4
Papatoetoe HS 22 (Vinze Quin, Iese Aiga, Robert Meleisa & Amandale Fafou tries; Foga Autagavaia, Quin & Aiga goals) Northcote College 10 (Shawn Kumar & Broderick Parata tries; Phoenix Smith goal); HT: 12-4
NZ Rugby League would like to acknowledge and thank all our official partners and sponsors that have made this
tournament possible, including The Skills Organisation, Competenz, “Got a Trade? Got it Made!”, Vodafone Warriors, It’s
Not OK!, Papakura Local Board, Auckland Council, Watties, EBOS, Counties Manukau Sport, NZSSSC and Papakura High School.
ends