Founded in 1917 as an all-boys school, St Andrew’s became fully co-educational in 2001 and is now the only independent, co-educational primary and secondary school in the South Island.
They are the first co-educational school to win the national First XV title since Mt Albert Grammar in 2016 – and also the first private school to do so since Scots College shared one after a 26-26 draw against Hamilton Boys’ High School in 2014.
In a tight final the teams were level at 24-24 with 15 minutes to play, but St Andrew’s – full of enterprise and self-belief – used their size well and conjured up two late tries as Tauranga fatigued.
Overwhelmed with joy and with tears trickling down his bright red cheeks, at the final whistle St Andrew’s stalwart manager Mike “Scrumpy” Johnston informed his victorious huddle they were the finest team in the 109-year history of the college.
But it was Willi Heinz, the former England player and Canterbury halfback who is head of rugby at St Andrew’s, who made an even more telling observation.
He reflected on how his team had proved a point about the strength of rugby at co-ed schools.
“Getting to this point hopefully sends a pretty strong message that co-ed rugby’s absolutely got a place,” Heinz said.
St Andrew’s First XV celebrate winning their first New Zealand title.
“The decisions around that [being excluded from SISBN] are above my pay grade, but we just wanted to make sure we put in a really strong account of ourselves this season to show that we’re still relevant and we still matter.
“Not just us but all co-ed schools.”
Heinz won 11 of his 13 tests for England, including the 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final against the All Blacks. He was also part of five Canterbury NPC-winning teams and the 2023 Crusaders Super Rugby-winning side but nevertheless said a First XV title was a “bit special”.
“It’s incredibly, uniquely special – no longer as a player but as a coach and playing a small part in trying to help these boys learn to prepare and become a team and believe in themselves.
“I just think the journey they’ve been on over the course of the season but in particular the last six-eight weeks – just the growth and the ability to keep trusting each other and stay in the fight – has been pretty remarkable actually.
“The way that they performed out there today, to do it under the most amount of pressure and to be down and find a way back is – I just couldn’t be prouder of them.”
Heinz said a 37-7 loss to St Bede’s had been the turning point in the season, after which they were never beaten again.
“Probably for the first time after that game, instead of myself or one of the other coaches talking, the boys stepped up and took the lead and acknowledged that they didn’t prepare well going into that game.
“They’d had a big win the week before and they started to take the bull by the horns and front up every day whether it was gym, meetings, trainings, with the right attitude to push each other and to get better. I think it was probably the best thing that happened to us.”
Substitute hooker Caleb Collins-Polata scores for St Andrew’s in the National Top Four final against Tauranga Boys’ College.
There were plenty of stars for St Andrew’s.
Halfback Ollie Jackways has “next-level potential”, according to Heinz, while second five-eighths Seymour Stowers-Smith, lock Charlie Tanner, No 8 Leeson Tiakia and right wing Jett Timbrell all had standout tournament moments.
But perhaps the overriding St Andrew’s feature was the emergence of their sensational young props.
Heinz: “They’re good boys and the exciting thing for us is that Sefo Tito is only Year 11, Lennox Kopelani is Year 12, Noah Fihaki didn’t play today but he’s only Year 11. He’s been out for a few weeks with an injury, but is a great young man as well so I’m excited to put him up next year.
“But yeah, they’re good. First and foremost, they’re just great kids that love their footy and they’ve really enjoyed all the work alongside Trent Harris, our forwards coach, and alongside Owen Franks who has done a great job setting those boys up.”
Franks is a double Rugby World Cup winner and won 91 of his 108 All Blacks tests. He was part of three Canterbury NPC-winning teams and three Crusaders Super Rugby-winning teams, while Harris won a National Top Four with Rotorua Boys in 2015 and played senior footy for Sydenham and Canterbury B.
Heinz was new to St Andrew’s this year and initially uncertain about how the team was going to look in terms of its playing style.
“That’s kind of what the pre-season and those early few rounds of the competition are for – just figuring out what you do well.
“It became evident that actually when we squared things up and played pretty direct, used the strengths that we’ve got with some of those big ball carriers and also in our backs as well … when we do that part of the game well it opens up opportunities, it narrows the fences and then it’s about being good enough to execute to space. So yeah, really pleased with them.”
As for the ghastly Palmerston North wind, Heinz reckoned it suited his team.
“Friday was pretty horrendous to be honest, but again it probably suited us when we’re at our best, which is to hold on to the ball, be direct with carries and cleans. Getting those parts of the game right just creates opportunities.”
St Andrew’s: Sefo Tito, Henry Tayler, Lennox Kopelani, Charlie Tanner, Mac Greer, Lachie Mitchell, Jiutaisa Manumanuniliwa, Leeson Tiakia, Ollie Jackways, Ollie Kirk, Otis Wheeler, Seymour Stowers-Smith (c), Tom McIntosh, Jett Timbrell, Jock Sidey, Caleb Collins-Polata, Zac Lang, Hugo Harris, Jairo Senio, Marshall Coles, Zac Hoshek, Stian Pelser.
Final result: St Andrew’s College: 34 (Tom McIntosh, Lachie Mitchell, Ollie Jackways, Caleb Collins-Polata 2, Ollie Kirk tries; Jett Timbrell 2 cons) Tauranga Boys’ College: 24 (Khan Charlton, Matt Bell 2, Zac Simeon tries; Finn Curtis 2 cons) Halftime: 10-19.
Season records (played, win, loss, draw plus points for and against):
St Andrew’s College: 13-5-1 (678-452).
Tauranga Boys’ College: 13-7 (646-483).
Westlake Boys’ High School: 20-5-1 (1246-513).
St Patrick’s College, Silverstream: 13-7 (940-471).
St Andrew’s best ever?
If long-in-the-tooth team manager Mike Johnson thinks this is the best-ever St Andrew’s team, it’s hard to argue differently.
But here’s some historical data so readers can make up their own minds.
In two previous visits to the National Top Four in 1986 and 1991, St Andrew’s did not win a game. In 2020, they won the Miles Toyota Premiership for the first time, but were denied the chance to compete at the Top Four due to Covid-19.
So is the 2026 St Andrew’s side their greatest? Here’s what they’re competing with on the history front.
The 1971 First XV, captained by Mack Lemon (20 tries) and coached by John Irving, won 18 of 20 games, finishing first equal in the Christchurch Under 19 competition, beating Christchurch Boys’ 9-3. Future All Black Richard Wilson, also a College sprint champion, scored 186 points while another future All Black, Scott Cartwright, scored 11 in 14 games.
In 1979, captain Duncan Bates (Canterbury Under 18) and coach Alister Newton led St Andrew’s to 14 wins in 17 games, including the Christchurch Under 19 championship and victories in all nine inter-school fixtures.
The 1987 First XV was captained by James Sloss and coached by Alister Newton and Scott Cartwright. They won 25 of 28 games, including the Canterbury Secondary Schools title and nine out of 10 on a World Tour.
In 1990, St Andrew’s lost only three of 20 games under coaches Andrew Tweedie and Simon Anderson, and captain Nicholas Anderson (46 games, New Zealand Schools). The highlight was a record 42-10 victory over Christchurch Boys’ High School, featuring future All Black Andrew Mehrtens. St Andrew’s also defended the Presbyterian quadrangular, beating Lindisfarne College (22-4) and St Kentigern College (10-6).
In 1993, Tweedie was coach alongside Gary Kirkpatrick for a side that won 22 of 24 games, including the Presbyterian quadrangular and Christchurch Schools grade. Nathan McDonald was the captain. Mitchell McDonald scored 146 points; Clark McLeod scored 17 tries.
The South Island’s National Top Four winners
The National Top Four started in 1982 and it took 16 years for a South Island school to claim a title, when Otago Boys’ High School shared a 5-5 draw with Rotorua Boys’ High School in the 1998 final in Christchurch. Future All Black Richie McCaw (148 tests, 131 wins) scored Otago’s solitary try; Craig Newby scored Rotorua’s.
The 1998 Otago First XV won 23 of 27 games and were captained by halfback and current Northland coach Ryan Martin. Lock Filipo Levi also captained Samoa, and Silao Vaisola represented Samoa. Jason Kawau won the Ranfurly Shield with Southland and played for the Hurricanes and the Highlanders.
Scott McLaren was a two-time New Zealand decathlon champion and Carl Meyer attended the Olympics twice in rowing. Erik Nosa was an Australasian heavyweight kickboxing champion.
CBHS were almost untouchable between 2004 and 2006, winning 64 of 66 games. They shared the 2004 National Top Four final with Wesley College 22-22 and then in 2005 became the first outright South Island winner by beating King’s College 23-10.
In 2006, Christchurch conquered Auckland Grammar 18-14. Colin Slade, Owen Franks and Matt Todd were future All Blacks. Mason Pomare, Nasi Manu, Ash Dixon, Tim Bateman, Andrew Horrell, Hoani Matenga, Alex Dazell, Marshall Suckling and Tyler Bleyendaal all enjoyed fruitful first-class careers. The management team included David Bone, Richard Taylor, Justin Fowler and Mike Drury.
Before Southland Boys’ High School won the title in 2023, a year in which they won 15 of 17 games, a South Island school hadn’t won a single tournament match since 2013.
Southland’s giant-killing run was led by the brilliance of now-Southland Stags Jimmy “The Boot” Taylor, Mika Muliaina and captain Gregor Rutledge, son of Southland centurion Jason “Cabbage” Rutledge, who was an assistant coach alongside Peter Skelt and Jason Dermody.
Westlake win playoff for third
Blues champions Westlake Boys’ High School secured third place at National Top Four by beating St Patrick’s Silverstream 52-42 in a free-wheeling rugby fiesta featuring 14 tries in 70 minutes.
That made it the highest-scoring game in Top Four history, passing the 2001 final, which was won by Wesley College (19-0), 53-32 against Rotorua Boys’ High School (25-1).
Westlake set the tone for the contest by racing to a 14-point lead inside seven minutes with tries to wingers Flynn Holbrook and Yisrael Tukania, and Silverstream were 19 points in arrears by halftime.
But in a roller-coaster clash, with six minutes to play Silverstream led 42-40, before a wasteful box kick was punished. Westlake, with two stunning long-range tries, finished in style.
For Westlake there were fine games from skipper Levi Leith, wing Harper Wilson and centre Matt Fleming.
Meanwhile, Silverstream, who have nine players returning from their starting semi-final next season, used their superior size to good effect. Prop Mea’ole Ma’i, who scored two tries, is the son of 2009/10 Samoan World Sevens Series title captain Uale Mai.
With a try and six conversions, Silverstream’s star first five-eighths Fletcher Cooper took his tally to 307 points this season, on top of 234 in 2025.
3 v 4: Westlake Boys’ High School: 52 (Levi Leith, Shea Watene, Harper Wilson 2, Jaxx Latoa-Levi, Matt Fleming, Yisrael Tukania, Flynn Holdbrook tries; Luke Waller 4, Leith 2 cons) St Patrick’s College, Silverstream: 42 (Fletcher Cooper, Troy Waldrom, Mea’ole Ma’i 2, Val Tufui, Shae Taitua tries; Cooper 6 cons) HT: 33-14.
The Herald’s Top Four Tournament Team
It’s always a subjective business and possibly a fool’s errand in singling out individuals within a team game. But a host of players put themselves in the shop window at this tournament, for a number of them, this would be their final matches for their schools. These are the players who most caught the eye across every position:
15: Tommy McQuoid (Tauranga); 14: Jett Timbrell (St Andrew’s); 13: Matt Fleming (Westlake); 12: Seymour Stowers-Smith (St Andrew’s); 11: Harper Wilson (Westlake); 10: Fletcher Cooper (St Patrick’s, Silverstream); 9: Ollie Jackways (St Andrew’s); 8: Leeson Tiakia (St Andrew’s); 7: Zac Simeon (Tauranga); 6: Herepete Bidois (Tauranga); 5: Charlie Tanner (St Andrew’s); 4: Khan Carlton (Tauranga); 3: Lennox Kopelani (St Andrew’s); 2: Matt Bell (Tauranga); 1: Sefo Tito (St Andrew’s).
Spirit of rugby – and a close shave with Razor
Hymn, haka, harmony. If ever there was a showcase of the “spirit of rugby” – something debated keenly this week because of the histrionics of Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus – it was the scenes after the Silverstream-St Andrews semi-final.
An exhausted St Andrew’s kneeled together in a moment of reflection and song, while on the opposing side, two busloads of immaculately groomed Silverstream supporters performed a rousing haka to rally their despondent, gallant schoolmates.
Also noticeable was the polite and sporting gesture from several St Andrew’s parents, who went out of their way to personally commend Silverstream’s players on their valiant effort and congratulate them on a fine season.
Among these was an unlikely reunion between former All Blacks coach Scott “Razor” Robertson – whose three sons Cass, Macklan and Beau all attended St Andrew’s – and Kerry Martin, father of Silverstream lock Bronson Martin who was smattered with dry blood and bearing a boot spike-sized cut on his forehead.
Martin and Razor played for the 1995 New Zealand Colts, who won the inaugural Southern Hemisphere U21 Tournament in Buenos Aires, Argentina. They won all three matches, defeating Argentina (24-19), South Africa (24-7) and Australia (33-16).
Razor recalled with photographic detail the last-minute, winning try scored against Argentina by halfback Mark “Sharky” Robinson. In 2001, Razor would win an All Blacks test against Argentina 24-20 at the River Plate Stadium in Buenos Aires, when he scored a late winner in similar fashion.
There were 16 future All Blacks in that Colts squad, with the youngest forward Anton Oliver becoming a future captain. The youngest backs were superstars Carlos Spencer and Christian Cullen, who Martin went to Kāpiti College with. In one legendary game against Scots College, Cullen scored six tries.
Meanwhile, at Palmerston North, there was even a cheeky suggestion that all it would take is a phone call to the Wellington Rugby Union for Razor to revive his stalled coaching career. Could he help revive the beleaguered Lions NPC team?
Sunday’s final crowd was naturally more tense but still enthusiastic and respectful.
Winds of change: Time for a new First XV venue?
In the legendarium of the National Top Four, Central Energy Trust Arena (CETA) in Palmerston North is the equivalent of J.R.R Tolkien’s Mordor: a cold, desolate wasteland swept by bitter, shrill, furious winds, complete with a speedway dirt track and wind farm turbines grinding “whoosh-whoosh” in the background.
This largely barren, windswept landscape is particularly alien for First XVs conditioned more to cheerful and hospitable venues, their matches also invariably populated by large enthusiastic crowds.
By contrast, Mars would have more atmosphere than Palmerston North in September, with its Etesian winds. And even in those charmless, non-salubrious surroundings they charged $4.50 for a can of Coke, possibly also cheaper on Mars.
It’s bad most years, but the westerly on Friday was so violent that Manukura’s Gabby Wright sensationally falconed referee Ethan Jefferson with a fluffed conversion in the semi-finals.
The ball barely lifted 2m off the ground, skewed sideways and hit the Wellington official in the head, temporarily wiping the impish grin from his angelic face.
The only consolation for Jefferson is that he will almost certainly win a Danny Cameron Award as a result. The Wellington Referees Association annually gives this accolade – named after clumsy but sincerely likeable trooper Danny Cameron – to one of its referees for a memorable blooper.
The National Top Four was historically rotated across different venues in New Zealand. But it’s been held in Palmerston North annually since 2016, with the move to the challenging CETA enriched for a handful of years.
What about rotating the venue between the four regions that make up the tournament: Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes and South Island?
Each year the South Island school is especially disadvantaged in terms of travel logistics, yet on the boys’ side of the draw, the South Island has now made the final three times in the last four years, winning twice.
Five in a row for Manukura
Manukura maintained their five-star status in female First XV rugby by winning a fifth consecutive Hine Pounamu Trophy, defeating Hamilton Girls’ High School 48-38 in a replay of the 2025 final.
In contrast to last year’s frantic scramble, Manukura had the silverware secured with 30 minutes remaining, leading 34-5.
Four tries, five minutes either side of the interval, settled the outcome despite a brave rally from the Chiefs champions.
Manukura coach Kristina Sue was delighted with the purple patch and commended Hamilton’s heart.
“We were outstanding just before and after halftime,” Sue said.
”We backed our fitness, skillsets and game plan to endure.
“Pewhairangi Ashby, Rerekauia Huina, Tiana Walsh-Addenbrooke, Nevaeh Harris and Keighley-Rein Araia were among those to have huge games. I’m really proud of the whole team and management staff.
“They certainly had the personnel to hurt us and showed that with their finish. Libby Kearins Te Whare is part of the New Zealand Rugby U18 pathway and is very dangerous.
“Their No 8, Ella Rose-Conder, is a beast and charged all day. They used their backs well and asked a lot of questions.”
Ngakahu Mathieson-Julian wore her No 3 sevens jersey on the wing and was anointed Manukura player of the match.
The diminutive flyer, one of five siblings from a Taranaki farming background, scored two tries and created another with her jet shoes. Brother Taihau, engaging and respectful company, is himself a fine union and league player and proudly paraded a colourful sign with Ngakahu on it. His older sister Te Waikaukau Mathieson-Julian was Manukura’s 2025 skipper.
Manukura had to go to the well to subdue Christchurch Girls 19-14 in the semis. In the dying stages, the South Island champions battered the Black Wall, with Manukura lock Rerekauia Hunia squirming on the ground as play switched to the opposite side.
As Christchurch continued to pepper, Hunia found her feet and, with stealthy movement, timed a textbook jackal to snuff out the last raid.
A mix of guts and calculated precision edged it to Manukura. For most of the game, they were outplayed and struggled to contain Christchurch’s superior size.
Loose forwards Tiara Lambert and Aurelia Heslop and tighthead prop Maddy Judd charged tirelessly. First five-eighths Mika Lene used her big frame to stretch and bend Manukura, who remained staunch.
With the wind, Manukura were two tries ahead at halftime. Second-five Payten Peka struck first after nine minutes, but it took another 25 minutes for left winger Asha-Rose Waerea to sneakily slither short-side for a vital blow right on the break.
Christchurch cast an anchor in Manukura territory to start the second half. In the 44th minute, a Manukura scrum on their 10m line saw the ball curled audaciously to Ngakahu Mathieson-Julian. The tiny tearaway swerved around her opposite, cut inside swiftly and dashed 60m.
For all of Christchurch’s heart, they didn’t have a player capable of such spontaneous brilliance. When stoic Lambert muscled over with 20 minutes remaining, it was a lifeline. In the 57th minute, winger Eseta Qalivutu steamrolled her one-on-one marker to cross in the corner.
First five-eighths Sienna Soper kicked a conversion that took more turns than a joy ride on the Brighton Palace Pier. It also won her $10 from a spectator who gambled on her missing and lost. Pewhairangi had a huge game at No 8 for Manukura.
The other semi was a Dr Seuss Derby between “HAM and EGGS” – which was the unfortunate unique match code abbreviation for Hamilton Girls’ High playing Epsom Girls’ Grammar.
The girls rugby semi-final created a clash between HAM and EGGS.
Without having to over-egg it, Hamilton were too slick and imaginative for the brave debutants, winning 29-10.
While Epsom pushed hard in the scrum and made good headway through the middle, especially lock Tabitha Schaumkell and props Tupou Manuopangai and Hatesa Lemana, they struggled when Hamilton used width.
Hamilton centre Tamzyn McNamara created plenty. Kearins-Te Whare was elusive, while pocket-rocket winger Cahleisha Pakau could say: “I do like rugby eggs and ham! Thank you, thank you, Pakau, I-Am”.
Her “in-out” step often bamboozled Epsom, with her first 55m run almost ending in a try and her second burst from nearly the same distance earning the rewards.
Opposing winger Melenaite Opeti-Fianu was nippy. Hamilton’s loose forwards Ariana Katipa and Conder battled away.
Epsom recovered to win the third-place playoff 36-31 against Christchurch Girls, their first win in a National Top Four game.
Final: Manukura: 48 (Kotuku Hennessy, Keighley-Rein Araia 2, Ngakahu Mathieson-Julian 2, Tiana Walsh-Addenbrooke, Pewhairangi Ashby, Taylah Seng tries; Gabby Wright 2, Kaylani Anaha 2 cons). Hamilton Girls’ High School: 38 (Ariana Katipa, Talei Tuwere, Cahleisha Pakau, Preya Richardson, Ashlee Marra, Jessica Hayward tries; Libby Kearins-Te Whare 4 cons) Halftime: 22-5.
3 v 4: Epsom Girls Grammar School: 36 (Melenaite Opeti-Fianu 2, Emacyn Ieremia, Tabitha Schaumkell, Dellis Tuitupou, Mikaya Tonga tries; Ieremia 3 cons). Christchurch Girls’ High School: 31 (Emma Edwards, Ati Liley, Tiara Lambert, Alice Geary, Maddy Judd tries; Sienna Soper 3 cons) Halftime: 17-12.
Semi-finals: Hamilton High Girls High School: 29 (Savannah Anderson, Ariana Katipa, Cahleisha Pakau, Ariana Katipa Te Atawhai Katipa tries; Libby Kearins Te Whare 2 cons). Epsom Girls Grammar School: 10 (Melenaite Opeti-Fianu 2 tries) Halftime: 19-5.
Manukura: 19 (Payten Peka, Asha-Rose Waerea, Ngakahu Mathieson-Julian tries; Gabby Wright 2 cons) Christchurch Girls’ High School: 14 (Tiara Lambert, Eseta Qalivutu tries; Sienna Soper 2 cons) HT: 12-0.
Crowd control
Controlling poor crowd behaviour has been a constant battle in community sport nationwide in recent times. As a result, there have been codes of conduct, PR campaigns and boycotts.
But isn’t self-regulation the best form of regulation?
When Manukura’s Tiana Walsh-Addenbrooke fell to the ground in tears, injured, while Christchurch Girls’ High were attacking in the girls semi-final, a loser yelled, “She’s cramped, she’s not injured”.
“Shut up,” Sue Burton, veteran teacher and de facto mother to many at Manukura firmly rebuked. It was a response that won immediate approval and silenced a lone, cruel voice.
Meanwhile, someone must be making a fortune out of selling Italian flags on the North Shore, judging by the number of green, white and red vertical tricolours on display at Palmerston North, waved or flown by Westlake followers in support of their same-coloured team.
The boys’ semi-finals
In Friday’s semi-finals, Tauranga Boys’ College overcame Westlake Boys’ High 31-17 from 19-17 up at halftime, while St Andrew’s outmuscled St Patrick’s College, Silverstream 24-17 after being narrowly ahead 14-12 at the interval.
With the westerly howling behind him, Tauranga first five-eighths Fin Curtis adapted fastest to the elements, booting a 50-22 to the northern corner of the swampy Central Energy Trust Arena back field with his first clearance.
Tauranga duly won the lineout and hooker Matt Bell, a Henry Pollock lookalike, rumbled over for a maul try.
Rinse and repeat, right? Nope. In both semis, the victors were better into the wind than with it.
Intuitively, it is perhaps easier for teenage boys to grasp the concepts of “up the guts” and “hold the ball at all costs” rather than kicking to a compass the wind suits.
In the case of Tauranga and St Andrew’s, it also helped that their bigger forwards were more committed and precise in hogging the oval.
Tauranga lock Seremaia Salikikoro used go-go-gadget arms to stretch Tauranga’s lead to 12-0 in the 19th minute before momentum shifted.
Tries to left wing Flynn Holbrook, alpha centre Matt Fleming and prop Demetrius Sanft briefly gave Westlake a 17-12 lead.
In first-half stoppage time, Tauranga second five-eighths Cohen Satui jinked, fended and surged 20m to score, but it did not seem enough against the ferocious gale.
In the 38th minute, Fleming broke and kicked ahead. Tuaine Rolleston gathered with the line in sight but was halted by fullback Tommy “Ethereal” McQuoid.
Thereafter, Tauranga monopolised possession with concerted short-side attacks. When Westlake won possession, greater numbers and brutality at the ruck stifled them.
Openside Zac Simeon and prop Jonty Bidois were central to that reality, and each was rewarded with 46th and 53rd-minute tries.
Anytime Westlake had a lineout in threatening territory, Tauranga captain Khan “Little Lurch” Charlton soared to steal it. He snaffled multiple breakdown turnovers. Despite his wiry build, he must be a strong New Zealand Schools contender.
Silverstream, adept at playing in tricky Wellington wind, were out of the blocks rapidly against St Andrew’s. Centre Shae Tautia was in sizzling form, twice slashing through. He decided not to pass to an unmarked player during his first bust, which he fortunately finished. Ironically, when he took an unselfish option a second time, a spillage occurred.
When St Andrew’s did get hold of the ball, halfback Ollie Jackways was able to carve off substantial mileage with his prodigious right boot.
After 19 minutes, he caught Silverstream napping with a quick tap from a penalty and scored under the posts. Even more impressive was when he chased down Silverstream speedster Troy Waldrom in a dramatic pursuit.
In the 25th minute, prop Moleli Lagokamu battered over and St Andrew’s was ahead 14-5 and looking increasingly ominous. Damage was limited by desperate Silverstream scrambles and first five-eighths Fletcher Cooper who secured a remarkable four jackal turnovers.
And when Silverstream’s talisman scored under the sticks and converted to cut the deficit to 14-12 at halftime, the Catholics looked poised for success.
But like Westlake, they simply could not get the ball off a methodical, mammoth, merciless St Andrew’s pack conducted by man-of-match Jackways.
Tighthead prop Lennox Kopelani was huge, lock Charlie Tanner disruptive and loose forwards Lachie Mitchell and Leeson Tiakia tireless. Fullback Jock Sidey occasionally relieved the forwards with timely incisions, one of which in the 51st minute saw a try scored, 19-12.
Replacement flanker Jairo Senio was damaging off the bench. His 58th-minute try proved a clincher, withstanding an inspirational 67th-minute surge by Silverstream blindside and captain Ryder Thompson, eventually finished by prop Kristian Leaupepe-Sua.
Semi-final results:
Tauranga Boys’ College 31 (Matt Bell, Seremaia Salikikoro, Cohen Satiu, Zac Simeon, Jacob Bidois). Westlake Boys’ High School 17 (Flynn Holbrook, Matt Fleming, Demetrius Sanft tries; Luke Waller con) Halftime: 19-17.
St Andrew’s College 24 (Ollie Jackways, Moleli Lagokamu, Jack Sidey, Jairo Senio tries; Jett Timbrell 2 cons) St Patrick’s College, Silverstream 17 (Shae Taitua, Fletcher Cooper tries; Cooper con) Halftime: 14-12.
Tauranga Boys’ College, a sporting powerhouse
Though Tauranga didn’t win the tournament, they have racked up an impressive catalogue of sporting achievement recently.
The school can claim a current All Black winger in Leroy Carter, All Blacks Sevens whippet Kele Lasaqa and 11 Bay of Plenty Steamers.
Tauranga are national squash, water polo and cross-country champions, and the world’s best U18 mile runner and national senior 1500 and 3000m champion – Sam Ruthe – attends the Cameron Rd college.
Tauranga placed second at the volleyball Nationals and achieved top-10 finishes in football and hockey. They boast eight current professional cricketers, including former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson. Peter Burling was a three-time winning helmsman of Emirates Team New Zealand in the America’s Cup in 2017, 2021, and 2024.
Hamilton Boys’ High won the National U15 Rugby Invitational Tournament in Christchurch, beating Rotorua Boys’ High 16-10 in the final. Palmerston North Boys’ High beat Westlake Boys’ High 32-12 in the playoff for third, giving Super 8 schools a clean sweep.
Auckland schools were more successful in other codes. Kelston Boys’ High School beat St Thomas of Canterbury 30-6 in the final of the national secondary schools boys premier rugby league tournament at Bruce Pullman Park.
Meanwhile, St Kentigern won the national secondary schools boys football tournament in Palmerston North, beating Wellington’s Scots College 5-3 on penalties in the final after it finished 1-1.
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