National First XV wrap: St Kentigern guts out win at Auckland Grammar

St Kentigern Lui Scholtens. Photosport

St Kentigern have firmed as favourites to take out Auckland's 1A competition after a resilient 28-17 win at Auckland Grammar on Saturday.

The visitors scored three tries but the boot of first five, co-captain and man of the match Rivez Reihana, who scored 18 points, proved crucial.

Auckland Grammar started with a hiss and a roar, lock Jeffrey Ikani plunging over from a lineout drive. Reihana tied the scores, scoring a try on the blindside after a long build-up as the visitors worked their way back into the game. However, they endured another hiccup when centre Lui Scholtens was sinbinned for accumulated team offsides.

St Kentigern appeared to have the match in hand when they crossed for two early second half tries, the first to loosehead prop Tamaiti Williams, who showed good strength off a turnover. Fullback Etene Nanai, who was mostly bottled up by the staunch Auckland Grammar defence, sprang to life from a miss three scrum move. His solo finish from 60m was spectacular.

Auckland Grammar centre Simeon Latu then hauled Auckland Grammar, trailing 25-5, back into the contest, first setting up his wing Heremaia Murray with a strong burst and pass, and then scoring his own to reduce the deficit to eight. In that time, St Kentigern lost Williams to the bin for a dangerous cleanout and could have lost another for a mid-air tackle, but regrouped and regained composure sufficiently to close out the clash.
St Kentigern thus top the table with two rounds before the semifinals as they search for a fifth title in seven seasons.

Sacred Heart now rise to second after an important 18-14 victory over St Peter's, and they are now in the box seat for a home semifinal.

Led by halfback Taufa Funaki, Sacred Heart scored two good tries via No 6 Potusa Fuilala and replacement back Brian Leali'ifano, working off another dominant scrum, which claimed two tightheads, but St Peter's rallied, led by openside flanker Joshua Wheeler.

King's stayed in the semifinals hunt, crushing Dilworth 50-0. MAGS' resurgence continues, downing Kelston BHS 15-0, but they may have left their semifinals run too late. Liston beat Tamaki 24-5 for their second victory of the season, while Aorere's 17-5 win put paid to De La Salle's semifinals challenge.

There is one round remaining in the North Harbour 1A competition.

Clear leaders Westlake BHS were pushed hard, 17-7, by fifth-placed Massey, but will host a home semifinal. Second placed Rosmini edged Takapuna Grammar, who will be the fourth qualifier in the semifinals, 18-15. Rangitoto's 36-7 win over Whangarei BHS still gives them hope of a home semifinal. Orewa won their second victory, 24-10 over Birkenhead.

The Counties Manukau/Waikato premier semifinalists have been found for this weekend.
Te Awamutu are top qualifiers, having beaten Pukekohe 24-12 midweek to allow for the Pukekohe ball last Friday night. Te Awamutu will host Cambridge HS, 54-6 victors over Rosehill. Manurewa will host St John's of Hamilton, who blanked James Cook 74-0.

The final weekend of Super 8 regular season action pits Hamilton BHS against Hastings BHS. The victor will host the final the following weekend. Hastings BHS tuned up with a 64-0 shutout of Tauranga BC, Kini Naholo again amongst the tryscorers. Hamilton BHS beat cellar dwellers Gisborne BHS 48-3.

Wesley still lead the Central North Island competition after their 54-5 win over Wanganui Collegiate.

In the UC Championship, Timaru BHS hold a two-point lead over Christchurch BHS and Christ's. The latter, who travel to STAC for Saturday's televised game, beat Shirley BHS 27-22, while STAC, who are fifth, beat St Thomas 17-12. Moascar Cup holders Nelson were 48-3 victors over Roncalli/Aoraki Combined.

*This will be my final national First XV wrap.

North Harbour 1A
Rosmini 18 Takapuna Grammar 15
Rangitoto 36 Whangarei BHS 7
Orewa 24 Birkenhead 10
Westlake BHS 17 Massey HS 7

Points: Westlake BHS 63, Rosmini 53, Rangitoto 50, Takapuna Grammar 35, Massey 20, Whangarei BHS 13, Birkenhead 12, Orewa 9

Auckland 1A
King's 50 Dilworth 0
Sacred Heart 18 St Peter's 14
MAGS 15 Kelston BHS 0
Liston 24 Tamaki 5
Aorere 17 De La Salle 5
St Kentigern 28 (Rivez Reihana, Tamaiti Williams, Etene Nanai tries; Reihana 2 con, 3 pen) Auckland Grammar 17 (Jeffrey Ikani, Heremaia Murray, Simeon Latu tries; Tom Strachan con) HT: 8-5

Points: St Kentigern 34, Sacred Heart 32, St Peter's 31, Auckland Grammar 29, King's 29, De La Salle 24, MAGS 23, Dilworth 18, Kelston BHS 17, Liston 9, Aorere 8, Tamaki 0

Counties Manukau/Waikato
Te Awamutu 24 Pukekohe HS 12
Cambridge HS 54 Rosehill 6
St John's (Hamilton) 74 James Cook HS 0
Manurewa HS beat Alfriston by default

Final points: Te Awamutu 31, Manurewa HS 30, St John's 29, Cambridge HS 20, Pukekohe HS, James Cook HS 12, Rosehill 4, Alfriston 2

Bay of Plenty
(Division one)
Bethlehem 9 Trident HS 8
Western Heights HS 32 John Paul 11
Te Whare Kura o Mauao beat Opotiki by default
Rotorua BHS Second XV 19 Aquinas 17

Super 8
Hamilton BHS 48 Gisborne BHS 3
Palmerston North BHS 16 Rotorua BHS 13
Hastings BHS 64 Tauranga BC 0
Napier BHS 45 New Plymouth BHS 22

Points: Hastings BHS, Hamilton BHS 30, Tauranga BC, Rotorua BHS 16, Napier BHS 13, Palmerston North BHS 9, New Plymouth BHS 7, Gisborne BHS 1

Central North Island
Francis Douglas Memorial 84 Rathkeale 7
St Peter's (Cambridge) 77 Te Aute 5
Wesley 54 Wanganui Collegiate 5
Feilding HS 53 Lindisfarne 0
St Paul's Collegiate 73 St John's (Hastings) 3

Points: Wesley 31, Francis Douglas Memorial, St Paul's Collegiate 30, Feilding HS 29, St Peter's 28, Lindisfarne 14, Wanganui Collegiate 13, Rathkeale 9, Te Aute 6, St John's (Hastings) 0

Wellington
St Pat's Silverstream 42 St Pat's Town 5
Scots 44 Tawa 8
Wairarapa 30 Kapiti 22
Wellington 67 Hutt Valley HS 3
Rongotai 33 Porirua 10

Points: St Pat's (Silverstream) 40, Scots 39, Wellington 29, St Pat's (Town) 26, Rongotai 20, Porirua 18, Kapiti 14, Wairarapa 14, Tawa 7, Hutt Valley HS 0

UC Championship
Nelson 48 Roncalli/Aoraki 3
Christchurch BHS 20 Marlborough BC 14
Christ's 27 Shirley BHS 22
Timaru BHS 34 Waimea Combined 7
Burnside HS 33 Mid Canterbury Combined 31
Lincoln Combined 21 Rangiora HS 17
STAC 17 St Thomas 12

Points: Timaru BHS 55, Christchurch BHS, Christ's 53, Nelson 45, St Andrew's 43, Rangiora HS 37, Waimea Combined 31, St Thomas 28, Shirley BHS 27, Marlborough BC 25, Lincoln HS 24, St Bede's 16, Ashburton 7, Burnside HS 5, Roncalli 1

Otago
Otago BHS Second XV 17 Waitaki BHS 14
John McGlashan 15 South Otago HS 0
St. Kevin's 28 Dunstan HS 13
Taieri 24 Kavanagh 20
King's HS 52 Mt Aspiring 5