St Paul’s Collegiate School’s 1XV has started the season with some fantastic wins in pre-season games over the past few weeks.
The preseason rugby started with an annual game against our Australian friends and rivals, Scotch College. We performed well with a high scoring game in favour of St Paul’s. We followed this up with a win against Mclean’s College in Auckland and a loss to Palmerston North Boys High School. The preseason finished with a convincing win against Fraser Tech U21.
Following the preseason we have now stated the Chief’s Trophy tournament, which has the top secondary school in the region competing. Included in our draw for the tournament includes Hamilton Boys High School, Wesley College and Tauranga Boys School.
St Paul’s played Hamilton Boys High School, arguably one of the best teams in the country, in the first round. We started well, building good phases of play but were unable to score.
St Paul’s lineout functioned well against a tall opposition pack with accurate throwing to the by Samisoni Taukei’aho and good line out support by Jaden Verryt. Caleb Lingman and Hamish Burt produced strong close quarter running. Connor Fullerton and his replacement Corban Morrison distributed accurately though out the game.
Hamilton Boys High School defended well and counter attacked with good speed and accuracy. They had an ability to commit defenders, develop overlaps out wide and score.
Rhodri MacKenzie and James Hunt executed some excellent spot tackles but were often out numbered.
This coming weekend the team will travel to Wesley College.
