Top 4 rugby preview

The National Top Four First XV finals will be held at the Rugby Institute in Palmerston North this weekend. There are three competitions and a truckload of drama guaranteed.

 Friday 7 September 2018
 
Hine Pounamu Trophy – Girls 1st XV
10.30am – Aorere College v Hamilton GHS
11.45am – Manukura v Southland GHS
 
Co-ed Cup
1.30pm – Mount Albert Grammar School v St Peter’s Cambridge
2.45pm – Feilding High School v Rangiora High School
 
Barbarians 1st XV Trophy
1.10pm – St Peter’s College v Hamilton Boys’ High School
2.55pm – Napier Boys’ High School v Christchurch Boys’ High School
 
 Sunday 9 September 2018
 
Co-ed Cup
10.00am – 3rd v 4th
10.15am – Final
 
Hine Pounamu Trophy – Girls 1st XV
12.00pm – 3rd v 4th
12.10pm – Final
 
Barbarians 1st XV Trophy
2.00pm – 3rd v 4th
2.10pm – Final

BOYS

Hurricanes: Napier Boys’ High School
 
Napier Boys’ High School return to the Top Four for the first time since 2013 as unquestionably the best team in the Hurricanes region. Napier beat every Hurricanes opponent faced this year, accounting for: St Patrick’s College, Silverstream, St Patrick’s College Town (twice), Wellington College, Scots College, Wairarapa College, Palmerston North Boys’ High School, Gisborne Boys’ High School and Hastings Boys’ High School (twice).
 
Additionally Napier was second in Super 8, their best result since 2003. Napier was desperately unlucky to lose the final after leading 17-5 and conceding a contentious last play penalty against Hamilton Boys’ High School.
 
Napier had an exhaustive pre-season travelling to South Africa for the World Schools Festival and then headed to Hamilton for the St Paul’s Collegiate rugby camp. Napier only won once in their first six starts, but hit-outs against heavyweights from the Republic and Auckland giants St Kentigern College and King’s College were invaluable.
 
Napier have forged a particularly strong forward pack. Tyrone Thompson (54 caps), Patrick Teddy (42 caps), Josh Gimblett (47 caps) and Luke Russell (50 caps) bring plenty of size, skill and experience up front.

Napier aren’t without threats in the back. Centre Leo Thompson (48 caps) can be monstrous and Luke Russell (42 caps) has grown in stature at first-five.

Napier’s overall record reads: Played: 22, Won: 14, Drawn: 1, Lost: 7, Points For: 672, Points Against: 437.
 
Chiefs: Hamilton Boys’ High School
 
Hamilton have won 272 out of 325 matches since 2003, including 15 out of 16 this year.
 
Hamilton have been to the National Top Four ten times and won in 2008, 2009, 2013 and 2014.
 
Hamilton won the Super 8 title undefeated this season, pipping Napier Boys’ High School 23-22 in a thrilling final with a last play penalty kicked by Demante Murray. Hamilton also accounted for the Hurricanes top four representative 29-15 in the Super 8 round robin.

Hamilton are especially strong in the forwards with Josh Lord and Tom Martin providing the tall timber in the middle row while Keelan Holten McMullen is a bustling hooker and Jake Russ a senior flanker. All of the above were selected for the Chiefs U18s.

Out wide halfback Cortez Lee and fullback Liam Wilson were selected for the Chiefs 18’s, but second-five Carlos Karaitiana and flying Fijian Lewini Mocevakaca would have presented compelling cases to the selectors to.
 
Blues: St Peter’s College
 
St Peter’s College return to the National Top Four for the first time since 2000 after winning the 1A title in the most dramatic fashion. St Peter’s beat the top two sides St Kentigern College (22-21) and King’s College (29-28) in the 1A semi-final and final to win from fourth place.
 
St Peter’s continued their habit of close victories holding their nerve to beat Westlake Boys’ High School (19-17) in the Blues Regional final.
 
St Peter’s boasts a particularly big and mobile pack who are near impossible to contain when they get a ‘roll on.’ Standouts include Zyon Holo, Naryan Strickland, Hamdahn Tuipulotu,   Malipolo Manukia, Semisi Tapa, Chris Halaufia and captain and No.8 Niko Jones.
 
St Peter’s most experienced player in the backs is fullback/first-five Josh Loveday whose also the goal kicker. Rookie Ajay Faleafaga played a blinder in the 1A final and wing PJ Tonga is fast and explosive.
 
In addition to the 1A competition, St Peter’s defeated Rotorua BHS (17-12), Massey High School (68-7), St John’s Hamilton (75-0) and Gisborne Boys’ High School (32-17).
 
St Peter’s overall record in 2018 reads: Played: 18, Won: 15, Lost: 3, Points For: 634, Points Against: 276.
 
South Island: Christchurch Boys’ High School
 
Christchurch Boys' High School returns to the National Top Four for the first time since 2014 having last won the tourney in 2006. Christchurch will bring the Moascar Cup to Palmerston North after ending the 14-defense reign of Nelson College earlier in the season.

Christchurch are easily the smallest of the four teams on display, but their guts and smarts are unquestionable.

Halfback and captain Louie Chapman has played 60 games for the First XV and his combination with Cullen Moody is one of the most effective in the country. Wing Ryan Barnes is on fire having scored the try which won Christchurch the UC Championship final against Christ’s College and three tries against Otago Boys’ High School in the South Island final on Saturday.

Christchurch is well balanced side with Ben Lopas, Tahu Kaa-Goodwillie, Max Hughes, Ollie Lewis and George Harding having joined the aforementioned three at Crusaders Knights camp.

Christchurch’s record in 2018 is: Played: 18, Won: 16, Lost: 1, Drawn: 1. They have outscored all opponents 694-280.

GIRLS

Hurricanes: Manukura
 
Manukura only established a girls rugby team in 2014 and qualified for the Condor 7s in 2017 and 2018. This year Manukura is headed to the National Top Four for the first time after upsetting defending National Champions St Mary’s College 38-33 in the Hurricanes Regional Final.
 
Manukura already have a number of  representative players. Captain Lucy Brown is a member of the Manawatu Cyclones as is Kalyn Takitimu-Cook (hat-trick last weekend for Manawatu v Auckland), Carys Dalinger and Nicola Chase. Season Blackburn-Kingi is another one to watch, a member of the Taranaki U18’s.

Manukura won all eight games in the Manawatu Secondary schools competition holding five opponents scoreless and only conceding 30 points.
 
Blues: Aorere College
 
For the first time Aorere College is heading to the National Top Four following in the footsteps of their boys First XV who contested the National coed final in 2016. Coached by Sam Aiono and Pat Fa’apoi, Aorere College won the Auckland competition for the first time, winning five of their six matches and accounting for Onehunga College in the semi-final and Southern Cross in the final. Aorere’s 17-7 triumph over Southern Cross in the decider was their first ever victory over last year’s Blues top four representative.
 
Aorere boast a strong squad with Glory Aiono and Ana Mamea members of the Counties-Manukau Heat while Melvina Weilert, Kasa Tupou, Tulu Tulu, Ma’ama Vaipulu, Patsy Chan, Jodeci Alaelua, Cathy Leuta have all represented the Auckland Under-18’s.
 
Ma’ama Vaipulu is a talented all-rounder having represented New Zealand at Under-16 level in volleyball.
 
Aorere has a history of producing fine players Lauryn Sa’u and Jacqui Aiono are members of the Auckland Storm while current Black Ferns Captain Fiao’o Fa'amausili is an old student at the college.

South Island: Southland Girls’ High School
 
Black Fern Alena Saili produced a star turn in the 2016 final, scoring three tries in Southland’s 46-29 win over St Mary’s College.
 
Southland have been a regular at the National Top Four making every tournament since its inception in 2012, winning 7 of their 12 matches.
 
Southland returns again with an unblemished record of 14 wins from 14 starts, outscoring opponents 565-138.
 
In the Highlanders Regional Final Southland defeated Otago Girls’ High School (53-36) and in the South Island Final they enjoyed repeat success against Christchurch Girls’ High School (39-0).
 
Southland is captained by Bree Thomas while others to watch include sisters Kylah and Aaliyah Talamahina, whose brother Kaleb was a New Zealand Barbarians Schools’ selection last year. Libby Napier, Emma Dermody and Georgia Ellis are also consistent performers.

Chiefs: Hamilton Girls’ High School
 
Hamilton Girls’ High School won the National title in 2014 and 2015 and were runners up to St Mary’s College last year. The Waikato powerhouse thrashed Rotorua Girls’ High School 56-5 in the Chiefs Regional final to earn their place in Palmerston North again.
 
The defending Condor 7s winners have enjoyed an imperious 2018 winning all 13 games and outscoring opponents 858-35.

Hamilton is stacked with representative talent with 10 players in the Waikato Under-18’s. Additionally Nyesha Hamilton and Lonita Ngalu are members of the Waikato NPC team while Montessa Tairakena and Jazmin Hotham are New Zealand Under-18 selections.
 
Dawn Hohua (23) and Shae Daley (17) are the leading try scorers in the backs and Mele ‘Ahokava with 11 tries is the forward leader.

Hamilton Girls’ alumini to have represented New Zealand at the highest level are: Tenika Willison, Terina Te Tamaki, Shiray Kaka (Black Ferns 7s) and Ariana Bayler (Black Ferns 7s).

CO-ED

Chiefs: St Peter’s Cambridge
 
St Peter’s return to Nationals for a third consecutive year as defending champions. In 2017, St Peter’s trounced Feilding High School 29-3 in the final. Chiefs Under-18 reps and try scorers in that match PJ Latu and Andrew Viane return. The former is a hard running centre while the later carries often from No.8
 
St Peter’s was third in the Central North Island competition winning 8 out of 11 games. In the Chiefs final they eliminated Counties champions, Manurewa High School 38-10. Significantly St Peter’s beat CNI championships St Paul’s Collegiate twice.  
 
St Peter’s is coached by former Waikato and Chiefs lock Sean Hohneck and play with a precision and aggression he applied in his career. Simon Parker is a Chiefs Under-18 loose forward while halfback Cam Roigard has a nose for the try line having crossed four times in the National semi-final against St Andrew’s College last year and twice in St Peter’s appearance on Land Rover First XV rugby against Feilding High School. Feilding on the opposite side of the draw have been a bogey team for St Peter’s in 2018. Feilding have won both matches.
 
Crusaders: Rangiora High School
 
Rangiora High School was founded in 1881, but rugby at the college really changed in 2008 with the establishment of a Rugby Club which saw Rangiora join the UC Championship in 2011 - a decade after it started.

In 2016, Rangiora won four games in the UC Championship. In 2017 they doubled that tally and this year scored nine wins, making the semi-finals for the first time.

Rangiora produced perhaps the biggest upset in New Zealand schoolboy rugby this year when they beat Christchurch Boys’ High School 35-33, snapping Christchurch’s 21-game local unbeaten streak.

Rangiora also beat perennial southern contenders Nelson College (16-15) and St Bede’s College (20-17) in the UC Championship while Gore High School was toppled 42-17 in the South Island co-ed final.

Anthony Tavendale (Midfield) and Angus Fletcher (No.8) share captaincy duties while Fletcher Lachie James, George Prain and Jermaine Pepe were all selected in the Crusaders Knight’s Under-18 camp. Pepe is a real flyer on the wing.

Rangiora have been coached for the last three years by Glen Dunseath, Craig Mullen and Greg Lewis with regular support from Crusaders manager Shane Fletcher.

Rangiora have produced some notable rugby personalities over the years including the following All Blacks: Todd Blackadder, Brian Ford, Graeme Higginson, Ian MacRae and Barry Thompson - All Black (1979).

Old boy Murray McCaw was Chairman of New Zealand Rugby from 1999-2000.
 
Hurricanes: Feilding High School
 
Feilding High School were runners up in 2017 and have won three times previously. A model of consistency, Feilding were once again runners-up in the Central North Island competition and had a strong pre-season knocking over Wellington College (41-5), Rotorua Boys’ High School (28-26) and Hamilton Boys’ High School (26-18).
 
Te Kamaka Howden, James Bolton, Faamanu Siaosi Kalolo, Drew Wild and Josiah Maraku were all selected to attend Hurricanes U18 camp.
 
Feilding beat Manukura (47-5), Aotea College (41-12) and Wairarapa College (64-12) en-route to the coed.
 
Feilding’s complete record in 2018 is: Played: 20, Won: 16, Lost: 3, Drawn: 1, Points For: 738, Points Against: 241.

Blues: Mount Albert Grammar School
 
Two years ago Mount Albert Grammar School won the Barbarians Cup as the best boys team in New Zealand. MAGS have failed to make the top four of 1A since - a disappointing result for a school of its stature, but proof MAGS aren’t recruiting extensively from other schools like other leading contenders in the ‘City of Sails.’

MAGS will be competitive in the co-ed. Despite winning just three 1A games they finished the season only conceding 217 points in 11 games, while scoring 202. MAGS lost to the top three teams in the 1A round robin: St Kentigern College, King’s College and Sacred Heart College by less than 15 points. Their coach is the experienced Geoff Moon who guided MAGS to the 2016 boys title.

MAGS thrashed Takapuna Grammar School 36-3 in the Blues coed final. Soane Vikena, Terrell Peita and Joel Cobb were all selected for the Blues Under-18’s.