First XV rugby: Grammar’s class sets up 1A semi-final clash with St Kents

Unbeaten Grammar needed a big finish to get over the line against Kelston in a topsy-turvy contest at Va’aiga Tuigamala Field, where the lead changed hands a remarkable eight times.

There is plenty to admire about Grammar this season in terms of their structure, organisation and adhesion to a game plan, which is a credit to coach Dave Askew.

More importantly, they have a host of lads capable of individual brilliance, illustrated in the very first minute when clever halfback Bobby Neels reverse-flicked a ball to fullback Louie Du Plessis, who hared down the blindside untouched to score and set the tone for a wild afternoon.

However, Kelston were arguably even more freewheeling and instinctive – though they also coughed up more penalties – and responded within five minutes through a converted try to winger Noah Hollands as the lead began its seesawing pattern.

Grammar were again without injured skipper Nico Stanley, but nuggety Year 12 hooker Connor Murdoch continues to lead admirably in his absence and was a key performer up front.

Kelston were similarly without injured first five-eighths Max Talbot, though his deputy Jeremiah Toleafoa is quickly blossoming as a rising talent, and converted all four of Kelston’s tries, two notably tricky.

Even Toleafoa wasn’t quite in the class of his opposing No 10, Ethan Halaapiapi, originally from Maunu School on the western outskirts of Whangārei but now a Grammar prefect and Tibbs House boarding facility leader.

If you ever needed somebody in Auckland 1A to kick a wide-angled goal to save your life, you’d want to choose Halaapiapi. He accounted for 16 of Grammar’s points, including an opportunist try and two magnificent sideline conversions.

Grammar sealed the game with two tries in the final 10 minutes to loosehead prop Marlee Jacobs and high-grade replacement winger Luke Thomson.

Just like a good racehorse always knows where the finishing post is, Grammar have a potent track record of finishing strongly when required.

Earlier No 8 Ashton Kirke scored to give Grammar a 22-21 halftime lead.

For Kelston, openside Benji Wichman impressed with two critical tries and his general work rate around the park.

Kelston No 8 Satali Fretton scored in the opening minute of the second half after a quick tap, but Grammar increasingly dominated from then on.

Some of the collisions and tackles were of Game of Thrones intensity and by the end there were prostrate bodies everywhere. Grammar flankers Sol Anderson and Ben Stewart starred as their team won the turnover count.

Auckland Grammar now hold a 34-22 advantage over Kelston in all matches, with five draws.

The Kelston-Grammar match was preceded by a $100-a-head Kelston Old Boys fundraising luncheon with a guest panel of speakers headed by Sir Graham Henry – who coached at both Kelston and Grammar with great distinction – with fellow talent Kees Meeuws, Jason Hewett, Jeremy Stanley, and Paul Thomson.

Sacred Heart skipper Keanu Simpson led the way with 21 points as his team overcame cross-estuary rivals St Kentigern, sparking huge celebrations at the final whistle.

To be absolutely certain of a semi-final berth Sacred needed at least one bonus point, and were comforted by three early tries and a 19-5 half-time lead.

However, as word came through that Mt Albert Grammar were leading St Peter’s 26-5 at the same time, and thus heading towards a five-point win, there were plenty of nerves.

To the relief of a large crowd at Crossfield Rd, Sacred scored again early in the second half through left wing Zion Bidois’ second try, to not only take a 26-12 lead but more importantly, lock down that precious bonus point.

By contrast, St Kentigern were acutely conscious that they needed either a win or two bonus points to progress, and soon cut the lead to 26-19.

Sacred Heart managed a fifth try, to fullback Tali Nimo, to extend their lead but St Kentigern closed the gap to 33-26, at which point Simpson banked an easy penalty.

That proved critical as St Kentigern No 8 and skipper Toni Tuuhoko-Pole scored a late try to secure a bonus point.

Star for St Kentigern in a losing effort was Max Muliaina, son of former All Black Mils.

With Jaydon Randall out, Muliaina was promoted from the college’s 2A team – where he has played first and second five-eighths this season – and chipped in with two tries and four conversions from No 10 for an 18-point haul.

It was a hearty contribution in more ways than one. After his birth in 2008, while dad Mils was starring for the All Blacks against Ireland in Dublin, Max needed surgery to close a hole in his heart at Starship Hospital.

Sacred Heart have now won 132 1A games since 2011, with this season’s effort marking their 13th semi-final appearance during that period.

However, they have only achieved three wins from those matches. Sacred Heart did, however, topple St Kentigern College 39-29 in the 2023 final.

From a St Kentigern perspective, a mere six wins is the fewest to make the semis since De La Salle in 2022. That season, De La Salle and King’s each drew two games, with King’s and Mt Albert also achieving six wins.

Between 2011 and 2018, St Kentigern won five 1A titles and 91 of 102 games, while since 2019, their record is 61 wins, 21 defeats, and seven draws. They lost finals in 2019, 2023, 2024, and 2025.

Elsewhere Dilworth drew 26-26 with De La Salle to secure sixth place, a high watermark for the school with 28 points banked. There were tries to Apaapa-Kuku and skipper Ether Fonoia just before the break and No 8 Amjayden Tafatoa Mauga and centre Solomon Westerlund shortly after.

For De La Salle, there were tries to forwards Latu Anjelo Enoka and Harvey John Ask, and backs Blessing Toa-Elisala and Giovanni Sooa.

Mt Albert Grammar outscored St Peter’s six tries to four, with Kobe Narruhn bagging a brace and first-five Blake Climo notching 15 points, including a try. Others to score were wing Teaan Slessor, skipper Dylan Yare and centre Adam Gruebner.

For St Peter’s, there were tries to forwards Jenson Wheelhouse, Reuben Lava, Logan John-Sao and replacement Karcin Puna.

Mt Albert have now won three in a row against St Peter’s, whose tally of four season wins was their worst return since 2015.

King’s College finished on a high note, beating Botany Downs Secondary College 36-12 to climb one spot to eighth, with the feature being four tries to right wing Leo Kirkland.

It’s the first time in the 66 round-robin matches played in this year’s 1A that a player has scored four tries in a single match so this was quite the milestone for what was Kirkland’s cap game.

It’s been another difficult season for Botany Downs. But it’s worth noting that when Garouw (Gary) Basson and Randall Baker debuted for Auckland in their 38-31 NPC loss to Canterbury in Christchurch on Saturday, both did so as products of Botany Downs.

Liston College picked up their first win of the year, 12-5 against St Paul’s. Centre Daniel Kali scored for St Paul’s.

You never like to criticise volunteers, but Liston have, remarkably, now completed a season where each one of their point-scorers has been recorded as “Not Player Event” on the competition-wide Rugby Xplorer digital platform which handles registrations and team result management.

For 11th-placed Liston’s players, you could argue it has been an uneventful season.

Auckland 1A semi-finals Saturday (home team first, both 2.30pm): Kelston v Sacred Heart; Auckland Grammar v St Kentigern.

Final points: Auckland Grammar 53, Kelston 48, Sacred Heart 44, St Kentigern 40, Mt Albert Grammar 39, Dilworth 28, St Peter’s 25, King’s College 22, De La Salle 20, St Paul’s 14, Liston 11, Botany Downs 4.

The top four North Harbour First XVs all won on Saturday with no change in the table, but the round was extra special for Rangitoto College as they overwhelmed Ōrewa College 55-7.

That’s because the weekend marked Rangitoto’s 70th jubilee and the college’s revered champion 1990-91 old boys were in attendance, creating a terrific atmosphere for the 2026 team who have locked in third place.

Ōrewa did well to keep Rangitoto scoreless until lock Stanley Langaoi drove over in the 15th minute and a nicely worked try soon followed for Rangi fullback Mahonri Moller.

Ōrewa replied with powerful No 8 Mataora Marino carrying to the line for a seven-pointer from a quickly taken penalty. Rangitoto, however, pushed the lead out at the other end with a well-executed try to Xavier Badland on the left wing to make it 17-7 at half-time.

Rangitoto dominated the second spell with a flurry of tries to Macsen Frith, Campbell Bibbie, Xaver McKinnon, Lucas Bartrom, with Oscar Faamausili scoring a double. Campbell Bibbie, with a man of the match performance for his link and running play, made five conversions from nine attempts.

Other features were the length-of-the-field move which allowed Bibbie to score under the posts and the eye-catching 40m tryline dash from big lock McKinnon.

It was a clinical, accurate display from Rangitoto and also very timely as they prepare to play Westlake in the final pool match on Saturday before potentially meeting them in the Kyocera-sponsored competition semis.

Since its founding in 1956, Rangitoto College has grown to become the largest school in Australasia, with a student roll of 4178.

It was originally planned to be named “Murray’s Bay College”, but the college’s first principal, Frank Tucker, had the foresight to rename it after the iconic volcanic island in the gulf.

The aforementioned 1990-91 First XVs enjoyed 24 wins in 29 games. Their most famous player was hooker Slade MacFarlane, who played 128 games for North Harbour and 27 for the Māori All Blacks.

Meanwhile, Westlake Boys’ High School had a 71-0 romp against Massey High School, even without star centre Matt Fleming. A match feature was four tries to right wing Harper Wilson, son of former All Black Jeff Wilson.

Elsewhere, Rosmini College beat Takapuna Grammar 38-7, while fourth-placed Whangārei Boys’ High School beat Mahurangi College 26-15.

North Harbour draw, Saturday (home team first, all midday): Ōrewa v Whangārei; Mahurangi v Rosmini; Massey v Takapuna; Rangitoto v Westlake. North Harbour points: Rosmini 61, Westlake 60, Rangitoto 45, Whangārei 40, Mahurangi 24, Ōrewa 16, Takapuna 10, Massey 7.

Napier Boys’ High School have regained the Polson Banner and secured a spot in their first Super 8 final since 2023 after defeating Palmerston North Boys’ High School, 19-13.

They will face Hamilton Boys’ High School – who beat them 40-28 on June 27 – in Hamilton on Saturday at 11.30am.

Hamilton’s 51-28 away win over bottom-placed Hastings Boys’ High School ultimately proved irrelevant to the finishing order, as they finished seven points clear at the top. But they will take plenty of momentum into the final, given the manner in which they imposed themselves on Hastings.

In picturesque conditions, Napier celebrated the centenary of their move from their original site at Clyde Road (1872) to their present Te Awa home in 1926.

To honour the milestone, 312 current students (the school roll in 1926) marched into a full quad assembly accompanied by pipers playing Scotland the Brave.

Head boy Taika King read a 1926 story about the first day. Then the First XV were presented with special replica jerseys worn by the original 1926 team, featuring the names of that historic squad. These jerseys were drawn and gifted to VIPs at halftime.

Napier settled quickest after the testosterone-filled mass haka equipped with taiaha. A pseudo-Mexican standoff was interrupted by track-suited extras who should not have been there, making quips unlikely to be witty. Imagine this in 1926? The caning register would have overflowed.

There was little in it. Napier faced sustained spells of resolute defence but were more clinical when it counted.

Loosehead Blake Hooton, Hurricanes under-18 loose forwards Ollie Maclachlan and Carter Pirie, and halves Harry Bain and Will Lovatt had games they could proudly tell future grandchildren about.

Despite early pressure from the hosts, which included being held up over the tryline from a zealous rolling maul, Palmerston North struck first after nine minutes. Centre Cayden Pardey slashed through the midfield just past halfway, reached the 22 and distributed smartly for Michael Fonua. With real estate narrowing, the right winger supplied captain Ollie Read.

In the 16th minute, Napier responded when Lovatt spirited into a hole and launched a 20m left-to-right pass to unmarked winger Davis Hancy.

A Rudolph penalty was all the visitors had to show for 10 minutes’ examination of the Napier defence. Breaks by Fonua and prop Max Hill yielded no profit.

Napier’s second try 90 seconds before the interval stung. From a lineout inside ball, No 8 Pirie came barrelling around the corner. Harry Jones, who, with Hancy and Monty Waihape, were celebrating their 30th First XV game, followed suit and scored. It was 14-8 at halftime.

It stayed that way until the 61st minute. Patiently, Napier constructed a co-ordinated single-pass assault as Palmerston North alarmingly slipped.

From centre field, on the 22, Pirie shot clear, missile-style. Maclachlan supported to the left and hurried a hook pass right to Rick Withers, who caught the ball near his ankles in full motion. Superb dexterity, 19-8.

A minute later, on a day of nostalgia, one could be forgiven for thinking they were at the Sydney Football Stadium in 1996 or Carisbrook in 1997.

Palmerston North retrieved a deep clearance and quickly spread the ball from one sideline to the other. Cole Cullen took off, gliding, fending, and stepping past five defenders in a 70m try eerily similar to the exploits of his famous All Black dad Christian Cullen.

Inexplicably, Rudolph fluffed the conversion from in front, but it did not matter. Napier showed the resolve and maturity to lock the ball in quarantine and terminate time.

For the record, Palmerston North won the 1926 match by 20-14 and lead the overall rivalry 65-49 with seven draws. On 53 occasions the margin has been less than seven points.

Meanwhile, Napier have won the Super 8 three times in 2000, 2002 and 2003 and lost the 2018 and 2023 finals to Hamilton Boys’.

Hamilton were always in control against Hastings, establishing a 26-0 lead in the first 18 minutes with tries to Carson Hunter, Caleb Puamau, Vili Vaka, and Ben Ward and later efforts to Deon Fifita and Carson Hunter.

Though Hastings did cross for two tries before half-time, with Carter Ah Kiong and Genesis Taivale getting on the scoresheet, Hamilton added further tries to halfback Mitchell Sturm, prop Mitch Matangi and replacement hooker Hunter Hammond in the second spell.

Since Hastings won the Super 8 and went 18-1 in 2016, the rivalry with Hamilton has been as fierce as any in the country.

Hamilton have now won 10 of the 16 matches, but Hastings won the 2017 National Top Four final and 2019 national semi. The 2017 Super 8 final was drawn 12-12. Hamilton’s biggest win over Hastings was 91-5 in 2011.

New Plymouth Boys’ High School displaced defending national champions Rotorua Boys’ High School with a 44-25 home win to notch their fourth win of the campaign.

It marked the seventh time New Plymouth have won four or more Super 8 games, as they also did in 1998 (4), 2000 (4), 2006 (5), 2015 (4), 2016 (4) and 2020 (5).

New Plymouth conceded an early try to Rotorua fullback Loky Chapman but led 20-10 by half-time with tries to prop Sam Graham and fullback George Le Quesne.

That lead was extended in the second spell, with tries to hooker Nate Werder, lock Joel Jones, flanker Brody Leicester and No 8 Kade Davis.

French first five-eighths Bastien Lallemand kicked 14 points to take his Super 8 seasonal tally to 64 points.

Rotorua rallied with late second-half tries to wing Awanui Owen, prop John Taufoou, and replacement Prince Love.

It was New Plymouth’s biggest win over Rotorua, slightly bettering their 34-17 victory in 2020. New Plymouth’s all-time biggest Super 8 win is 71-21 against Hastings in 2013.

Rotorua’s biggest loss is 58-5 to 2012 champions Hamilton, who won 17 of 20 games that season.

In the other Super 8 match, Tauranga Boys’ College beat Gisborne Boys’ High 46-26 – after only leading 22-21 at the break – to move ahead of Palmerston North on the table. Winger and accomplished volleyballer Cohen Satiu scored twice for the Titans.

In Super 8 matches, Tauranga Boys’ College lead Gisborne Boys’ High School 18-11, having won the past eight games. Between 1976 and 1997, Gisborne held a 15-7 lead in the annual rivalry.

Super 8 final, Saturday, Hamilton, 11.30am: Hamilton v Napier.

Super 8 final points: Hamilton 33, Napier 26, New Plymouth 22; Rotorua 22, Tauranga 18, Palmerston North 16, Gisborne 11, Hastings 8.

It’s an ominous warning for the opposition when a coach feels his team is getting worse yet still winning.

Christchurch Boys’ High School coach Peter Chaplin sensed his charges were flatlining three-quarters of the way through the South Island Boys’ Schools Network (SIBSN) championship.

After a hot start winning in Invercargill against Southland Boys’ High School 28-22 on May 2 and then five consecutive victories scoring 228 points, a win over Marlborough Boys’ (29-21) was “only okay” while overcoming Shirley Boys’ (37-26) was “bloody hard work”.

On July 4, Christchurch crashed 31-26 in Timaru, surrendering the Trustbank Cup. But crucially, Christchurch secured two late losing bonus points, and a three-week break gave them a chance to reset.

Still, Christchurch left it late to secure the South Island silverware on July 25 against St Bede’s (24-14). Requiring a four-try bonus point to pass Southland; the fourth try against St Bede’s wasn’t scored until the 66th minute.

It came from Will Brown, who also scored twice against Southland. The centre was Christchurch’s top points scorer in the competition, with 129 points.

“Will is mature, driven and has a clear sense of the opportunities that lie in front of him,” Chaplin acclaimed. “He’s working to be better than before. He has the goods to go far.”

Brown has a close relationship with second-five Dougal Grant, who was injured for part of the campaign.

“That showed some vulnerability in Will, but he’s proud of what he does, as are many boys who made tactical and attitude tweaks before the St Bede’s game.

“St Bede’s are a very good side. We played better rugby for most of the second half, protecting possession and creating momentum. I knew we would eventually score if we kept playing like that.

“I’m really chuffed for the boys and their families. Winning this competition wasn’t necessarily a goal at the start of the season, but we put ourselves in a position to do so with a strong start. Against St Bede’s, the boys knew what they needed to do; they took ownership and delivered.”

One of the hallmarks of Christchurch’s play is their ability to outlast opposition with multi-phased attack.

“I’m proud of that. We have the ability to take teams to a place defensively they haven’t been.

“We’ve got an 87kg prop and 80kg hooker. We get pushed around a bit in the scrum, but we compensate with fitness and accuracy. It’s tiring to defend for long periods; you have to be fit enough to recover.

“You don’t need to do miraculous things every time you have the ball. Even our talented first-five, Sonny-Bill McAndrew, appreciates that now.”

Christchurch aren’t a team that relies on individual brilliance to triumph.

Blindside Jonty Leary is the only third-year player. Max Carr and Adam Forbes have fought earnestly for the starting hooker berth, with Forbes often shifting to seven to ensure both players are regularly on the field. No 8 Liam Newfield has overcome injury to thrive.

Year 12 locks Enzo Kyle and Cameron Yaxley are known as the “bloodhound boys”. They are forensic detectives as they roam the field, looking for or speculating upon any possible edge before the game. The pair of relentless pursuers come from good stock. Enzo is the son of Canterbury basketball legend Jason Kyle, a two-time NBL champion and Rams captain. Cameron’s dad runs a “spud farm”.

In the coming weeks, Christchurch will be favourites to win the Miles Toyota Premiership for a 15th time, but Chaplin is wary of a “well-rounded” Timaru in the semis.

If Christchurch are to make their eighth National Top Four, they’ll likely have to overcome Southland, who Chaplin believes have “virtually no weakness”.

For now, though, Christchurch’s win is a full-circle moment for Chaplin and fellow coach Rhys Narbey.

A prop and High School Boys’ centurion, Chaplin was captain of the 1999 First XV that won 22 consecutive games and narrowly lost their first National Top Four final against Kelston Boys’ (18-21).

The annual Christchurch school magazine described him as “uncompromising” and said he set a standard few captains have emulated. In 2021, he won the prestigious Charles Munro Award for New Zealand Rugby Volunteer of the Year.

Two years earlier, Narbey was captain of a side that won the Christchurch U18 championship. The first five-eighths even scored a hat-trick in a win against Timaru Boys’ High.

“Rhys used to pick me up for practice. He took me under his wing when I was a wide-eyed Year 11,” Chaplin recalled.

“When Willi Heinz, my assistant last year, moved on to St Andrews, it seemed like a great idea to ask him to get involved. When I asked him, he didn’t say ‘yes’, he growled, ‘I’m taking the backs’.”

It’s an all-Waikato final in the Central North Island (CNI) First XV championship, with Hamilton’s St Paul’s Collegiate to face Cambridge’s St Peter’s – though both schools will travel south to Owen Delany Park in Taupō on Saturday, 1.45pm.

However, brave Wesley College came within a whisker of pulling off the improbable task of beating St Paul’s, the table-topping CNI side, twice in a week to make the Taine Randall Cup final.

Despite Wesley leading three times in Hamilton, it is St Paul’s Collegiate who will contest the decider for a record eighth time.

With a minute left and down 28-24, Wesley made a rare second-half foray into the hosts’ 22. After a heavy penalty count against them, the visitors suddenly received some refereeing charity and hammered away mercilessly until a fumble 2m short of the tryline.

With the ball on St Paul’s side of the scrum, it was over. Lucas Hull, George Kennedy, Chris Kahotea and Josh Kibby were dictatorial in oppressing the mange-away grey of Wesley.

Penalty, clearance, lineout, clearance, relief and joy for the locals; agony and regret for the visitors.

Wesley started briskly with a try after two minutes for Josh Funaki, who had struck a crucial blow seven days ago. Halfback Oscar Fraser, from Craigavon in Northern Ireland, was impressive. Besides his sprightly aptitude generally, he kicked three penalties, including an eighth-minute success that made it 8-0.

St Paul’s regrouped through their set-piece and steadfast commitment to expansive attack. Third-year second five-eighths Leyton Birch wrestled over after 14 minutes, 8-7.

St Paul’s dropped the restart, pummelled Wesley’s scrum to attain a tighthead, only to gift an intercept to Funaki, both feet off the ground and two hands stretched high above his head while plucking the fruit.

St Paul’s made the passes stick in the 22nd minute; first five-eighths Harry Kilmister hitting third-year lock Alex Young unmarked on the chest on the left wing. Fullback Jackson Hay nailed the sideline conversion, 14-13.

Fraser punished two St Paul’s transgressions with penalties, including a monster from 45m, 19-14.

St Paul’s 40m try from a lineout a minute before the interval was classical. Clean ball off the top, followed by two swift passes hitting a winger coming in. Caleb Blake sailed clear and fired to fellow flyer Billy Smyth, 19-19. Hay’s conversion was successful from the right touchline.

Wesley faced a barrage of pressure for 15 minutes after the break, refusing to wilt. Counties U16 openside Tyson Forbes tackled himself to a standstill. In the 54th minute, Wesley earned a reprieve and barnstorming No 8 Eric Tuposoa clattered in for the go-ahead score, 24-21.

But living off scraps is unsustainable against St Paul’s, and on the hour Hull was justly rewarded for his toil.

St Paul’s have won 10 of their 13 matches against Wesley.

Meanwhile, for St Peter’s the final offers a second successive title crack after losing last year’s decider 48-12 to Feilding High School and it came thanks to a difficult 36-24 away win against a Lindisfarne College team which finished a point ahead of them on the table.

In a fast-paced game in front of a large crowd, St Peter’s led 12-10 after a tight first half, thanks to tries from winger Zeke Clarke and first five-eighths Luca Millar.

The match opened up in the second spell and it was locked at 24-24 with eight minutes remaining after both teams went all out on attack.

But St Peter’s had the stronger finish with late tries to lock Cam Moore and centre Cruz Marra.

For Lindisfarne there were two first-half tries to left wing Sam Brittin, and second-half efforts to fullback Reid Palmer, and centre Fergus Benefield.

St Peter’s have now won 10 of their 13 matches against Lindisfarne.

St Peter’s also brought home the Rick Francis Memorial Shield, while to the school’s delight, victory also came on a day when their Second XV, U15s and U14s all won to advance to the semi-finals of their respective grades.

St Paul’s beat St Peter’s 36-29 in a thriller in Hamilton on May 28 and the last time they clashed in a final was in 2021, and it ended 36-36.

Meanwhile, in CNI plate playoff matches St John’s Hamilton beat Francis Douglas Memorial College 48-12 and Feilding High beat Matamata College 31-0 in a match played in Ohakune, a town better known for its skiing.

Central North Island Finals, Saturday, Owen Delany Park Taupō:

Plate Final: St John’s v Feilding, 12 noon.

7 v 8: Matamata College v Francis Douglas, 12 noon.

9 v 10: Whanganui Collegiate v St John’s (Hastings), 12 noon.

Grand final: St Paul’s v St Peter’s, 1.45pm.

Manurewa High School ran in eight tries – all to different players, including captain and fullback Kosena Motuga – as they beat Waiuku College 52-17 in the Counties Manukau First XV final. Meanwhile, Pukekohe High School beat Rosehill College 22-21 in the plate final.

Mercury Bay Area School have won the Thames Valley First XV Boys’ title, taking home the Coulter Cup after beating Waihi-Whangamatā Combined 35-29 in the final at Moewai Sports Park.

The gap between the top four and bottom six in the Tranzit Coachlines-sponsored premiership was wider than the holes in Wellington’s beleaguered water infrastructure.

In 20 matches involving the leading quartet against the languishing sextet, the average score was 61-8. Fourth-placed Rathkeale finished 11 points ahead of fifth-placed St Bernards.

While Rathkeale upset St Pat’s Town 27-26 on June 20, it’s likely the competition winner will come from perennial contenders Wellington College, St Patrick’s College Silverstream, or Town, who beat reigning champions Silverstream 38-36 on July 22.

Wellington College replicated their 2024 effort by completing the round-robin unbeaten but haven’t won the title since 2016. In a potentially niggly trip to Masterton, they finished with a wet sail to dispatch Rathkeale 42-17.

Wellington led 21-12 at halftime with typically industrious forward tries from No 8 Z’Kdeus Schwalger, loosehead prop Julius “Caesar” Toimata, and lock Tom Ward. Rathkeale enjoyed a purple patch with tries three minutes apart by hooker William Sauman and winger Titan Te Kani. When No 8, deputy head boy and keen photographer Jone Ralulu charged over in the 38th minute, a juicy finish loomed at 21-17.

However, Wellington are battle-hardened with six narrow losses to Super 8 opposition and two wins over Nelson College. Their patience, graft, and superior execution eventually prevailed with further strikes from backs Taysian Davey-Tiotio and Mitsuaki Hoshiyama and replacement prop Tupe Valu. The two teams will clash again in Wellington on Saturday.

If the St Pats Town semi against St Pats Silverstream at Evans Bay Park is even half as good as their Old Boys Cup roman fleuve, it will be compulsive viewing.

Prolific-scoring Silverstream (547 points in eight games) posted their second century of 2026, slaughtering mournful Mana College 104-0.

It was 71-0 at halftime.

Fletcher Cooper scored three tries and kicked 12 conversions from 16 attempts, for a gluttonous personal haul of 39 points.

The goal of Hutt International Boys’ School against St Pat’s Town was to secure a bonus point to avoid a trip to Wairarapa College for a consolation playoff.

The Trentham side accomplished that goal with four tries in a brave but inevitable 66-24 defeat. Whippet winger Ben Park bagged a brace and, with Cooper Burt and halfback Will Ashton, is worthy of acclaim for a side that managed three wins despite having to source Year 11s from Premier Four when battling injuries.

Town, despite lapses in defence and discipline (at one stage they were down to 13 players but still won that 10-minute period 7-0), have sizeable momentum.

They have scored 95 tries this season with Zac “Zoom” Kimmins responsible for 16, including two in this game. Bulldozing prop Donncha McNamara-Taele also ploughed through twice.

His approach resembles that of 2021 College Sport Wellington Sportsman of the Year and newly selected old boy All Black Siale Lauaki. Inside backs Gia Johnston (172) and Deecodah Silva (178) have scored a combined 350 points for the First XV.

In other matches, Wairarapa College bettered Rongotai College 38-19 while an Owen Cosgrove triple wasn’t enough to prevent St Bernard’s from overcoming Scots College 44-26. New Zealand Māori U18 regional camp halfback Nikau Rangiwhetu scored twice for St Bernard’s. His brothers Tana and Charlie also played for the First XV.

Now the phoney war is over, who wins? Hutt coach Scott Ashton reckons Silverstream will find a way to complete a three-peat and take honours for the ninth time.

While Wellington are clinical and well-coached, they lack X factor. Town are a handful but are vulnerable defensively. Silverstream reversed regular-season defeats to Town in 2022 and Wellington in 2024 to take the title.

St Andrew’s College were among schools to resist the newly formed South Island Boys’ Schools Network (SIBN) competition. The most effective way to show their displeasure would be to emulate their 2020 First XV, who won the Miles Toyota Premiership.

In a three-versus-six quarter-final, St Andrew’s steamrolled St Thomas of Canterbury College, one of the eight SIBN schools in Canterbury, 54-14, to record their biggest win of the season.

Despite a wobbly lineout, lock Charlie Tanner burrowed over for three tries and provided ample shove in a scrum that crushed St Thomas.

Indeed, the St Andrew’s supporters were chanting “Noah push ‘em back” set to the 1982 KC & The Sunshine Band hit Give it Up. Noah refers to titan tighthead Noah Fihaki.

The set-piece soundtrack shows far more originality than Auckland Grammar’s grating and gormless “Big Big scrum”. Of course, St Andrew’s do boast a pipe band, whose legendary performances at their end-of-year prizegiving have gone viral, and earned them a spot performing the halftime show on Anzac Day during Super Round at Christchurch’s newly minted Te Kaha/One New Zealand Stadium.

St Andrew’s were mostly in tune against St Thomas’. A big and well-balanced team was most effective when rumbling up the middle near the ruck. Halfback Ollie Jackways was lively. The midfield of Seymour Stowers-Smith and Tom McIntosh carried with gusto; blindside Lachie Mitche often roamed on the edge, scored a try with deceptive speed, and twice dribbled like All White Elijah Just in a throwback to 50s footy. Sharp-shooter Jett Timbrell landed seven conversions from eight attempts.

St Andrew’s impressive “bomb squad” contains Caleb Collins, Iosefo Tito, and Lennox Kopelani.

St Thomas had limited success, but halfback Nikora Mata’afa never stopped trying.

St Andrew’s semi-final opponents, St Bede’s, spectacularly untangled St Andrew’s vice on May 16, 37-7. However, St Andrew’s haven’t lost since then, holding top-qualifier Christchurch Boys’ High to a 29-29 draw and outscoring other opponents 204-100.

Timaru Boys’ High School retained the Trustbank Cup in the other quarter-final, 33-24 against Nelson College. They did so without talismanic No 12 Zy Woodham. Jackson Robinson took over goal-kicking duties and slotted four conversions from five attempts.

Hooker Pulileka Latu, MVP playing for the Aoraki Eels in the U18 Southern Zone league tournament in July, scored two tries for Timaru.

Nelson missed the semis for the first time since 2020. Their best this season were fullback Liam Soper, Year 10 second five Viliami Holani, and prop Cooper Bruning.

While Southland’s men were trounced by Otago 41-14 in the NPC on Stag Day (the occasion which annually marks Southland-Otago rugby rivalry), the Southland Boys’ High School First XV showed no signs of abating in the Southern Schools Rugby Championship.

The 2023 National champions warmed up for a semi-final against John McGlashan College with a 76-7 smashing of St Kevin’s College.

Winger Charlie Byrne scored four times, and fullback Jack Brock contributed 24 points, with two tries and seven conversions.

Knowing they had already qualified second, King’s High rested several players for their match against John McGlashan. Gun first five-eighths Lafa “Profile Pic” Tofiga played only a half but still scored two tries. A double for stellar centre Hugh Craig and a courageous forward effort spearheaded by prop Jonty Ellis and lock James Kinney almost caused an upset, with King’s hanging on 25-22.

Otago Boys’ High School will face King’s in the other semi after they overtook “Johnnies” into third place with a 57-5 romp over South Otago High. Six of Otago’s nine tries were scored by forwards, with hooker Charlie Hore unusually the only one missing out among the tight five. Loosehead prop Paul Veituna celebrated a double.

Consolation for South Otago is that nine players were selected for the Otago Country U18 training squad this week. Country rugby remains essential in providing meaningful opportunities for those from remote areas.

Southern Schools Rugby Championship semi-finals draw:

Division One (SSRC Cup): Southland v John McGlashan; King’s v Otago.

Division Two (SSRC Trophy): South Otago v Wakatipu (played at Balclutha Showgrounds No 1); Southland 2nd XV v St Kevins.

Division Three (SSRC Plate): Waitaki v Otago 2nd XV; Dunstan v Central Southland (played at DHS No 1).

Division Four (SSRC Bowl): Hokonui Colleges v Timaru 2nd XV; Taieri College v Mt Aspiring College (played at TC No 1).

17th-18th playoff: King’s 2nd XV v Cromwell.