Monday 18 August 2025
First XV 36 vs 27 Saint Kentigern College
In front of a buzzing Eden Park crowd, our First XV delivered a commanding display on Saturday afternoon, defeating Saint Kentigern College 36–27 and claiming the prestigious 1A title.
The match began with early pressure from King’s with Marco Miln (Year 13, Selwyn) calmly slotting a penalty to open the scoring. Saint Kentigern responded to edge ahead, but Josh McKay (Year 13, School) quickly turned the tide with a brilliant solo run, breaking through the defence to score under the posts.
Momentum continued to swing King’s way when a perfectly placed kick behind the defensive line was gathered by TJ Anae-Paila (Year 13, School), who powered through tackles to finish in the corner. A clinical team try followed, with Joseph Fatuvalu (Year 13, Averill) crossing from a scrum to secure a narrow 22–19 lead at halftime.
The second half saw King’s take full control of the contest. Miln, instrumental throughout, produced a clever dummy pass on the 10-metre line to slice through the defence and score. Soon after, he turned provider, setting up Johan Schaumkell (Year 13, School) for another try that stretched the advantage to 36–19.
Despite a late fightback from Saint Kentigern, King’s remained composed and dominant across the park, closing out a deserved 36–27 victory. A special moment followed at full-time as Miln lifted the trophy in front of a sea of maroon supporters.
Congratulations to Johan Schaumkell, who was awarded his First XV 50th game cap, and was given the tribute of a haka from the team.
With this result, the team are officially the 2025 Auckland 1A champions - a testament to their skill, determination and teamwork throughout the season.
The journey continues next Saturday when the team take on Westlake Boys’ High School in the Blues regional final, kicking off at 2.30pm on our home turf.
Colts 8 vs 36 Auckland Grammar School
Heading into the semi-final against a strong Auckland Grammar School team (top of the table), the boys knew it was going to be a real dog fight right to the end, as the challenging season had culminated with injuries and illness testing the depth and resilience of the squad.
After losing the coin toss, the Colts XV started strong into a moderate wind by taking the first opportunity to get points on the board through a penalty kick slotted over by Cale Ngatai (Year 11, Parnell). Despite ball-handling errors making for erratic momentum, the team showed determination whenever they entered the opposition’s half. Captain Samuel Coulter (Year 12, School) led from the front, sparking opportunities and ensuring that the Colts stayed in the contest. After 25 minutes of to-and-fro, Grammar were first to put points on the board with a converted try, to which King’s replied quickly with a well-worked unconverted try by Coulter, bringing up a first-half lead of 8-7.
Throughout the second half, the boys fought hard and pushed themselves, staying in the game for the opening 10 minutes, but Grammar proceeded to step up a gear, and their relentless attack proved a challenge to defend. There were many strong performances across the park - the engine room of the tight five laid an excellent platform for the backs with the little possession that they had. The loose trio stood tall with tough, committed defence throughout. Our backline also showed real class both in attack and defence in patches. Unfortunately, as errors crept into our play, Grammar were swift to capitalise.
The Colts XV would like to thank Hippolyte Carnot (Year 11, School) for his contribution to the 2025 season. We have loved the Le Bleu connection and have benefited from his commitment and energy. We wish him every success as he returns home to Paris. Our sincere thanks and best wishes also go to all the 2025 Colts players as they move forward into the future. It has been an awesome season and making the 2B Semi-final is a well-deserved reward.
Virtus Pollet.
Try: Sam Coulter
Penalty kicks: Cale Ngatai
1R Maroon 7 vs 38 Sacred Heart College
We finished fourth after the round robin of pool matches, which meant we would have to travel across to Sacred Heart College (SHC) for our semi-final that was played on their No 1 field on a fine but very windy day. Sacred Heart had been undefeated all season and had beaten us comfortably three weeks before the semi-final. We trained well throughout the week and prepared for a very physical and tough match, and this is exactly what it turned out to be.
Sacred had the strong wind at their backs in the first half and scored a converted try early on. We started climbing into our work, but every time we coughed up the ball, they kicked the ball deep into our half and pinned us down inside our 22m. About halfway through the first half, they scored another converted try and led 14–0. Just before halftime, we lost our captain – Fraser Brown (Year 13, Peart) – with a dislocated shoulder, but I was still fairly happy to be only 14–0 down playing into the strong wind. Right on halftime, however, we let in a soft try, and when the whistle blew, we turned around 19–0 down on the scoreboard.
During the break, I informed the boys not to panic and to use the wind to our advantage in the second half. This we did with some good kicks downfield by our backs, and from one excursion into their 22m, Daniel Chitty (Year 13, School) dove across the try-line and then converted his own try. Having gained some momentum, I felt confident that we could score again, but some inaccuracies and poor finishing cost us, and from a couple of turnovers, Sacred used the ball well and scored a further three tries to put an end to our season and our hopes of making the final next Saturday.
There is a reason that they are undefeated this season, and we were just beaten by a better team on the day, who thoroughly deserved their place in the final.
Despite the loss, I was still very proud of the way the boys gave their best and never stopped trying. Although we ended up finishing fourth in our grade, we played some fantastic football throughout the season, and I thoroughly enjoyed coaching this wonderful bunch of young men. I wish them all every success in their future rugby careers.
Try: Daniel Chitty
Conversion: Daniel Chitty
5A 0 vs 46 Auckland Grammar School
Let’s Flush This One Down the Dunnie
Unfortunately, 5A did not read the memo, and we saved the worst for last. Last game, only 17 players, and during the game, we lost one player to a concussion, one to a pulled calf muscle and one received a broken nose.
We did start well and had good territory and possession. The scores were level for the first 11 minutes. After the first score, the team appeared to lose heart and with it some structure.
Half-time: King’s 0–24
Our season was perhaps best summed up in one play. We were attacking and Zavier Linstrom (Year 12, Greenbank) made a strong break inside the Grammar 22. He went to ground and there were three Grammar players over the ball before a King’s player arrived. Grammar won a penalty, went up the field and scored.
In this game, Will Hargrave (Year 12, Major) was immense and never stopped trying. Yamato Sakurai (Year 11, Peart) is to be congratulated on slotting in at hooker after only one training session. Archie McInness (Year 12, St John’s) and Lucas Kidd (Year 12, Selwyn) were aggressive in the carry. Josh McEniery (Year 10, School) was unlucky to take a head knock in the first half and we missed his immense work at the breakdown. Karter Harris (Year 10, Peart) had some strong, aggressive runs and Toby Richardson (Year 12, St John’s) showed some fight.
Good luck to Alex Sonn (Year 10, Major) as he returns to South Africa, and perhaps if he makes the Springboks in the future, King’s can lay claim to another international. Travel well.
U15A 17 vs 5 Auckland Grammar School
The world-renowned blues singer John Lee Hooker once sang the words, Boom Boom Boom Boom.
And so it would be, the King’s side would need to bring the Boom!! to get past a spirited and determined Auckland Grammar in this semi-final. On an overcast but very still morning, and incidentally on the very field which bore witness to the King’s First XV semi-final win against the same foe seven days prior.
The first 20 minutes of the match saw both teams making a few errors and being unable to capitalise on any point-scoring movements.
Pinpoint accuracy from Ollie Bayley (Year 10, Selwyn) with his lineout throwing led to a number of driving mauls, which Grammar were unable to contain. Finally, after one such drive, combined with sweeping back play, an opportunity presented itself to Manaariki Kea-Cameron (Year 10, Selwyn), who showed a turn of speed that people say had a sonic boom, to score in the right-hand corner, try unconverted.
Bursting from another lineout drive on halfway, 5 minutes later, prop Tolokana Pulupuna (Year 10, Marsden) ran 20m down the field with one man to beat, but unable to replicate the twinkle toes he showed in a recent school dance production, he was tackled. Quick passing to the opposite side of the field and a bullocking charge from Tehura Marsh (Year 10, School) resulted in a King’s try. Conversion unsuccessful.
Half-time: King’s 10–0
The second half started with a series of handling mistakes by King’s near their own goal line, and after a short attack Grammar scored their first points with an unconverted try.
This erased any thoughts that this semi-final was in the bag, and a dominant King’s tight five rolled up their sleeves and went to work. Cleanouts by Jack Morris (Year 10, St John’s), Patrick Sandlant (Year 10, School) and charges by Kavelle Wiki-Rawiri (Year 10, St John’s), supported by the tireless Nikau Henwood (Year 11, St John’s), kept Grammar pinned in their own half for the remainder of the game.
With time running out, a display of fancy footwork from debutants Tevita Lo (Year 10, Marsden) and Robert Tahi (Year 10, St John’s), which could see them too make a school show, led to Donnell Collins (Year 10, Averill) throwing a big dummy pass and running 30m to score and put the result beyond doubt. Try converted (Kea-Cameron).
The team now face St Peter's College in the final of the U15A competition this Saturday.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM.
Tries: Kea-Cameron, Tehura Marsh, Donnell Collins
Conversion: Kea-Cameron