Kaitaia College 22 Aniwaniwa 28: Last year's grand finalists, Te Rangi Aniwaniwa, beating Far North neighbours Kaitaia College 28-22 in week 3 of the Adam Blair Trophy tournament on the Kaitaia College top fields last Wednesday afternoon.
On a heavy pitch in moderate late-winter conditions, Aniwaniwa - featuring a number of Taipa Area School players - led at the break and never fully relinquished control of the game although the home side pressed hard during the second half.
Aniwaniwa standouts included Conor O'Sullivan, who has been selected for the Northland Swords prems (seniors), and Tumoana Halkyard in the Swords 17s, for the national provincial competition which kicks off this weekend. Halkyard recently set a national record in the yoyo beep test by scoring 19.6 (the average was 17) at the NZ16s trials earlier this year.
Other results from August 15, were as follows. North Zone: Opononi 8 Okaihau 14 at Whirinaki, Bay College 60 Northland College 0 in Kawakawa; South Zone: WBHS 40 Dargaville 4, Kamo 30 Bream Bay 10, bye Tikipunga. At this stage, Okaihau College are the only unbeaten team in the North Zone division.
Adam Blair TrophyThe Northland secondary schools rugby league competition for the Adam Blair Trophy is set to run through until the end of September.