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Otahuhu pipped in final By PJ TAYLOR Wednesday, 05 July 2006 • Tamaki and Districts Times OTAHUHU College’s top rugby league players can hold their head high despite losing a tight Auckland secondary schools premier First XIII final.
Otahuhu’s coaching staff of Moana Va’aelua, Julie Rogers and Peter Thompson, were proud of how their team lifted for the big occasion. Thompson says it was by far their best performance of the season, against a team from St Paul’s that’s recognised traditionally as New Zealand’s leading rugby league secondary school. Last week’s premier final will be remembered as the best schools game in recent memory, played with great intensity, says the Auckland Rugby League. Skilful players to stand out with strong games were Otahuhu’s Sioeli Kaifoto, Rusty Bristowe and Sione Tongia, while the best for St Paul’s were Toleafoa Solomona, Sione Misa, Manu Mau, Francis Leger and Arden McCarthy. I Tuifua was strong on defence, often coming off his wing to smash Otahuhu’s outside backs with devastating results. Otahuhu were solid on defence, containing St Paul’s for long periods including one when they defended three consecutive sets. Auckland secondary schools league finals: Premier First XIII: St Paul’s College 21 (Toleafoa Solomona, Manu Mau, Francis Leger, I Tuifua tries; Francis Leger con, pen, drop goal) Otahuhu College 18 (Sioeli Kaifoto 2, Mitchell Tomai tries; Mitchell Tomai con; Sione Tongia con). U85 kg Coll A: Southern Cross 40 (Freyburg Aviata 3, J.Daniel 2, I Maliota, J Peddybourne tries; Chris Teika 6 con) Aorere College 18 (Ama Kalafi 2, Siu Papalii tries; J Tavaga 2 con). U15 9-a-side: St Pauls 30 (Filipine Aki, Henry Chanting, Etuate Havili, Daniel Silikula, Chris Helu 2 tries; Helu 3 con) Penrose High 12 (Alan Leilua 3 tries). Stephen Kearney Cup: St Paul’s 28 (N Seluinu, Slousi, Nico Mika, Alberto Uasa, J Afaese 2 tries; Alberto Uasa 2 con) Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate 8 (Luke Fa’aui, Bobby Matamaki tries). |
