College Rugby League grand final preview

The biggest rivalry in secondary school rugby league will add another chapter on Saturday when St Paul's College and Kelston Boys' High School clash in the SAS College Rugby League grand final.

The match will be played in between semifinals for the Fox Memorial Premiership at Birkenhead War Memorial Park, with kickoff at 1pm.

The Auckland Rugby League will be providing a free livestream of the match, which can be accessed on www.aucklandleague.co.nz.

It has been an up and down year for defending champions Kelston, with losses to MAGS, St Paul's and Otahuhu through pool play.

They could consider themselves fortunate to be in the final, given they initially lost their minor semifinal clash with Otahuhu, only to be given a lifeline when Otahuhu were found to have fielded an ineligible player.

But there was nothing lucky about their victory in the major semi against MAGS last Wednesday, with Kelston showing the characteristics of a champion side by coming back from a 12-6 deficit to force extra time, before taking control of the match and booting the winning field goal.

St Paul's, on the other hand, have been near flawless after recovering from a rough start to pool play, where they lost to Manurewa in the opening game.

Boasting the competition's best defensive record, the central Auckland school advanced to the finals as the top seed and secured a grand final spot with a 28-6 win over MAGS in their qualifying semifinal two weeks ago.

After a week off footy, St Paul's will come into the game refreshed and near full health, with Chris Sio and Amoni Tufui (playing for the Junior Warriors) their only unavailable players.

Key match-up: Beau Cordtz v Austin Masiutama
Playing in arguably the most structured team in the competition, Cordtz executes his role to perfection. An organiser with a strong passing and kicking game, Cordtz is the key figure in almost every St Paul's attacking set and was rewarded this year with a spot in the SAS College Rugby League team of the year.

Kelston No 7 Masiutama makes an impact in a different way, with great footwork and vision he is one of the most dangerous ball runners on the secondary school scene. A player who loves to try trick plays late in the tackle counts and constantly threatens the defensive line.

The recent history: Earlier this year Kelston and St Paul's met in pool play, with St Paul's racing out to an 18-0 lead at the break and eventually winning 18-12. That game went some way to avenging the 2014 CRL grand final, which Kelston won 22-16 over St Paul's.

Livestream details: watch live and free on www.aucklandleague.co.nz from 1pm.

St Paul's: (1) Uasi Leota (2) Joseph Taungakana (3) Samuel Filimoetu (4) Sione Fakapelea (5) James Manoa (6) Daymon Abbey (7) Beau Cordtz (8) Sione Ngahe (9) Sean Tofa-Timoteo (10) Zephaniah Aerenga (11) Soane Hufanga (12) Asalemo Usumanu (13) Taniela Masake; Interchange (from): (14) Viliami Otuafi (15) Letuituia Eliu (16) Francis Tanuvasa (17) Manatu Kafoa (18) Tevita Pinomi; Coach: Phil Sargeant

Kelston BHS: (1) Delaney Chaney-Puata (2) Emosi Alamoti (3) Pauli Sefo (4) Fong Tali (5) Carlos Henry (6) Wyatt Rangi (7) Austin Masiutama (8) Setefano Maava (9) Justus Leaoseve (10) Xavier Tutaki (11) Whitiora Kennedy (12) Mosese Faeamanu (13) Utah Ioka; Interchange (from): (14) Tairelle Parker (15) Vinnie Lapalapa Lafotanoa-Tapara (16) Jethro Barnett (17) Aiden Ioane (18) Alex Sele; Coach: Phil Gordon