/
PRESS RELEASE
NATIONAL SECONDARY SCHOOLS RUGBY LEAGUE TOURNAMENT
KIWIS CAPTAIN SHOWS SUPPORT AND FINALISTS DECIDED
Auckland, New Zealand August 25, 2011 – After four days of rugby league competition the finalists have been found and the players are preparing for their
last games of the 2011 NZ Secondary School Rugby League Nationals tournament.
During the semi finals held today, Kiwis captain Benji Marshall rang and spoke to the teams and their supporters via a
mobile phone and the ground announcer’s microphone. He wished all the competing teams every success, and encouraged them
to play hard and play fair and do themselves, their schools and families proud.
On Friday, the final day of competition, the top finishers in each group will play off to find the Bowl, Plate and Cup
winners before the tournament culminates in the Grand Final match to find the winners of the premier title “2011 NZ
Secondary School Rugby League Nationals Champions”.
The lower finishing teams will also compete for the honour of their team and school in play-off games to determine their
placing in each of the sections.
At the conclusion of the semi finals, Tokoroa High School and St John’s College took the opportunity to visit the
Vodafone Warriors facilities at Mt Smart Stadium. In a much appreciated show of support for the tournament, the Vodafone
Warriors squad and support staff attended the opening days play on Monday and have opened up their facilities to
visiting teams this week.
Tonight all sixteen teams, their coaches and management staff along with invited guests will attend the Tournament
Awards evening.
A number of awards will be presented including an ‘It’s Not OK!’ Fairplay award to be presented by Vic Tamati and Lua
Maynard; Team of the Tournament and Coach/Manager/Trainer of the Tournament both of which will be presented by Brian
‘Bluey’ McClennan; and an Emerging Talent Award to be presented by Vodafone Warriors Recruitment Manager Dean Bell.
Other awards include the Bill Sharp Golden Boot to be presented by Dan Floyd, NZRL Coaching and Development Manager; the
Match Officials and Match Managers awards to be presented by NZRL Referees Manager Marc Harris; a Most Valuable Player
in each team will be acknowledged by Brendon Crompton, Steve Smith,and Enoka Afa and a Best Cultural Salute award which
will be presented by Willie Iosia.
The final award of the evening will be the Manukau Institute of Technology Most Valuable Player of the Tournament award,
to be presented by NZRL Football Manager Tony Kemp and Emma Beale, Schools and Community Liaison Officer, Manukau
Institute of Technology.
Friday morning the Bowl final between Fraser High School and Aranui High School will kick off at Bruce Pulman Park,
Papakura at 9.45am.
The Plate Final between Tangaroa College and Wainuiomata High School will start at 11am, while the Cup final between
Southern Cross College and Mt Albert Grammar will be at 11.30am.
The Grand Final between defending champions St Paul’s College and Otahuhu College will start at 12.45pm.
Day Four Results
Championship Section:
Tokoroa High School 0 v St Paul’s College 28
Otahuhu College 26 v Aorere College 12
Cup Section:
Southern Cross College 24 v Manurewa High School 22
Papakura High School 10 v Mt Albert Grammar 18
Plate Section:
Tangaroa College 68 v Papatoetoe High School 0
Mt Roskill Grammar 18 v Wainuiomata High School 26
Bowl Section:
Rangitoto College 14 v Fraser High School 30
Aranui High School 40 v St John’s College 12
For all tournament details and information about the other finals games please visit the website here
www.nzrl.co.nz/national-secondary-schools
ENDS