Monday 9 June 2025
First XV 27 vs 24 St Peter's College
In an exciting clash at home, our First XV edged out St Peter’s College 27–24 on Saturday afternoon in one of the most intense games of the season so far.
King’s made an electric start just ten minutes in, when Johan Schaumkell (Year 13, School) carved through the defence with a stunning line break before offloading to Joseph Fatuvalu (Year 13, Averill), who crossed for the opening try. St Peter’s hit back five minutes later to level the score at 7–7.
Sione Manuopangai (Year 13, Peart) then powered over the line from close range to regain the lead for King’s, though the conversion attempt ricocheted off the post to leave the score at 12–7. St Peter’s responded almost immediately, crossing the line to snatch a 14–12 lead, one they would take into the halftime break.
Five minutes into the second half, King’s turned the tide once more, spreading the ball wide to Ollie Anderson (Year 11, Greenbank), who dotted down in the corner to push King’s ahead 17–14. However, St Peter’s kept themselves in the contest, slotting a penalty to tie the game again at 17–17.
With the match in a nervous deadlock, captain Marco Miln (Year 13, Selwyn) kept his nerve to slot a penalty and edge King’s in front at 20–17. The defining moment came shortly after, when a high-phase attacking sequence saw Calvin Harris-Tavita (Year 13, Parnell) break through to score a vital try, which was converted to give King’s a 27–17 lead.
Despite a late surge from St Peter’s, who crossed for a converted try to bring the score within three, King’s showed composure and discipline, retaining possession for the final three minutes. Miln then calmly kicked the ball into touch to seal the victory.
Following the match, Head Coach Ian Robinson reflected on the significance of the performance and praised his players’ resilience: “We took a big reflection period after the first four games and gave the boys a bit of a break to reset,” he said. “They’ve achieved a lot so far, but we talked about how none of it matters if we don’t back it up. This was one of the championship games we really targeted.”
He commended St Peter’s as a well-coached side with a strong 9–10 combination and powerful forward pack, but was especially proud of how his team responded to the challenge. “It’s not often we beat St Peter’s, and for us to grind out a massive win in such a key game is a huge statement. I’m stoked for the boys.”
Looking ahead, the team now turn their attention to the much-anticipated away clash against traditional rivals Auckland Grammar School next weekend. “When we play Grammar, there’s always so much emotion attached,” Ian said. “But the message is to enjoy every moment and stay composed. We’ve got to own where we are - on top of the table - and be good role models in how we carry ourselves.”
With five wins from five, King’s First XV head into Grammar week with momentum, belief and a clear sense of purpose. The stage is set for another blockbuster encounter.
Congratulations go to Christian Collins (Year 13, Major) and Logan Marsh (Year 13, School) on being awarded their caps after the game.
Second XV 13 vs 8 Dilworth School
A crisp morning at King's No 1 Field set the stage for a tight and physical encounter between King's 2A and Dilworth School. Both sides came ready to play, with early exchanges evenly matched. Dilworth struck first with a well-earned try, taking a 5–0 lead. King's responded with a penalty to close the gap to 5–3 heading into halftime. Strong half-time messages and smart tactical substitutions helped King's maintain intensity, especially in the forwards battle. In the 50th minute, relentless pick-and-go play built momentum, allowing halfback James Shaw (Year 12, School) to slice through and score under the posts. Felix Spary (Year 12, Selwyn) added the extras, putting King's ahead 10–5.
Dilworth rallied with renewed pressure, but King's held firm and turned defence into territory. A crucial penalty, again converted by Spary, extended the lead to 13–5. In the dying minutes, Dilworth closed the margin with a penalty of their own and chased a late comeback, but King's determination and chase on the restart sealed a hard-earned win.
Try: James Shaw
Conversions: Felix Spary
Penalties: Matt Cunningham (Year 12, Greenbank)
Colts 57 vs 21 Southern Cross Campus
A cold and frosty morning did little to dampen the spirits of a determined Colts XV as they opened their competition campaign with a commanding 57–21 win over a big and mobile Southern Cross Campus side.
King’s hit their stride early, scoring three breakaway tries in the first 10 minutes. Number 8 Max Caughey (Year 12, St John's) opened the account with two powerful finishes either side of the posts, followed by a superb solo effort from winger Will Osbourne (Year 11, School) down the side line. Southern Cross responded with sustained pressure and eventually crossed the line to narrow the gap. However, fullback Hugh Smithies (Year 11, Parnell) responded with two elusive runs and classy finishes, sending King’s into the halftime break with a confident 31–7 lead.
The second half began with strong forward momentum and excellent link play from the inside backs. Smithies completed his hat-trick with another skilful finish before King’s pressure led to a well-earned penalty try. Southern Cross continued to fight hard, scoring two well-constructed tries from midfield attacks in the latter stages. Jacob Heron (Year 11, Averill), who worked tirelessly throughout the match, got on the scoreboard with a powerful close-range finish. Osbourne also joined the two-try club thanks to great build-up play from the midfield.
Goal kicker and first five-eighth Cale Ngatai (Year 11, Parnell) converted five of eight attempts, finishing with a 63% kicking rate. A superb all-round performance saw King’s finish 57–21 winners, full of confidence and momentum moving forward.
Tries: Hugh Smithies (3), Max Caughey (2), Will Osbourne (2), Jacob Heron, penalty try
Conversions: Cale Ngatai (5)
1R Maroon 20 vs 7 Glendowie College
All of the Under 85kg matches were played at Colin Maiden Park (the University rugby club) yesterday, which created a festival atmosphere. This was the first round of competition matches for our grade, and we were keen to commence the season proper with a good win against Glendowie College, who we had beaten several weeks ago in a non-competition match.
We started well with an early try to prop Izaiah Asiata (Year 12, Parnell). That was the only score in the first half as both teams battled for possession and field position. The second half continued the same as the first, with both teams fighting hard to cross the opposition try line. We created a number of scoring opportunities, but our accuracy and finishing were lacking at times.
We did, however, manage to score three further tries to flanker Tommy Farag (Year 13, School) and wingers Charlie Robertson (Year 12, School) and Malcolm Barrow (Year 12, School). Our kickers were unable to convert any of the tries and the opposition scored one converted try. The final score was 20–7 and while we managed to get the job done, there is still room for improvement before we play St. Kentigern at home next Saturday.
Tries: Izaiah Asiata, Tommy Farag, Charlie Robertson, Malcolm Barrow
1R Gold 19 vs 28 Dilworth School
Our first competition game of the season was played in a vibrant, festival-like atmosphere alongside the other 1R Grade teams at Colin Maiden Park. With the stage set for some exciting, open running rugby, Dilworth came out strong from the kick-off. Their powerful forward pack consistently broke through our defensive line and were rewarded early with a converted try to take a 7–0 lead.
However, as we've seen in our previous games, our boys responded with determination. After a series of solid phases led by the forwards, the backs finished the movement with a well-earned try to Jack Burns (Year 11, Peart). The conversion narrowly missed, leaving us trailing 7–5. Dilworth continued to apply pressure through their forwards, once again finding success through the middle and scoring another converted try before halftime, extending their lead to 14–5.
The second half followed a similar pattern, but our team showed great attacking intent and resilience. We struck back with two impressive tries - one from Yusng Seol (Year 11, Averill) and another from Dayton Ng Wun (Year 12, Greenbank). Both were successfully converted by Archie Gore (Year 11, Selwyn), bringing us back into the game. Despite our efforts, Dilworth maintained their intensity and scored again to secure a 28–19 win.
While the result didn't go our way, the team is showing promising development, especially considering the low training numbers. It was particularly encouraging to see strong progress from players like Jiahong Liu (Year 11, School) and Tiano Mafile'o (Year 11, St John's), who are still relatively new to rugby. Our backline was dangerous with the ball in hand, with strong running from Anrich Jacobs (Year 13, Greenbank), Jack Burns, and CJ Hooker (Year 13, Parnell). Defensively, Ollie Sinclair (Year 11, Greenbank), Benson Edwards (Year 10, Selwyn), and Lachlan Wong (Year 11, St John's) stood out - especially Ollie, who secured several key turnovers at the breakdown.
We'll take the positives from this performance and continue working hard as we prepare for our next game.
Tries: Jack Burns, Yusng Seol, Dayton Ng Wun
Conversions: Archie Gore (2)
6A 51 vs 0 Auckland Grammar
King’s 6A delivered a breath-taking performance against Grammar 6B, dominating from start to finish in a 51–0 victory. Ashton Stewart (Year 10, Greenbank) opened the scoring with a brilliant solo try just four minutes in, and the floodgates opened from there.
Tries came thick and fast from Charlie Coulter (Year 10, School), Zack Anderson (Year 10, Greenbank), Taylor Kijowski (Year 10, School), Edward Cormack (Year 10, School), Remy O’Neill (Year 10, Averill), and McQuade Ingram (Year 10, Greenbank), who scored twice. The team’s passing, structure, and finishing were all outstanding, with conversions added by Stewart, O’Neill, and Tomas Ibanez (Year 10, School).
This match was a true showcase of teamwork, discipline, and talent across the park - a memorable win that reflects the team’s hard work and commitment.
Tries: Taylor Kijowski (2), McQuade Ingram (2), Ashton Stewart, Remy O’Neill, Charlie Coulter, Edward Cormack, Zack Anderson
Conversions: Ashton Stewart, Remy O’Neill, Tomas Ibanez
5A 14 vs 38 Sacred Heart College
The final score reflected the gap between the two sides, but there were bright moments for King’s. When structure and game plans were followed, the team looked far more composed. A lack of cohesion and limited game time this term showed, though several individuals gave their all.
The first half was dominated by Sacred Heart, but the highlight came from a brilliant intercept try by Toby Richardson (Year 12, St John's), who read the play and sprinted 85 metres to score under the posts. At the break, King’s trailed 12–7.
The second half started poorly, with three soft tries conceded, however, the last ten minutes showed promise, as the team executed a planned lineout move perfectly, allowing Jett Innes (Year 10, Peart) to crash over for a team try. Liam Parker (Year 11, Parnell) added the conversion from the side-line.
There’s plenty of work to do - especially in improving game awareness and training consistency - but with Auckland Grammar next week, the motivation will be high.
Tries: Toby Richardson, Jett Innes
Conversions: Liam Parker (2)
U15A 22 vs 8 Dilworth School
Dilworth turned up at King's with a determined and aggressive mindset. They applied an incredible amount of pressure in the first half, which rattled our boys.
From a good lineout deep inside Dilworth territory, our backs were able to execute a great move, finished by Manaariki Kea-Cameron (Year 10, Selwyn). King's made several uncharacteristic handling mistakes, and in combination with some unusual refereeing decisions, meant we were down 8–5 at the halftime break.
Some stern words from the coaching team during the break helped awaken the team and brought a change of focus and resolve. From a poor Dilworth kick, Ruan Tahi (Year 10, St John's) was able to counterattack from deep in the King's half; after tying the defenders in knots, he popped a pass to Johnny Ford (Year 10, Selwyn) to finish a spectacular effort. The ensuing successful conversion from Ford lifted the team's confidence and enthusiasm.
A mere two minutes later, Jamie Tauelangi (Year 10, Marsden) spotted a gap down the blindside, picked, and made a huge run before drawing two tacklers and offloading to Tahi to finish a game-changing try.
There was more to come from Tauelangi, who came on at half-time and made a huge impact through brutal defence, earning man of the match honours. King's defence was now turning into attack, and Dilworth had nowhere to hide. Then, as if the King's supporters weren't excited enough, Kea-Cameron delivered his entry for try of the year. Receiving the ball near his own 22-metre line, he beat three, then another four defenders before being taken to ground over halfway. Sensing no defenders in front of him, he released the ball, sprang to his feet, regathered it, and ran 40 metres, beating another three defenders to score just right of the goalposts. In case you lost count, that was ten defenders in total.
U15A have a bye this coming weekend, but would like to wish the First XV well in their match with Auckland Grammar School and take inspiration from the team as we build towards our next fixtures.
Tries: Manaariki Kea-Cameron (2), Johnny Ford, Ruan Tahi
Conversion: Johnny Ford
U15R 25 vs 17 Mount Albert Grammar School
U15R kicked off their competition season with a strong 25–17 win over Mount Albert Grammar School (MAGS). A solid first-half performance saw the team take a 15–0 lead, with tries to Daniel Zhu (Year 9, Selwyn), Ollie Knight (Year 9, Major), and captain Hugo Neville-White (Year 9, Averill).
MAGS struck early in the second half, but King’s hit back through another Neville-White try and a powerful finish by number 8 Jack Rutherford (Year 9, School), who led the forwards impressively alongside Charlie Freeman (Year 9, School).
Although MAGS mounted a late surge with two more tries, King’s had already done enough. A promising all-round team effort to build on after the bye round next weekend.
Tries: Hugo Neville-White (2), Daniel Zhu, Ollie Knight, Jack Rutherford
U14A 5 vs 112 St Peter's College
The Under 14 Open side went down to a bigger, stronger, and more cohesive Kelston Boys' team by 18 tries to one. Despite the tough loss, our boys showed great spirit, continued to try until the final whistle, and will rise again.
Try: Willy Thompson (Year 9, St John's)