First XV 36 v 31 Liston College
A desperate defensive stand in the final five minutes sealed a 36-31 victory for the First XV over Liston College at home on Saturday.
In a thrilling 1A contest where both sides had their moments, the visitors were hot on attack until the dying stages before King’s earned a crucial turnover to secure the win. With the sun shining, plenty of action and attacking intent were displayed across the park.
King’s didn’t waste any time putting points on the board as prop Sione Manuopangai (Year 12, Peart) crashed over for a try inside the first five minutes.
Ill-discipline from King’s invited Liston back into the game and they scored two tries to take the lead 5-12.
The First XV struggled at times to contain Liston’s dangerous backs, with missed tackles proving costly. The set-piece was slick for King’s, who were impressive at scrum-time, while the lineout was efficient.
As the first half wore on, King’s wing Robbie Noble (Year 13, Greenbank) dashed away and put in a deft grubber kick, which halfback Marco Miln regathered to score. First five Harrison Martin (Year 13, Selwyn) added the extras and it was back to 12-12.
Continuing the back-and-forth nature of the game, both sides found their way across the stripe before the half ended. The King’s try was scored by flanker Johan Schaumkell (Year 12, School), who had an outstanding match, and another Martin conversion meant King’s took a 19-17 lead to the break.
Despite having a slight breeze at their backs in the second spell, King’s found themselves starved of possession early on and that eventually led to another Liston try as they reclaimed the lead.
The following 20 minutes proved decisive in the grand scheme though as tries to Noble, Martin, and Christopher Hatch (Year 11, Major), plus a conversion from Miln, saw King’s move ahead 36-24 on the scoreboard with 11 minutes left.
Liston added a late try that put them within striking distance, but the First XV’s defence held firm during some tense final moments.
The match marked 1A debuts for eight players in the First XV, including Calvin Harris-Tevita (Year 11, Parnell), who showed moments of brilliance from fullback while his kicking was accurate in general play.
First XV coach Ian Robinson said he was pleased to bank five points from a closely fought encounter: “They’re a physical team and we knew they were going to come at us. I’m really, really proud of the boys.”
The First XV’s next outing is an away fixture against local rivals De La Salle College at 2.30pm on Saturday 18 May.
Second XV 17 v 10 Sacred Heart College
Saturday 11 May produced a great day of sunshine to kick off the 2024 2A rugby season, setting the perfect scene for a home game on Field 1 at King’s College. The Second XV boys took to the field with the mindset to hustle and apply pressure on the SHC attack, thus making it hard for their runners to build momentum throughout the match. Coaches James Reyburn and Orene Ai’i agreed that “solid defence for sustained periods and sheer tenacity in defence won us the game.”
Joseph Tautu-Buchanan (Year 12, Selwyn) scored the match's opening try (unconverted) off the back of a sustained forward attack on the SHC line. Number Eight Keanu Ezekiela (Year 13, Parnell), with his strong carries and physical presence both with and without the ball, was great to see. Openside Flanker Olly Chapman (Year 12, Selwyn) also put in a solid shift in attack and defence, including a breakaway sprint down the length of the field, only to be stopped a few metres short of the try line. His outstanding efforts throughout rewarded him with an unconverted try in the first half of the game.
A special mention to Prop Tom Boucher (Year 12, Greenbank) upfront, who worked exceptionally hard on the attack to get his hands on the ball and make busting runs down the paddock.
In the backs, the control from First Five Eighth Zion Savaka (Year 12, Peart), including his ability to relieve pressure through kicking or carries, was a big factor in backline play. Johnny Wilson (Year 12, Parnell), on the wing, played a sound defensive game, and his ability to retain possession and stay on the field allowed the team to play off the edge, helping him to score a first-half try.
Coaches final word – Saturday’s match against SHC 2A showed “much promise, a lot of positives and work-ons, but without a doubt, the boys produced a great platform with which to start our season.”
Tries: Joseph Tautu (1), Johnny Wilson (1), Ollie Chapman (1)
Conversions: Felix Spary (1/3)
U15 Open 27 v 12 Liston College
Another fine day at King’s College on Saturday saw the U15 Open XV bring a positive attitude, focus and absolute determination, whilst there were challenges due to last-minute changes due to injury and illness in the squad.
The team stepped up to the line and delivered a really encouraging performance, starting with intensity and tempo, which set the tone for the game. What was pleasing was that every player contributed to the plan.
First-half scores by Will Osborne (Year 10, School) and Ollie Anderson (Year 10, Greenbank), with the latter being converted by Cale Ngatai (Year 10, Parnell), showed that the work we had done during the week on moving the ball quickly to the wide channels after accurate execution by the forwards, designed to pull defenders in and create space out wide, was proving effective. Liston College rallied and struck back with a converted score just before Half-Time (12-7), showing that the game was still far from over and that we would have to keep our concentration and work rate on point to achieve the performance goals we had set.
The break gave us time to reset, re-focus and remind ourselves of the plan. The new energy was introduced and four changes were made to the lineup, and the King's men returned to work. Robbie Dunn (Year 10, Marsden) crossed for a third King’s try in the 37th minute after some creative midfield play with Ngatai, adding the conversion.
The game then entered a frantic period, with both teams making a number of errors. The action was end to end, with Liston coming back into the game with another Try. Ngatai settled the nerves with a solid strike, landing a well-needed Penalty Goal and King’s were re-energised. A period of strong running and good support resulted in Dunn picking up his second score of the match at the 65-minute mark. Five minutes later, the final whistle blew and applause rang out for the performances of both teams. Thanks again to the players for their efforts in training during the week and for the solid and successful performance in the game.
Awards:
Smashed ‘em Bro: Aisea Ngata (Year 10, Parnell), for some big tackles at key times!
Honey Badger: Elijah Pathan (Year 10, Parnell), for great work at No. 8 throughout the match!
Special mention to Ben Leith (Year 10, St John's) and Caleb Francis (Year 10, School) for coming in to help on the day. Thank you for your efforts and support. We move on with growing confidence and look forward to our first away game against St Peter’s next Saturday. Let’s take the show on the road and defend King’s College’s honour away from home.
5A 48 v 0 Macleans College
(Pre-season Game)
On a beautiful autumn morning with near-perfect conditions, the King’s 5A team put on a great display of running rugby versus Macleans College, scoring eight tries & winning 48-0. As the last pre-season game, the game was played in quarters to ensure all 28 available King’s players got their chance to bring their skills to the fore.
The game was not as easy as the scoreline suggested, with it being a real arm wrestle in the 1st and 2nd quarters, with King’s putting real pressure on the Macleans forwards and not allowing them out of their own half. With the consistent defensive aggression from the King’s loose forwards and Jamie Ogilvie (Year 11, Averill) and Sam Coulter (Year 11, School) winning several turnovers, Macleans could not get into a rhythm. At the end of 40 minutes, with three well-constructed team tries finished by the backs, King’s went into the halftime break up 17-0.
The second half saw the King's defensive intensity increase, with Hugo Olde (Year 11, School) and Zavier Linstrom (Year 11, Greenbank) working in tandem to terrorise the Macleans halfback and first five. I am sure the Macleans No. 9 will be having nightmares. With the opposition going backwards, the King’s backline created more space and the gaps opened up, with five tries added in the second half. With seven of the eight tries scored by the backs with two from Barney Foote (Year 11, Averill), it highlighted that by doing the hard work up front earlier in the game, we were able to open up the space in Macleans defence enabling the backs to finish off.
With changes of players and new combinations every 20 minutes, there were some minor areas where the team will need to focus in the coming weeks. However, there are a lot more positives than negatives. By sticking with the game plan of playing the zones, superior defence, winning the early arm wrestle, wearing them down and then opening up to finish, the team ran in three tries in the last quarter.
Overall, this was an excellent finish to the pre-season games with three wins. The team is looking forward to the rest of the season and will refocus on the 1st competition game next week.
Tries: Barney Foote x 2, Archie Kennedy (Yera 12, St John's), Cooper Fenwick (Year 12, Peart).
6A 34 v 0 Macleans College
(Pre-season Game)
The sun was out and the stage set for an electrifying match as two courageous teams took to the field, ready to battle it out and display their skills, determination and physicality.
A confident start for Macleans getting hands on the ball early, testing the King’s defence! After a tough opening start, King’s fought their way with a few line breaks, which set up the first try by Harry Rutherford (Year 11, School), followed by a well-converted kick from Liam Parker (Year 10, Parnell).
Throughout the first half, King’s game flow was not as smooth due to conceding too many penalty counts. On defense, King’s took the option to kick for territory, leading to an error from Macleans King’s took the opportunity to spin the ball out wide, gaining valuable territory, allowing Archie Gore (Year 10, Selwyn) to crash over the line for the second try. Another try followed later when the strong King’s forwards turned the ball over, leading to a try for Archie McInness (Year 11, St John's).
Despite a solid lead, there was an air of anticipation after a constructive team talk from coaches Jason Chandler and Dave Edwards. The substitutions rolled throughout the second half, the King’s team lifted their game level. With great communication and leading the attack, the first five eight Charlie Rutherford (Year 10, School) got the backline going. The backline trio combination of Rutherford, Hugh Smithies (Year 10, Parnell) and Caleb Francis (Year 10, School) started to make some great breakthroughs, opening up scoring opportunities. Caleb Stephens (Year 10, Greenbank) made a solid run down the short side to score, strengthening King's lead. Jarel Samasoni's (Year 10, Averill) return also made some penetrating runs in the second half. You can’t ignore the fast-line speed in defence. Smithies grabbed an intercept and scored under the posts and Rutherford converted.
To seal the victory, Rutherford made a strong run busting through Macleans defence and then with a beautiful offload to Harry Lyus (Year 10, Major), who touched down.
The final score was 34-0 to King’s College.
U15R 17 v 67 King’s Prep
Valiant Effort by King's College U15R Despite Tough Loss to King's Prep.
In a highly anticipated annual showdown, the Kings College U15R team displayed immense determination and skill against Kings Prep School despite ultimately falling short with a final score of 67-17. From the outset, Kings College U15R demonstrated their resilience, refusing to be intimidated by the formidable reputation of their opponents. Led by the inspiring leadership of captain Remy O'Neill (Year 9, Averill), the team showcased unwavering commitment and fought tirelessly until the final whistle.
The match saw standout performances from key players such as James Cunningham (Year 9, Greeebank), whose exceptional try highlighted the team's offensive capabilities. Ed Cormack (Year 9, Averill)'s display of strong runs contributed to the King's College commendable efforts on the field. Though the scoreboard may not reflect it, Kings College U15R exhibited moments of brilliance, challenging King's Prep with their strategic plays and cohesive teamwork. Despite facing a formidable opponent, they always remained strong in their resolve to compete at their best.
As the final score was tallied, Kings College U15R may have come up short in terms of points, but their display of grit and determination was nothing short of commendable through the second half. Their efforts serve as a testament to the resilience and spirit of the team, leaving a lasting impression on both fans and opponents alike.
