Results
First XV
King’s 27-8 De La Salle
Our matches against neighbours De La Salle College have, in recent times, always been tough encounters. Saturday’s match was no different; we expected another battle, and that was exactly what we got. It took the entire match to get on top of them and we were very pleased to score our fourth try right on full time, to ensure another bonus point win. Final score: 27 – 8 after being down 0 – 3 at the break.
As the game commenced on Saturday, the heavens opened up and much of the first half was played in the rain. De La Salle started better than we did. They held onto the ball and kept it close to their big forwards who tried to bully us into submission. Our forward pack, however, was equal to the task and repelled wave after wave of attack.
Once again, our defence throughout the match was superb as was our discipline. We only gave away several penalties and one of these was converted by the De La Salle goalkicker to give them a 3 – 0 lead. We created scoring opportunities in the first half but poor decision-making or lack of finishing saw these chances not finished off and we turned around at the break, down by the narrowest margin 0 – 3.
After the break, we started to grind them down – our forwards getting into their work and the backs started to make breaks and create opportunities. However, a clearing kick by Aidan Morgan was charged down by a De La Salle player, who followed through to score the first try of the match to take them out to an 8 – 0 lead. It should have been 10 – 0 but their kicker missed the easy conversion and from that moment on, we could sense a reaction and lifting of the effort by our players.
Throughout the season thus far, the majority of our tries have been scored by our pacey backline, but last Saturday, it was our forward pack that were rewarded for their tireless work and tenacity with three of our four tries scored by the pack. Captain Leandro Vakatini scored the first try and he was followed by reserve tighthead prop - Israel Otunuku, who scored a brace. First five-eighth Aidan Morgan kicked two conversions and added a penalty to secure the game for us. After the second try was scored, we felt that the win had been secured and the team then set out to score two more tries to secure the bonus point that will no-doubt be so very important in our goal of securing a place in the top four. With only a few minutes left, we had scored our third try and everyone could see that De La Salle had tired and maybe we could grab that fourth try to gain the bonus point. In their desperation, two De La Salle players were sin-binned and with time up on the clock, we kicked into the corner from a penalty. The ball was driven by the forwards, then was moved out to left wing Luron Iosefa who put the icing on the cake with the fourth try that we did not think we were going to get and ended the match the way we would have liked to have started the match.
Meanwhile, over at Sacred Heart College, the home team put an end to Grammar’s unbeaten run, which means we returned to the top of the table after our win against De La Salle on Saturday. There are five teams that have all only lost one game each at this stage. The difference in the positions on the table is the amount of bonus points teams have scored. We have picked up the bonus point in every game and is why we lead the table by two points from KBHS. Next week we have a crucial encounter with third placed Sacred Heart College, once again at home here at King’s. We are in control of our own destiny at the moment and must beat SHC next Saturday to remain top of the table and distance them from the top two spots. It is a very simple equation – we simply must win…
Second XV
King’s 20-24 Saint Kentigern
The King’s Second XV played St Kent’s the co-reigning champions from 2018.
The team played at our home ground on number 1 field on Saturday. In the first half we gave St Kent’s too much respect on attack and our line speed on defence was non-existent. Giving away too many penalties to St Kent’s within our own 22m line they shot out to 0-3.
St Kent’s capitalised on more ill discipline and scored early off a quick penalty tap. St Kent’s 0-8. We clawed our way back 3-8 just before the break with a great penalty to Jason Honour. It took the half-time break for the lads to wake up and play wide expansive rugby the King’s College way.
Although St Kent’s scored early after kick-off the team fought back.
Two quick tries by Mogammad Smith on the back of some slick work from Troy Faiva, Ethan Stuart and Leo Rusher pulled back the score. The forwards got in the groove and worked our game system well, when trusted. Sam Brewer, Sione Ahokovi and Molitoni Toetu'u gaining good yards for the backs. Jason Honour , Lawrence SP and Senio Pulega combining well in the second half at set piece.
Maikel Tuala on the back of a sweeping move looked for all money to have scored on the right hand corner only to be denied by the ref not seeing the grounding. Leo Rusher scored in the left-hand corner finishing off a 60m counterattack leaving only 1 minute left on the clock.
Jason Honour kicked the conversion from out wide converting the try leaving the score 20 – 24, a loss for King’s. We grabbed a bonus point out of the game which places us still in the top four in the 2A competition.
Andre, Kams, Awanui and Dan
Under 15s
King’s 7-7 De La Salle
On Saturday 15 June the boys played a tough game against De La Salle. As the game started the boys displayed strong defence being able to hold off the De La Salle boys. In the first 20 minutes the score is 0-0 and unfortunately we have three of our boys injured and off the pitch due to late hits but we were still managing to hold them off. One thing we needed to improve on were the line outs.
30 mins into the game and Zairon Savaka busts through the De La Salle defence line scoring the first try of the game and Harry Sinclair gets the conversion now making the score 7-0. Almost half time and the De La Salle team are on the 5 metre line but Harry Kaveriri managed to hold up one of their forwards and therefore making it our ball.
Half time and the boys have done well keeping the opposition from scoring.
As the second half progressed we sadly got another injury. About 20 mins left of the game and the De La Salle boys have managed to break through on the outside and score a try therefore making the score equal. The boys were now under pressure. As the game progressed Francis Manuleleua managed to bust through and score a try but sadly the ref did not see it and by the time he went to check a boy from De La Salle had kicked it out of his hand and the coach was telling the ref it was a knock on so the ref did not give it to us.
At this moment we had no subs for the backs so our coaches had no choice but to put Brodey Warren (openside) as our wing. The last 10 mins and the boys were really getting pressured because the ref had given them a penalty due to our boys being offside, so they had no choice but to kick.
Fortunately for us, they missed and the game continued. It was full time and the boys were exhausted, being the school to stop their winning streak. Good job to the boys. I feel we just need to work on our communication, lineouts for the forwards and spreading out for the backs, but overall the game was amazing!
Kahnyell Talamaivao (Year 10, Peart)
1R
King’s 8-14 St Peter's
From the lofty heights of a TV game, to floodlit Friday night footy, the 1R side headed to the Auckland Domain to play on a field that left a bit to be desired with two cricket pitches right in the middle. However, with the added challenge we headed into our game against St Peter’s full of confidence.
We started off with a roar with Mika Tuia breaking down the short side to get us camped in the SPC 22. However, we became our own worst enemies shooting ourselves in the foot with costly errors and poor discipline. St Peter’s marched us back down field for them to take charge and set us back deep in our 22. However, we held off countless raids from them to keep our tryline protected. It was a real arm wrestle going on, with us eventually winning. Some quick thinking got us down field and finally we cracked the defence with Alex Goodwin crossing out wide taking us too halftime with a 5-0 lead.
With words of “lift the intensity” ringing in their ears we started off well again settling into the SPC 22. Stu Macalister took a simple 3 points to take our lead out to 8-0. However, again we took our foot off the pedal allowing SPC to march back into the game. More poor discipline let St Peter’s dictate the game and eventually they cracked our line with a barge over try from close range. A tough yellow card call against us allowed St Peter’s to march back into our 22, where we again withstood countless forward raids at our line with our defence standing up to the task. However, late in the game it took its toll and SPC crossed over out wide to snatch the lead. Being down for the first time in the match didn’t stop us as we kept playing exciting footy having a few chances late to break them, however the St Peter’s defence was up to the task as they withstood our attack to take the win 14-8.
Disappointing result as we had our chances to take the game but in the end cost ourselves. Plenty of work to be done, with a big week ahead as we get set to take on table-topping Sacred Heart at home in a double header with the First XV.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
With a forward-dominated game it’s hard to go past Tyrese “Tino” Rairi and Tim Leach in the forward pack. Their numerous runs getting us on the front, constantly beating the first defender! While their defence, especially close to the line, was outstanding, holding out SPC numerous times.
5A
King’s 14-3 Sacred Heart College
5A welcomed Sacred Heart to King's College on Saturday for our first home game in the official competition.
King's started very well with Will Geldard and Harry Marsh combining to blast through the Sacred defence in the opening exchanges allowing Marsh to dot down under the poles. A further sustained period of pressure saw the backs and forwards combine beautifully to set Nathan Robinson up for a well-taken try halfway through the first period. An excellent conversion took King's out to a well-deserved 14-3 halftime lead.
Sacred pulled themselves together and weathered the King's storm in the second half and a titanic forward battle raged for most of the second period. No points were scored by either side, but there was plenty of endeavour from both teams. The King's forwards were magnificent on the day and full credit to Dom de Latour and Hamish Dalziell at lock and Harry Marsh and Jack Proctor on the flanks for leading the charge.
Any win against Sacred Heart is a fantastic effort and the boys should be very pleased with their effort this week. 5A welcome Westlake to King's College next Saturday and will be looking to maintain the momentum.
5B
King’s 21-5 Glendowie
Well King’s unbeaten run continues after the toughest test yet this season. A very tall physical Glendowie team got off the bus and they came to King’s an hour and a half early so they were up for it. Glendowie dominated the first half with our forwards far too slow to the ruck which gave Glendowie the momentum in the first 20 minutes. King’s defence held firm after wave after wave of attacks came, however, Glendowie scored with a good set piece to go into the interval 5-0 up.
I told the boys at half time that we were going to win this game, just be patient get early ball to our backs and we would score and so that’s exactly what happened. A great run by our fullback Ed who offloaded to Adam Irvine who released our winger Ben to score a great try in the corner, Tom Ogg kicked over to make it 7-5 King’s. Forwards upped their game in the second half which meant good ball to our backs and two excellent tries by today’s player of the day Tom Ogg who also converted to make it 21-5. It wasn’t a pretty performance by King’s however this was our sternest test against a very good Glendowie who really are a good side.
A lot of work needs to be done at training next week where next Saturday we hit Dilworth which also will be a tough game.
Thank you as always to our parents who turn up week in week out to support our boys.
6A
King's 14-42 St Peter's
After a bye the previous week the boys were looking forward to playing again. However, as we were down in numbers due to continued injuries and key forwards away at the Year 10 Camp, it was always going to be a tough game.
St Peter’s scored an unconverted try first, 5-0. King’s responded with a try by Harrison Mancer converted by Luca Fuller, 5-7 to King’s. St Peter’s broke King’s defence twice more 17-7 to St Peter’s. After some good phases our strong-running centre Liam Denny scored between the posts with Luca Fuller adding the conversion, half time 17-14 to St Peter’s.
We really felt that we were still in the game with a chance, however, St Peter’s scored immediately at the beginning of the second half. Unfortunately, King’s defence became despondent and St Peter’s ran away with the game, final score 42-14. Player of the day and nomination for King’s team of the week is Liam Denny who continues to impress with strong running rugby.
7th Grade
Opposition: Westlake 7A Red
Result: Won 7 - 5
Halftime score: 7 - 5
Tenacious!
Tenacious forwards! Tenacious defence! And, by the end of the match, what can only be described as a tenacious team effort!
Going up 7-0 just 10 minutes into the match is usually a good omen of what is to follow. But on Saturday this early try, by lock Henry Kaye and its superb conversion by Captain Jack McKay turned out to be the crucial points in a match between two resolute sides both totally determined to take away the four points on offer.
While King’s continued to assail the Westlake Red try line for the better part of the first half, a robust defence saw them unable to add to their initial, well deserved try. Outstanding forward work from every single one of the first half eight, helped keep Westlake pinned in their half and offered the King’s backline a number of opportunities - but a flat Westlake defensive line soon shut down any chance that the King’s backline may have had to add to their tally.
Then, just to add some fuel to the pressure fire Westlake were going to bring to their second half playing downhill with the wind, five minutes before the break, and very much against the run of play, a loose pass was joyfully intercepted by one of the Westlake outside backs and despite some determined chasing, the try was scored. The resulting conversion attempt hit the upright and King’s went into the break leading 7 – 5.
As predicted, the Westlake side threw everything they had in their bag into the second half.
While both sides found themselves down to 14 men for seven minutes following what the referee decided were high tackles, a resolute and determined King’s side weren’t about to let another 4 points slide out from under their recently practised defensive screen.
With the final whistle due, from a scrum beside halfway, King’s halfback Will Smith kicked the ball as far as he could over the sideline and immediately joined his fellow teammates in celebrating a hard-won victory that will see them in the top four after the first round robin.
A well-deserved win for King’s 7A and despite the short scoreline, a clear demonstration of their tenacity and character across the paddock.
See the King's College Team of the Week
