Monday 30 June 2025
First XV 24 vs 27 Liston College
In a dramatic and fiercely contested encounter at Liston College, our First XV were edged out 27–24 by Liston College after a last-play try snatched the result.
The match began with both sides struggling to gain control, as ill-discipline and penalties plagued the opening exchanges. Neither team could build sustained momentum early on, but it was us who struck first. Ten minutes in, Johan Schaumkell (Year 13, School) charged down a kick and was first to the loose ball, grounding it over the line to give us a 7–0 lead.
Liston responded swiftly, capitalising on a string of King’s penalties to gain valuable field position. Their pressure was eventually rewarded with a try at the 20-minute mark to level the scores. Continued discipline issues hurt us further, as Liston added two penalties before the break to take a 13–7 halftime lead.
Just five minutes into the second half, sustained attacking pressure culminated in Keneti Fanuatanu (Year 13, St John's) barging over the line, with the conversion giving King’s a 14–13 edge.
The momentum swung fully in our favour shortly after. Following a scrum deep inside their own 10-metre line, D’Angelo Tupou (Year 13, Parnell) took a quick tap and linked up with TJ Anae-Paila (Year 13, School), who broke the line and surged 30 metres before offloading to Marco Miln (Year 13, Selwyn). The skipper showed blistering pace to finish under the posts, extending King’s lead to 21–13.
A penalty in front of the posts pushed us further ahead at 24–13, but Liston weren’t done yet. Midway through the half, they broke through our defence to close the gap to 24–20, setting up a tense final quarter.
The final minutes were played under immense pressure, with us desperately defending our line. Unfortunately, in the last play of the game, Liston found space out wide and crossed in the corner, converting from the sideline to steal a 27–24 victory and send their supporters into raptures.
After the match, a disappointed but reflective Head Coach Ian Robinson praised both teams:
“Yeah, hell of a game. Credit to Liston - they were good today. I’m proud of our boys; 11 games in a row undefeated is a big achievement. Maybe we strayed from what we planned during the week, but when we had the chance to turn up the pressure, we did a great job. Ultimately, the win-loss came down to a last-minute try in the corner, and that’s sport. It won’t define our season - there’s still so much more to come from this group.”
Despite the result, there were plenty of positives for us to take away, including a strong attacking display and several moments of brilliance. The narrow defeat serves as a reminder of the fine margins in top-level schoolboy rugby - and a motivation to come back even stronger in the weeks ahead.
The game saw Charlie Burn (Year 13, School) play his 30th First XV game and Evile Tu’umatavai (Year 13, Major) debut in his first 1A game.
The team now takes three weeks off over the holiday period and looks to bounce back against Kelston Boys' High School on Saturday 19 July away at Kelston.
Second XV 17 vs 14 Saint Kentigern College - Wednesday 25 June
Game two of a demanding three-match week saw the 2A team take on a physically imposing Saint Kentigern College side in blustery conditions on home turf. Despite the size mismatch, we hit the ground running, with the forwards setting the tone through sharp phase play and smart ball movement that regularly unpicked the visitors' defensive line.
Two well-constructed tries from Olly Chapman (Year 13, Selwyn) gave us early reward, and with the wind at their backs, they controlled territory and possession to head into halftime with a deserved 14–0 lead.
Saint Kent's mounting pressure and clawing back into the contest. A series of puzzling refereeing decisions raised eyebrows on the sidelines, but we stayed composed amid the chaos, described by one supporter as "busier than a policeman directing traffic in downtown Calcutta."
When it mattered most, Saint Kent's ill-discipline handed us a crucial penalty, and Felix Spary (Year 12, Selwyn) calmly slotted the three points to seal a gutsy 17–14 victory.
Tries: Olly Chapman (2)
Conversions: Felix Spary (2)
Penalty: Felix Spary
Second XV 7 vs 36 Kelston Boys' High School - Saturday 28 June
With persistent rain overnight soaking the grounds at Kelston Boys' High School, conditions were always going to favour a tight, physical battle. Kelston took full advantage of their size and adapted well to the wet-weather game, dominating early and pushing out to a 22–0 lead by halftime.
We showed good resolve, regrouping after the break, and striking back through a well-finished try to James Shaw (Year 12, School), converted by replacement Cale Ngatai (Year 11, Parnell).
Kelston's big forward pack controlled territory and possession in classic 10-man rugby, extending their lead in the final quarter. Despite the scoreboard, there were positives to take, particularly the courage and commitment shown by the boys in tough conditions. Special mention to Harry Rutherford (Year 12, School) and Ngatai, who stepped up late, as well as the entire forward pack for their relentless work rate. Plenty to learn from a testing week, with the team heading into the break for a well-earned rest.
Next game: Auckland Grammar
Try: James Shaw
Conversion: Cale Ngatai
5A 12 vs 14 Saint Kentigern College
This was a tough one to take. We were 2 meters from a winning try. Ultimately, two key moments cost us the win the team needed.
This was a windy Wednesday and the game would always be played at one end of the pitch. In the first half, the wind was with Saint Kentigern College, and again we demonstrated some determined and gutsy tackling. There was the compulsory try-saving tackle from Harvey Kitt-Reeve (Year 11, St John's). Zavier Linstrom (Year 12, Greenbank) managed to repel Saint Kent's players who were over the line, not once, not twice, but three times. Timote Leha (Year 12, St John's) displayed his 'Inner Jonah' with two barnstorming runs to take us out of the 22. Jett Innes (Year 10, Parnell) and Boston Chandler (Year 11, Peart) also put in some great cover defence.
The dam could not hold. After 20 minutes, Saint Kent's was rewarded for continued pressure and scored near the posts. After the tackling, the most impressive part of the first half was the exit plays by Messrs Liam Parker (Year 11, Parnell) and Will Hargrave (Year 12, Major). It would also be remiss not to mention AJ Ah Chong (Year 10, School), who has taken on the challenge of playing rugby for the first time this year. On three separate occasions, he got the ball at the lineout and either took contact and delivered the ball or passed.
Halftime: King's 0–7 Saint Kent's
Wind at our backs, only a single score down, could this be it?
Well, we started strongly and pinned Saint Kent's down in their half. Then the backs decided to activate 'THE COMAN' move, as it will be known. A superb piece of passing and running from a set piece and the ball was delivered to Karter Harris (Year 10, Peart), who broke the line and went over from outside the 22. He has been exceptional at this in all games and is a superb ball runner. The conversion was missed, but we had 20 minutes to find the points.
The next 10 minutes will go down as a missed opportunity. Many games pivot on key moments, and when the opposition has a rare foray into our 22, we win a penalty and opt not to use the wind and kick the ball downfield, the die was cast. Saint Kent’s retrieved the ball from the scrum and a couple of minutes later crossed the line for a try into the wind to make the score 14–5.
The boys, fired up by Archie ‘The Beast’ McInness (Year 12, St John’s), Jack Long (Year 12, Selwyn) and Lucas Kidd (Year 12, Selwyn) were not going to go down without a fight. From the kick off, we managed to pin Saint Kent’s in their 22 with wave after wave of attack and eventually, the tackling running machine that is Josh McEniery (Year 10, School) went over for a try. Parker duly converted. 12–14 and 8 minutes to go.
It was nerve-racking. Great runs from Shaw Hewett (Year 12, Major), Yamato Sakurai (Year 11, Peart), George Waalkens (Year 11, Selwyn) and the ever-present McEniery saw us meters away from a winning try. Unfortunately, we could not convert our opportunities, and the game finished with Saint Kent's winning narrowly. The fact that we have lost 3 times to Saint Kent's does not do the series justice. We have won three of the six halves of rugby. Game 1 (First); Game 2 (Second) and Game 3 (Second). The calmness we need understandably eludes us.
To play better each week and not win, the silence after the final whistle told the story. However, the two Bills have great faith that the ‘W’ will come.
Tries: Karter Harris, Josh McEniery
Conversion: Liam Parker (1)
U15A 10 vs 3 Kelston Boys' High School
Most parents are too young to have witnessed the great "water test" on Eden Park that the All Black's played in the 1970s; however, we had our own on a saturated Kelston Boys' High School No. 2 field.
With more lakes than the Rotorua region, our boys played some difficult rugby against a very committed opposition. After 8 minutes, Kelston converted a penalty and got their only game points.
Finding space on the outside, the team got deep into the Kelston red zone and Te Hura Marsh (Year 10, School) was able to smash his way through some poor defence to go over for our first points. This try was unconverted.
With the first half drawing to a close, we attacked wide with good running from Ruan Tahi (Year 10, St John's) and set a ruck. From which, Marsh picked up a ball and charged down an open blindside to dive over untouched for his second try of the match. This too went unconverted.
Halftime: King's 10–3 Kelston
The second half was a war of attrition, with both teams battling the conditions and unable to penetrate each other's defences. Donelle Collins (Year 10, Averill) led this stern defence and the best example of the work rate needed came from Oscar Ericksen (Year 10, School), who was awarded our player of the match.
We showed immense resolve to defend our line for long periods, and this will be needed again as we enter the last four rounds against top teams.
Tries: Tehura Marsh (2)
U15R 12 vs 17 Saint Kentigern College
Our U15R team hosted Saint Kentigern College for a midweek clash that delivered plenty of excitement. Both teams came out firing, with strong carries from Johnny Fell (Year 9, St John's) and Daniel Zhu (Year 9, Selwyn) putting us on the front foot early. A brilliant break by Nico Fleming (Year 9, Greenbank) set up James Auva'a (Year 9, Peart) for the opening try. However, Saint Kent's responded with intensity, running in three tries of their own. Just before the break, Fleming crossed the line to keep us in touch, narrowing the deficit to 12–17 at halftime.
Full report to come...
U14A 14 vs 19 Toowoomba Grammar School (Queensland, Australia)
Toowoomba Grammar visited us after playing a tough and close encounter against St John's College in Hamilton. We started well and in the first half put on two good tries to Trey Williams (Year 9, Selwyn) and Thomas Taylor (Year 9, Selwyn). Trey Williams converted both. Five minutes before halftime, King's conceded a soft try and at halftime the score was 14–4. In the second half, the tackling ability of the Toowoomba team kicked in and we, despite plenty of possession and territory, did not look for or create the space to evade these tackles. Two more tries to Toowoomba saw them run out 19–14 victors. Player of the day from the opposition was our fullback Daniel Parker (Year 9, Parnell)
Thanks to Kerry Baker for refereeing the fixture well and to Jason Chadler for his ongoing time, expertise and energy.
Tries: Trey Williams, Thomas Taylor
Conversions: Trey Williams (2)