Tuesday 5 May 2026
King's First XV 38 vs 14 Liston College
On Saturday afternoon, our First XV started their 2026 1A season with a commanding 38-14 victory over Liston College, overcoming a physical opening exchange to pull away in a dominant second-half display.
The season opener began at a high intensity, with both sides trading heavy blows in a physical start. While early nerves led to a few penalties, King's struck first after ten minutes when Josiah Fifita (Year 12, Averill) capitalised on a fast break from winger Jack Burns (Year 12, Peart) to cross the line. However, Liston responded through their own period of sustained pressure, levelling the scores at 7-7 midway through the half. The lead continued to seesaw; a powerful tap-and-go from Kavelle Wiki-Rawiri (Year 11, St John's) briefly put King's back in front, but a persistent drive from the Liston forwards just before the break saw the visitors take a narrow 14-12 lead into half time.
King's emerged for the second half with renewed tactical focus, led by the intelligent territorial kicking of Ricoh Wilson (Year 12, Greenbank). Despite some early unforced errors, the pressure eventually told. Tee Marsh (Year 11, School) reclaimed the lead for King's after a gruelling series of phases, and shortly after, Ruka Smythe (Year 13, Parnell) crossed the line, which shifted the momentum firmly in favour of the home side, creating a 12-point buffer that Liston struggled to bridge.
The final ten minutes showcased the defensive grit and attacking flair. A crucial defensive stand on their own five-metre line prevented a Liston comeback, before the backs took over. In the highlight of the match, King's moved the ball from their own 22 with a sequence of clinical support passes, allowing Burns to finish a brilliant team try, which Wilson excellently converted from the touchline to extend the lead further. In the last moments of the game, James Shaw (Year 13, School) added the finishing touch with a leaping effort in the corner to seal the result.
Following the final whistle, Head Coach Ian Robinson expressed immense pride in the squad's composure, particularly given that 19 players were making their 1A debuts.
"I'm just super proud of the boys." he said. "It was a tight first half, but we talked about staying in it and sticking to our processes. The bench made a real impact today, and those boys just stepped up when it mattered."
Robinson was quick to credit the players' work ethic and potential: "They're a very special group of young men who are working hard. They are a different team to what we've had in the past, but they showed today they can play. I'm excited for where we can take this group – there are some fantastic athletes out there and they deserve this."
Congratulations to Ben Galloway (Year 13, Selwyn) for making his First XV debut, and to Ruka Smythe for getting capped after the game.
Securing maximum points at home provides a perfect start to the 1A campaign, setting a high standard for next week's match against St. Peter's College away at the Cage.
Pre-Season: King's Colts XV 36 vs 0 Mount Albert Grammar School 2C
A clear and sunny morning set the scene for a great start to the Colts XV season on Field 2 at home with a convincing win – six tries to nil. Played in three twenty-minute sets, the non-competition match against Mount Albert Grammar School (MAGS) 2C was the team's first opportunity to gel as a team and test out new combinations.
Team captain and first five-eighth Ben Wilson (Year 12, Peart) opened the scoring honours by capitalising on a MAGS passing error in their 22, toeing the ball forward and scoring the first try which was unconverted by midfielder Wai Lee-Lemon (Year 12, Parnell).
Winger Jonny Ford’s (Year 11, Selwyn) left corner try (unconverted) was the finishing touch on some slick passing by the backs. Straight off the next kick-off receive, the Colts' backs launched into attack, spinning the ball through the hands from left field to right, putting Winger Karter Harris (Year 11, Peart) into space in the right corner to dot down under the sticks for a converted try (Lee-Lemon). Sustained pressure in the opposition half culminated in second five-eighth Josh McEniery (Year 11, School) scooping up a loose ball from broken play in the 33rd minute of play with an unconverted try.
Backs attacking combinations in the final third were built on a platform of momentum created by the forwards, giving Ford and Lee-Lemon the space for breakaway tries under the goalposts. Both were dutifully slotted over by Lee-Lemon.
Our thanks to our boys who helped a depleted MAGS side by substituting in for their injured players. Final score: Colts XV 36 - nil MAGS 2C.
Pre-Season: King's 6A 0 vs 46 Botany Downs Secondary College
Our 6A team enjoyed their second pre-season match as they continue to build combinations and gain confidence playing together. Coming up against a strong Botany side, the boys showed great effort and commitment, with plenty of positive signs to take from the performance.
With only a short time together, the team is already demonstrating promise. As the season progresses and cohesion grows, there is every reason to expect continued improvement, particularly as the players work towards delivering a full 60-minute performance.
The forwards worked hard to maintain possession, led well by Captain Sammy Berry (Year 10, Parnell), Tom Squires (Year 10, Averill) and Raff Henshaw (Year 10, Peart). The team was organised effectively by halves Liam Robinson (Year 10, Greenbank) and Hugo Wells (Year 10, Peart), who guided team play.
Strong running from Riley Gardner (Year 10, St John's) and Harry Thompson (Year 10, Marsden) highlighted the backs' intent, while our wings showed enthusiasm and pace when given opportunities.
Botany capitalised well on turnovers and long-range opportunities but defensively, the team showed pleasing effort around the rucks, setting a platform to build on. Overall, this was a valuable and encouraging step forward in the team's journey.
Pre-Season: King's Second XV 78 vs 5 Rutherford College
The Second XV enjoyed a convincing win over Rutherford College in what proved to be a largely one-sided contest. While the scoreline reflected our dominance, the match provided a valuable opportunity to give game time to a wider group of players across the squad.
From the outset, our side controlled possession well and showed good composure with the ball in hand. The team executed the basics effectively, showcasing attacking intent and capitalising on scoring opportunities when they arose, particularly in the wider channels. Our defensive effort was equally pleasing, with strong organisation and communication limiting Rutherford College's attacking chances.
A key positive from the game was the opportunity to rotate players and test combinations, allowing many squad members to contribute meaningfully. It was encouraging to see players step up and apply themselves, maintaining standards despite the imbalance in the contest.
While the result was pleasing, there are still a number of areas to refine as we look ahead to the 2A competition starting this coming Saturday. Continuing to focus on accuracy, decision-making under pressure, and maintaining intensity for the full 70-minutes will be important moving forward.
Overall, a great performance and a valuable outing for the squad.
MVP — Finn Jones (Year 13, Parnell) for demonstrating excellent work ethic in both attack and defence.
Pre-Season: King's U15A 17 vs 51 De La Salle College
Dubbed the unofficial "Battle of the Train Tracks", Saturday morning's clash between King's and De La Salle College certainly lived up to its reputation. From the opening whistle, De La Salle made their intentions clear, bringing intensity and physicality as they looked to stamp their authority early.
De La Salle struck first, capitalising on broken play and repeatedly exploiting the blindside to run in three early tries. King's were slow to adjust initially, but as the half wore on, the boys began to respond with grit and determination, particularly through some outstanding defensive efforts.
Leading the charge on defence was Kalani Finau (Year 10, Greenbank), whose tackling set the tone, alongside Leo Waide (Year 10, School), who was exceptional at the breakdown, securing five turnovers in a standout performance as a genuine open-side flanker. The forward pack showed encouraging signs, with Max Maire (Year 10, Peart) making his presence felt. The lineup functioned steadily with Freddie Blagden (Year 10, School) making good decisions to find space.
In the backs, it took some time to adapt to De La Salle's tempo and our rolling substitutions, as this match doubled as a trial for several players. For some, it was their first outing, and they showed commendable courage stepping up to this level.
The second half saw a much-improved King's side take the field. Quick thinking from Daniel Parker (Year 10, Parnell) sparked momentum, leading to King's scoring the opening try of the half. His combination with Freddie Evans (Year 10, Averill) and Trey Williams (Year 10, Selwyn) in the midfield created a solid defensive unit, highlighted by several dominant tackles.
Out wide, Miller Ward (Year 10, Parnell) provided a spark in attack, with his elusive footwork and sharp changes of direction reminiscent of Christian Cullen.
A real positive from the day was the opportunity for all players to take the field and express themselves. As coaches, that willingness to play, compete, and enjoy the game is exactly what you hope to see and it was clear the boys embraced it.
With valuable lessons learned and combinations beginning to form, King's now turn their attention to next week's fixture against St Peter's, where they will look to build on this performance with a more settled side.
Head Coach: Joel Wiggans