Results
First XV
King’s 50-3 St Peter's
Saturday’s match was televised live on Sky TV as this game was a re-match between the two finalists from last year’s Auckland competition final played at Eden Park. We all know the result of that match, so our boys needed little motivation this week as there were some scores to settle and bad memories to put to bed. Add to that the loss last weekend to Sacred Heart College that dropped us from top of the table to 3rd, and there was huge motivation to both play well and win well this weekend. There was a good crowd of supporters on both sides of the field and once again, we have to thank Head Groundsman Jamie Jensen and his crew for preparing a wonderful field to play on. Today we welcomed back from injury three experienced Year 13 players – second five-eighth Temple Kalepo, no. 8 Judda Turahui and lock James Brown.
Well, we expected our boys to win but we were not expecting them to thrash St Peter’s by the score of 50 – 3! This was the defending National Champion team that recently returned from the World Schools Championship in Japan where they were beaten in the final by a South African school and up until several weeks ago, were also The Moascar Cup holders. The game started at a frenetic pace with both sides working hard to break through the others’ defence. St Peter’s attacked our line and one of our boys was deemed offside at a ruck. From the penalty awarded, their kicker converted to give SPC a 3 – 0 lead. This was to be their final and only scoring play of the match. Our boys would go on to score 50 unanswered points in a display that would leave us all very pleased and excited about the possibilities of where this team can get to.
Blindside flanker Che Clark was the first to score out wide after some imaginative play by the backs. Aidan Morgan was unable to convert from the sideline, but he was able to convert the second try scored by tighthead prop Israel Otunuku for a halftime scoreline of just 12 – 3. In the second half, it did not take long for our boys to get back on the scoreboard and we then watched our boys dismantle the SPC team and score another six tries to hooker Waiora Morris, first five-eighth Aidan Morgan himself, fullback Chicago Doyle, Clark (again), centre Meihana Grindlay and replacement winger Mitch Irwin. Morgan was able to convert four of these tries and when the referee blew his whistle for fulltime, the scoreboard read King’s College 50, Visitors 3.
This was a great way to end the term and was met with some other positive news (from our perspective) – new top of the table – Kelston BHS were toppled at home by De La Salle College, which meant that with our win, we returned to 2nd on the table behind AGS once again. We now have three weeks of no championship games but in the middle weekend of these school holidays, we travel down to Palmerston North to play Traditional rivals PNBHS. Some of our boys also have representative rugby in these holidays, so we wish them all a successful campaign and hope that they all remain safe and fit.
Second XV
King’s 7-22 Sacred Heart
The Second XV for the second week in a row played bravely. Playing against Scared Heart at home gave the lads hometown advantage.
Right from the kick-off the lads showed their intent to defend aggressively and play to their heart’s content. Mogammad Smith, Ethan Stuart Jason Honour, Sione Ahokovi, Molitoni Toetu’u, Tevita Likiliki, Seb Macdonald and Maikel Tuala were simply outstanding.
Sacred scored early with a converted try and penalty taking the score out to 10-0. Another try we went to the break 15-0.
King’s got into gear and scored a well fought try to convert 15-7. This score stayed the same until the last minute when Sacred Heart scored on full time through weight of possession 22-7.
Our set piece was solid all day, dominating line outs and scrums, unfortunately we could not convert our possession into points.
Worthy mention during the game was Troy Faiva battling a crook ankle, Maikel Tuala , broken collar, Sam Brewer popped patella and Zealin Prime ever tireless.
Jason Honour , Sione Ahokovi Mogammad Smith have played outstandingly with Ethan Stuart during the season and are turning heads on the sidelines looking for higher honours.
We face MAGS this Wednesday at 4pm - let’s finish the term off with a victory.
Andre, Kams, Awanui and Dan
Under 15s
King’s 0-38 St Peter's
First half
The first half starts with a kickoff by St Peter's. Due to St Peter's great attack and ball handling skills they managed to break through the King's defence and score a try and get the conversion in the first minutes of the game, score 7-0 to St Peter's. St Peter's once again attacked fairly well and strong and managed to score on the wing and get the conversion, 14-0 to St Peter's. St Peter's made another breakthrough from the backs’ side and managed to score another try and conversion, 21-0 to St Peter's. Due to a line out in King's 22m St Peter's managed to drive through our defence and score another once again, 26-0 to St. Peter's and the first half done.
Second half
Half starts off with a kick by Harry Sinclair. King's managed to put good pressure on the opposition with help by Zairon Savaka -Heiloa and Robin Couly, letting King's get the ball but then losing it again. St Peter's scored once again on the wing with great communication and ball handling skills but missed the conversion, 31-0 to St Peter's. St Peter's managed to break through King’s defence again, scoring the try and converting, 38-0 to St Peter's. Game finished off with a win by St Peter's with a score of 38-0, King's played a good game but still have some improvements to do.
Bradley Raina, Year 10, St. John’s
1R
King’s 32-7 St Peter's
The King’s 1R show rolled on with our second TV game of the season, at home on the number 1 against St Peter’s. We were hungry to make up for the loss against them 2 weeks prior. The sun was beaming as we made our way out. However, we again struggled to start how we would have liked allowing SPC to set up inside our 22. Eventually we cracked with their number 10 sliding over. However, his grounding was questionable with a placement that would have made a perfect basketball dribble. It was awarded and we were now fired up to make up for it. We marched back into the SPC half and with a perfect backline move Stu Macalister marched through a yawning hole to score out wide. That was quickly followed by a barge over try from Tyrese Rairi. We headed into the breakup 10-7 with confidence on our side.
Again we started slow in the second half allowing SPC to get the upper hand early, however we held strong this time keeping them out. A brilliantly read intercept by Mika Tuia allowed him to run 70 metres to cross over under the sticks. From there we never looked back as we piled on the points with another try to Tyrese Rairi and Stu Macalister also grabbing a double. Isaac Gilbert crossed over out wide to seal the deal as we took a 32-7 win to make up for the los earlier in the season. It was our best game of the season as we played with plenty of flair opening up some hot potato footy. While our defence was also back at its best as we kept out St Peter’s for the majority of the game. Quick turnaround as we take on St Kent’s this Tuesday afternoon on their number 1.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Tyrese Rairi must play with spiders on as the defence struggled to contain him. He is a tough customer to put down with his runs constantly beating defenders, getting us plenty of field possession. Skipper Andrew Breckon was also outstanding on his return to a full game after a few weeks sick
Stu Macalister led the side around the paddock constantly setting up our attack and getting us on the front foot. His kicking game was truly remarkable gaining field possession with ease.
5A
King’s 38-7 Macleans
5A welcomed Macleans College to King's for our last home game of the season before a couple of away fixtures next term. It would be fair to say that it was the best, well-rounded match of the season to date and a very good 38-7 win.
Three tries inside the first 20 minutes set the tone for the day and the match was characterised by players running hard into space and making the right decisions throughout. A 19-7 halftime lead was adequate, but better was to come with some excellent backline tries in the second period. A stake has definitely been put in the ground and the team will be looking forward to challenging for silverware later in the season.
Josh Nichol scored an outstanding hat-trick of tries and chose his running lines very well today. He was the pick of the backs with Ferg McLeay from fullback and George Hall on the wing getting tries too. Harry Marsh picked up the other try in the forwards.
A happy coach who is seeing a team play to their potential and playing a brand of rugby that is easy on the eye. We look forward to another match vs St Kent’s on Tuesday to complete the term’s program.
5B
King’s 19-14 Mt Albert
King’s travelled to Mt Albert putting up their unbeaten run on the line on a very cold frosty morning.
A number of first team boys were missing due to other commitments, however, we have a great squad that we can tap into.
The game started the same way as the past two weeks, the opposition scored first making it 7-0.
This always lights the King’s fire and we equalised through a Cody Heron try with good play by our backs.
7- 5 at half time to Mt Albert.
I spoke to the team at half time about our forwards being more aggressive and that's exactly what we got, the highlight a Oscar Ferrier tackle that drew gasps from the sidelines and gave the rest of our forwards a platform to dominate for the rest of the game.
Another two tries scored by King’s made it 17- 7 with Mt Albert scoring one late on.
King’s are doing it tough our back line missing in action today, however, our forwards made sure that we kept our unbeaten run six from six.
We have a midweek game on Wednesday at Pukekohe which I won’t be attending due to work commitments however Mr Potts and the gappies will take the team for a 4pm kick off.
Wishing you all a relaxing term break, thank you to all the parents for your continued support.
Player of the day: Oscar Ferrier.
6A
vs Auckland Grammar
7th Grade
King's 14-41 Orewa College
The Orewa College team is a combined Mahurangi College and Orewa College group that is trained and managed by members of the Silverdale Rugby Club and since the first time we met them has grown in strength and numbers.
Following a week where they had trained well, the King’s 7A squad commenced the game with intent but following a turnover and a quick breakout by Orewa found themselves down 0-5. However, reverting to their hard, uncompromising forward play they soon turned this deficit into a 7 – 5 lead.
But another try against the run of play from Orewa quickly saw them on the back foot again at 7 -12.
In a tit-for-tat display of spectator quality rugby, King’s again scored another converted try to retake the lead at 14-12 albeit only for a short period as Orewa finished the half with their third try to go into the break leading 17-14.
By the second half, Orewa had figured that if they could defend the constant, unrelenting King’s attack and look for breakdown ball and fast breakouts, the game could be theirs and this strategy proved to be correct.
In the second half Orewa added four more fast break runaway tries and King’s had no answer for the Orewa speedsters who seemed to break through the King’s defensive line with impunity and created enough distance and time to regularly dot down right under the posts.
While King’s had the overall possession and territorial advantage during the second half, they were unable to turn this into badly needed points and the result will be a major disappointment to them and one that they will need to rectify when they travel to Helensville on Thursday to play Kaipara College if they are to make the semifinals.
Tries this week to Ben Tapper and James Wilson who have both greatly improved greatly as the season has progressed. Both tries were converted by Jack McKay.
A very special thank you must go to Mr Marcel Delport who willingly gave up the early part of his Saturday morning to give a perfect display of quality refereeing before rushing off to coach his own team. Thank you Mr Delport – it was greatly appreciated.
