11/8/2016
St Paul’s win back-to-back SAS College Rugby League Championship title
St Paul’s College have claimed the Championship title for the second straight year, edging out season debutants Wesley College 23-10 to win the SAS College Rugby League grand final on Wednesday night.
It was straight out the gates for St Paul's College with back to back sets to start the game.
Prop Sione Ngahe opened the score, storming over the line and under the sticks with standoff
Dylan Tavita adding the extras for an early 6-0 lead.
St Paul's dodged a bullet when Wesley's standoff
Adam Pompey kicked the ball high before Sione Hafoka crossed over, only to be denied points with a knock on.
That counted for little in the end with Wesley shifting the ball quickly to the left and an opening try to wing Saia Latu.
With the conversion flying wide, St Paul's led 6-4.
Further St Paul's tries to wing Duken Williams and hard-working fullback Star Toa took the lead out to 14-4.
Tavita added the extras to give his side a 16-4 lead at the break.
While St Paul's held a points advantage coming into the second stanza, Wesley have history of showing up in the second half and producing better efforts.
It took 15 minutes before points were scored. Wesley accelerated down field before hooker Larenz Tupaea crashed over from dummy half.
Pompey converted to get up 16-10.
But St Paul's hit back with an offload from prop Zephaniah Aerenga and a shift to the right.
Fullback Star Toa proved just why he's worthy of being named in the 1st XIII team of the year, storming through the pack to fall just short of the line before Tavita reached to extend their lead 20-10.
Eventually it told, putting the game beyond doubt with another conversion and drop goal to Tavita winning 23-10.
The victory was met by a loud applause from the full house of travelling fans at Mt Smart Stadium #2.
St Paul's coach Junior Fiu said he was incredibly proud of his team's efforts and their undefeated season.
"I'm really proud of the boys and their performance tonight," he said.
"They had camp in March and they've worked really hard to defend this title."
But Fiu admits it hasn't been all about the physical training, with education being a major key to making the team.
"Obviously the physical training is important, but they had to work their butts off at school if they wanted to make the team.
"Education was always a priority before taking the field," he said.
The rugby league season isn't over for the central Auckland school who now shift their focus on playing in the NZRL Secondary Schools tournament later this month.
St Paul's College 23 (Star Toa, Duken Williams,
Dylan Tavita, Sione Ngahe tries;
Dylan Tavita x3 goals, x1 drop goal) BEAT Wesley College 10 (Saia Latu, Larenz Tupaea tries;
Adam Pompey x1 goal) HT: 16-4 at Mount Smart Stadium #2.
St Paul’s College have claimed the Championship title for the second straight year, edging out season debutants Wesley College 23-10 to win the SAS College Rugby League grand final on Wednesday...
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