RUGBY - Former ABs battle first XV

THE Kamo Kid came back and the Miller boys got to play together again in front of their mum for the first time in eight years.
The Kamo High School First XV trial match against an all-star Vikings invitation team of past students brought the whole school out on Thursday to watch their current stars battle it out with the old boys.
The game was the brainchild of head of PE Darryl Davies, who hopes to kick-start interest from former students ahead of the school's 50th Jubilee in a couple of years.
Former All Black Ian Jones, the Kamo Kid, was back at his old stomping ground and raring to get amongst it once again.
After the teams lined up, Jones took the microphone and addressed the crowd on the sidelines.
He asked the schoolboys to give him some breathing room.
"I have to appear on TV tomorrow, so please take it easy on me," Jones said. :But do what you like to these other guys!"
But, Jones didn't need any special treatment as he scored the Vikings' first try just minutes into the game.
It was converted by former Northland player Hayden Taylor, who was forced to retire in September last year after discovering a disc bulge in his neck.
Taylor spent the game on the bench, but got up to convert the Vikings' tries.
The Vikings started well, leading 17-0 at quarter time, but the Kamo XV capitalised on the old boys tiring and fought back.
No score was kept after the first quarter.
It was a special moment for Todd Miller - a former All Black - and brother Brad.
The former Northland reps played together for the first time in eight years.
But for Brad Miller it wasn't so much of a homecoming - he currently teaches PE at Kamo High, alongside his mum Gloria, the school sports co-ordinator.
Gloria watched the first 20-minute quarter before dashing off to prepare the post-match afternoon tea in the school staffroom.
"It's really neat for our current kids, but also for the old boys," Gloria said.
"Brad and Todd haven't played together for a long time, they never really got much of an opportunity to."
Todd's two oldest girls - with their faces painted with the colours of dad's former province, Waikato - cheered and squealed for their dad on the sidelines.
"They haven't seen their dad play rugby for quite a while, and they loved it," Gloria said.
Todd also came off the field grinning.
"That was really good, lots of fun. And I'm actually feeling pretty good," he said, suggesting it would be a different story in the morning.
Kamo High School first XV prop Reon Brown, 16, thought the opportunity to play against some big names was "awesome".
"It's pretty cool that they're all from our school."