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Early Casualties at NZRL Schools Tourney

Monday, August 29, 2016

EARLY CASUALTIES AT NZRL SCHOOLS TOURNEY

Favourites St Paul’s College overcame opening-day jitters to keep their hopes of another NZRL National Secondary Schools title alive, but other contenders for the crown weren’t so fortunate.

The 15-time champions barely survived their encounter with Aorere College on the main ground at Papakura’s Bruce Pulman Park, squeaking through 18-14 on the back of superior goal-kicking.

Both rivals crossed for three tries, but St Paul’s half Jaelin Murray converted all his side’s touchdowns.

Aorere wing Lewis Soosemea, already contracted to the NZ Warriors, opened the scoring with a try for Aorere in the opening minutes, but St Paul’s quickly countered with tries to Anthony Meleisea-Murray and Daetyn Tanuvasa to snatch an advantage they would never quite surrender.

St Paul’s were 18-10 ahead late in the second half, before Taunga Arama closed the margin and Aorere was still camped on the try-line when the final hooter sounded.

“It was pretty much like a semi-final or final today,” admitted St Paul’s coach Junior Fiu. “That was a tough game.

“They had some boys we hadn’t played before in the rounds for Auckland. They came to play and hopefully set us up for a tough game against Otahuhu.

“All credit to Aorere, they came to play and they’re a really good side.”

Tomorrow’s clash with Otahuhu College brings together last year’s finalists, but the encounter lost some of its gloss, when the defending champions fell 17-12 to Manukura College of Palmerston North.

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They weren’t alone among notable early defeats – Wesley College, who finished runners-up in the Auckland competition, could not handle South Auckland rivals Southern Cross Campus, bowing 24-16.

And Avondale College, another top-four seed entering this week, fell 26-10 to Tamaki College.

With just one team progressing to semi-finals from each pool, these sides need other results to go their way if their title chances are to be restored.

Other impressive winners were 2013-14 champions Kelston Boys High School, 36-10 over Papatoetoe High, and Westlake Boys High School, who accounted for St Thomas of Canterbury 34-12.

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