Game of the Round - Westlake Boys v Wesley College
Game of the Round - Westlake Boys v Wesley College
Westlake Boys have done just enough to claim the final spot in the SAS College Rugby League Championships top 4, beating Wesley College 24-12 in the final round of pool play.
Wesley made the ideal start with an early shift to the left to score next to the posts. Hooker Larenz Tupaea converts to lead 6-0.
Westlake quickly replied when fullback Ariki Hood-Kaitapu ran straight through the middle to collect their first, locking it up at 6 all just 5 minutes in the first half.
Some great defence from Westlake and a big carry from prop Lotu Inisi finds the home side just metres out from the line.
Halfback Zae Wallace shuffles to the right, Inisi runs sideways and fends creating enough space for centre Victor Misa to score out wide to get in front 10-6.
A minute from the break and Westlake look to score again.
Playmaker Wallace shifts to the left finding space and Inisi gets over the line to take a 14-6 lead to the sheds.
Straight out the gates in the second half, Westlake capitalized on a dropped ball to score.
With the conversion flying wide, the score remained 18-6.
Fifteen minutes left on the clock and Wesley finally built some pressure.
Stand off Tuhi Pompey breaks the line straight from the scrum finding a gap to score. A successful conversion and Wesley were back in the game making it 18-12.
But Westlake Boys looked in control of the fixture when Hood-Kaitapu sprinted past the covering Wesley defenders to score out wide.
Keepa Wiki added the extras to make it 24-12.
Unable to score in the remaining minutes, Westlake took home a 24-12 victory jumping into a semi-final spot.
Westlake Boys 24 (Ariki Hood-Kaitapu x2, Victor Misa, Zae Wallace, Lotu Inisi tries; Keepa Wiki x2 goals) BEAT Wesley College 12 (Apenisa Sailo, Tuhi Pompey tries; Tuhi Pompey, Larenz Tupaea goals). HT: 14-6.
Wrap of the Rest
Westlake will join St Paul's who remain at the top of the Championship table after beating Avondale 26-12, Kelston who did just enough to get in front of Aorere 12-6 and Wesley in the semi-final playoffs.
Success for the hosts in the second-tier Plate group saw Southern Cross (16-12), Otahuhu (20-16) and Manurewa (22-16) win their games over Mt Albert, Western Springs and Tamaki. All three make the Pennant championship with Otahuhu in at fourth.
Meanwhile in the Bowl competition, Papatoetoe picked up a 22-20 victory over Sir Edmund Hillary, St Paul's B beat Lynfield 24-20 and Otahuhu B got over the top of Southern Cross 24-22.
The SAS College Rugby League semi-final playoffs will kick off in two weeks when secondary schools return from break - draw to be confirmed by College Sport.
For fixtures and ladders click here. *Please note these are subject to entry by College Sport.
Full Results for Wednesday July 6 round:
Premier Championship
Westlake 24 Wesley 12 HT: 14-6
Avondale 12 St Paul's 26 HT: 6-12
Aorere 6 Kelston 12 HT: 0-0
Premier Plate
Southern Cross 16 Mt Albert 12 HT: 12-6
Otahuhu 20 Western Springs 16 HT: 10-12
Manurewa 22 Tamaki 16 HT: 4-4
Premier Bowl
Sir Edmund Hillary 20 Papatoetoe 22 HT: TBC
St Paul's B 24 Lynfield 20 HT: 16-8
Otahuhu B 24 Southern Cross 22 HT: 16-12
Senior A
Aorere 16 Selwyn 22 HT: 16-6
Vanguard 12 Henderson 12 HT: 6-4
Manurewa B (Withdrawn from competition)
U/85kg
Howick v Mangere (Default)
Pakuranga 16 James Cook 8 HT: 8-8
U/15's Division 1
St Paul's v Southern Cross TBC
Alfriston v Avondale TBC
U/15's Division 2
Henderson v Manurewa TBC
Western Springs 26 Aorere 34 HT: 20-6
Onehunga v Eden Christian TBC
Glenfield v Sir Edmund Hillary (Default)
Semi-final playoffs
Premiership Championship
St Paul's
Kelston Boys
Wesley
Westlake Boys
Premier Pennant
Southern Cross
Manurewa
Mt Albert
Otahuhu
Premier Bowl
Papatoetoe
Sir Edmund Hillary
St Paul's B
TBC
Senior A
Selwyn
Aorere
Henderson
Vanguard
U/85kg - games still to be played before play-off rounds
U/15's Division 1
St Pauls
Southern Cross
Alfriston
Manurewa
U/15's Division 2 - TBC by College Sport
ENDS