Secondary School Finals Day 29 August

By Jake Wise, Westlake BHS

Picture by John Rau (Hato Petera College 1st XV - 2nd Grade Championship Winners)

The North Harbour Secondary Schools finals day was held at North Harbour Domain last Saturday 20 August.   Westlake Boys High School's 2nd XV managed a 19-3 win over Birkenhead College 1st XV in the 1B championship.   Birkenhead's very defensive style and physicality worked extremely well for the competition leaders in the first half, being able to go into the break with a 3-0 lead after shutting out a very determined Westlake attack. The second half began with much of the same as BC's defensive game plan allowed them to maintain their narrow advantage. However a try for Westlake in the 60th minute proved decisive in providing victory for the underdogs. After Jack Fuller burst through an unsuspecting defence, Birkenhead struggled to adapt, and succumbed to three tries in ten minutes, completely losing all momentum and hope.   Westlake captain and mid-fielder Ryan Doubell helped himself to an easy, unpressured try followed soon after by an unconverted try from winger Quentin Austin. Westlake managed what their 1st XV counterparts could not, eventually breaking past a very resolute Birkenhead side to win the day.

Massey High School 5A Gold team edged Rosmini College 5^th grade 17-24 in what was a thrilling conclusion to the 5A rugby competition. These two teams were at loggerheads all season but it was Massey who went home with the trophy due largely to their hugely successful counter-attacking game plan.   Within the first ten minutes of the match Massey opened the scoring through this tactic, 2^nd5 Nikau Drage bursting through a sluggish Rosmini defence to score against the run of play. Another try from Drage followed by a second conversion from fullback Sam Samu allowed Massey a 14-0 lead by the 30^th minute; a lead that was quickly shortened by Rosmini after a try and subsequent conversion from kicker and fullback Zakk Finlay. With the score 7-14 at half time it looked as though Massey's defence strength would help them to an easy win. A try from flanker Luca Sciarone followed by a penalty gave Rosmini a three point lead though, and for the majority of the half the Saints seemed to be comfortable on and off the ball. However two spectacular counter attacking tries from lock Jackson Wilson and open-side flanker Maile Tuitupou in the last five minutes of the game gave Massey the lead they desired and deserved, allowing them to complete a successful season with their captain Tyrone Metusela Su’apaia placing the trophy in the School cabinet for the first time in 9 years.

In the 1C final Rangitoto 2^nd XV were too good for Northcote 1^st XV winning comfortably 31-8.  Hato Petera 1^st XV won the second grade with a very late try to edge Kristin 1^st XV 10-6 in an exciting final.   The 4A final between old rivals Westlake and Rosmini doubled as the Wider Auckland U69 A division 5^th/6^th play-off, was a close one with Westlake winning 14-10.  Rosmini 6A defeated plucky Mahurangi 23-5 in the 6A final and Westlake was well beaten 33-10 by a rampant Rosmini in the 7A final.

In the B and C finals played at schools, Rangitoto defeated St Peters (Akld) 22-3 in the Wider Auckland U69 A division 9^th/10^th play-off and Kristin won by default over Rosehill (CM) for 11^th place.  In the B Division final Mahurangi was just edged by Auckland Grammar B 8-9 in a thriller at Mt Wellington which hosted the Auckland Schools finals.  Honours were even in the 5B final with Northcote and Rangitoto A tied 7 all at full-time. The 6B title was collected by Westlake B in a high scoring 32-20 outcome over Whangaparaoa and Long Bay won by default over Northcote to take the 6C final.  Rangitoto defeated Takapuna 24-12 for 7B honours.

The Blues region top 4 play-offs did not go North Harbour’s way up north during the week with Rosmini College going down to Whangarei Boys High 7-11 in the Open play-off and Massey HS losing the Co-Ed play-off to Kerikeri HS 22-23.

The 2015 Secondary School sevens is the next event to be held Saturday 17 October in term 4 at a venue to be advised.