Touch Rugby

First game: win 7-6
Game two: draw 6-6
Game three win 7-5

The Otago Secondary Schools’ Tournament

v Southland Boy’s High School: win 7-6
v John McGlashan College: win 13-0
Final
v OBHS: win 9-6 win
Otago Secondary School champions.

South Island Secondary Schools’ Tournament. 

V John McGlashan College                           win         14-4

V St Bedes College                                       win         9-2

V Christchurch Boys’ High                             draw      9-9

V St Andrew’s College                                    win         9-6

Semi Finals the next day.

Otago Boys’ High School                                win         10-5

Final

v Christchurch Boys’ High School               win         9-7.

King’s the SISS Touch Champions.

1^st row; Jaxon Harvey, Andre Mata’afa, Mosese Palu, Dylan Pledger, Isaac Kramers

2^nd row; Oscar Cameron, Tyler Metua, Taine Hand (Captain), Angus Cameron (Vice-Captain), Sam Nemec-Vial, Mr Koni

3^rd row; Jay Davis, Ben Paku, Orlando Tuhega-Vaitupu

Furthermore, it was pleasing to see the Shirley Boys’ High School interschool rejuvenate after our last interschool meeting back in 2009. Unfortunately, it would be a tough ask for the visitors to win on King’s soil. The King’s team were direct and were able to execute all transitional plays with speed and accuracy, comfortably dismantling Shirley in wet conditions in all three games, (12-3, 7-3 and 8-3). Credit to Shirley however who made the trip, we know they will learn from this experience moving forward.

The Otago Secondary Schools’ Tournament was a great stage to test our young team. The team won their 1^st match against local rivals, Otago Boys’ High School. New team defense policies as well as a team belief, meant we were able to capitalize on touchdowns, which eventually got us a 5-3 win early in the round robin matches. The following game against John McGlashan was a good 8-4 victory, but we knew we still had work to do.

The final against OBHS was a good game, which was not reflected on the board. King’s dominated the game with great defense from stalwart, Angus Cameron who has come off great form for Otago. Other young emerging King’s players, Orlando Tuhega-Vaitupu and Dylan Pledger showed calm and accuracy throughout the game. Their experience showed in the middle of the field at pressure moments of the game. NZ recognized players, Taine Hand and Vaiola Palu combined with the team to set up touchdowns that had King’s up over OBHS by three touchdowns with five minutes to go before full time. King’s emerged as victors to remain Otago Champions again for another year.

Unfortunately, the South Island Secondary Schools’ Touch Tournament scheduled for March was cancelled due to the country’s historic Lockdown.

1st Row Joel Cook, Orlando Tuhega-Vaitupu, Ben Paku (Captain), Trevor Elisara (Captain), Dylan Pledger, Isaac Kramers
2nd Row Andre Mataafa, Jaxon Harvey, Oscar Cameron, Vaiola Palu, Mr Koni (Coach)

3rd Row Sam Nemec-Vial, Jeremiah TuhegaVaitupu, Jack Soal, Tyler Metua

Absent: Jay Davis, Henri Mitchell-Collie (Coach), James Te Pairi (Coach).

v Southland Boys’ High School 10-7, 8-5 and 11-9

v Shirley Boys’ High School – cancelled due to Covid -19

v Waitaki Boys – win

The South Island Secondary Schools’ Tournament

v Marlborough Boys’ High School (10-5), St Bede’s (9-6) and Shirley Boys’ High School (10-3).

Semi-final – Christchurch Boys’ High School  – loss 7-5

Playoff for 3rd and 4^th St Bedes – won 6-5

1st Row: Benny Iakopo, Henry Smale, Joseph Hola, Nevaeh Hughes, Jake Hill, Lachlan Jephson

ABSENT: Finn Ap

WINNERS – South Island Secondary Schools Tournament held in Christchurch

Pool – WIN vs Southland Boys (12-5); LOSS vs St Bedes College (7-8)

Quarters – WIN vs Nelson College (10-5); WIN vs Marlborough Boys College (10-1)

Semi – WIN vs Christchurch Boys High (8-5)

Final – WIN vs St Bedes College (6-5)