Report: 1st XV Rugby fixture vs King’s College

On Saturday 15 June, the 1st XV Rugby team played King’s College in the fifth round of the Auckland 1A competition. Playing into the wind in the first half, the 1st XV made the ideal start scoring two early tries and a drop goal to lead 17-0. However, that lead was short-lived as King’s pounced on an error to score, reducing the lead to 10.

Further territory and possession inside our 22 allowed King’s to apply more pressure and as the rain fell, the 1st XV struggled to exit, allowing King’s to score their second try. At halftime, the score was 17-12 to Grammar.

Once again, the team started the half well, scoring early to extend the lead 24-12. Given the nature of the game, playing at the right end of the field was always going to be important and when the team struggled to deal with kick-off’s, King’s gained free entry into their defensive 22, where they looked dangerous from their lineout maul and narrow attack around the fringes. A yellow card for repeated lineout infringements and two converted tries followed with King’s leading 26-24 for the first time in the match.

With just under 20 minutes remaining, the 1st XV team did not panic, remaining disciplined in their approach and focused on playing at the right end of the field. This led to two further penalties to regain and retain the lead which also ensured King’s could not have another entry into our 22. The team then closed the game out to win 30-26.

Try scorers were Form 6 student S. J. L. D. Sharma and Form 7 students P. J. N. Broadhurst and B. L. O. Krone, with captain R. J. Tasmania kicking a drop goal, two penalties and three conversions.

The fixture includes the Cooper-Greenbank Cup which is played for annually between the two schools and is named after two inspirational Headmasters: Auckland Grammar School’s Sir Henry Cooper (1954-1972 ) and King’s College’s Geoff Greenbank (1947-1973). Since 1869, Auckland Grammar School has now won the trophy 137 times and King’s 62, with 16 draws.

Captain of the 1st XV R. J. Tasmania crossed stage in assembly on Monday 17 June to accept the Cooper-Greenbank Cup on behalf of the team and the School’s congratulations.