Report: New Zealand Secondary Schools Touch Rugby Championships

During the first week of the summer holidays, the School’s Premier Touch Rugby team travelled to Rotorua to compete at the three-day New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships.

The team had a difficult pool competing against St Bede’s College, Hamilton Boys’ High School, New Plymouth Boys’ High School, Marlborough Boys’ High School and Te Puke High School.

Day one saw the team play all opponents with wins against Marlborough Boys’ High School (9-5) and New Plymouth Boys’ High School (5-4) but losses to St Bede’s College and Hamilton Boys’ High School.

On day two, the team had wins against Te Puke High School (11-1), Palmerston North Boys’ High School (9-8), Whangarei Boys’ High School (8-2) and Shirley Boys’ High School (9-2).

Having won all the games on day two, the Premier Touch Rugby team qualified for the semi-final of the Mahuri Plate against St John’s College, Hamilton. The team played superbly; by sticking to defensive processes they went on to win 7-4 and book a place in the final against Christchurch Boys’ High School for ninth place.

The team had excellent composure and built pressure on attack and defence, and led 5-4 at half-time. Some changes on attack in the second half proved to be effective and the team went on to win 9-6.

Congratulations to the team and to Masters in Charge M. Cuming and Z. King for their guidance and support.