1B Championship Final Preview

Tamaki College (1) v Liston College (2)

Last match: 28 May 2016 26-12 Tamaki College

Tamaki College (11W - 0L)

Founded: 1955

Tamaki College is a small school in Glen Innes, roughly composing of 300 boys. 

Despite its relative size, Tamaki has a strong rugby tradition producing a number of players who have gone on to play Mitre 10 Cup, Super Rugby and International Rugby. 

Notable players include Super Rugby’s Pauliasi Manu (Blues & Chiefs), Siua Halanukanuka (Highlanders), Vaea Fifita (Hurricanes) and Internationals Tanner Vili (Samoa), Doris Taufateau (Black Ferns), Karina Stowers (Black Ferns), Atieli Pakalani (Tonga) and current All Black George Moala. 

For a long time, the team was coached by Richie Harris who went on to win a Gallaher Shield with Grammar TEC and is the current Northland Mitre 10 Cup coach. 

Coach: Scott Mansell

Key player: Roni Wright

Top points scorer/ top try scorer: Ieremus Kelemete (9) 

Key game for the season: Beating Liston convincingly in 1st round 26-12 and beating MacLeans College at Macleans 39-0.

Highest achievement for the 1st XV: 2007 1A Semi-Final (finished 3rd) only the second real co-ed to do this after Otahuhu College. National Co-Ed Champions 2007. Last time in 1A was 2012. 

Key to success this year: 10 players returned from the 2015 team who lost a semi-final. This team has a massive work ethic, improved strength and conditioning, combination of experience and exciting young players. The squad has real depth and talent is spread across the field. Each game different players stand out. The team has a strong culture, headed up by a large number of prefects and house captains. 

Liston College (9W – 2L)

Founded: 1974

The small Catholic College out of Henderson was named after Archbishop James Michael Liston (1881-1976) the seventh Catholic Bishop of Auckland.

The school provides for Year 7 – 13 and has a proud sporting background producing  All Blacks Craig Dowd, Mark Carter & Kevin Senio, Super Rugby player Josh Blackie and Counties-Manukau and All Blacks Sevens DJ Forbes; All Whites Paul Urlovic and Kim Wright; WTC Championship driver Paul Radisich as well as NZ and Samoa International Rugby League brothers Anthony & Willie Swann.

Coach: Rory Lord

Key players: Anzelo Tuitavuki (fullback) and Godinet Tinei (First 5)

Top try scorer: Conner Moors (winger)

Key game for the season: The semi-final vs One Tree Hill to progress to the 1B Championship final but more importantly earning promotion relegation game next year.

Highest achievement for 1st XV: 1985 1A Top 4; 1995 1B Champions – promoted to 1A; 2015 1B Championship runner up

Key to success: Hard work, shift in attitude within the 1st XV environment. 

1B Plate Final Preview

Mt Roskill Grammar School (1) vs Pakuranga College (2)

Last match: 14 May 2016 27-26 to Pakuranga College

Pakuranga College (5W – 6L)

Founded: 1960

Based across the road from Lloyd Ellsmore Park and Pakuranga RC, the College has been making strides over the past few years in Rugby circles building up a player base through the age grades which is now starting to filter through to the top side. 

The East siders enjoy a good battle with local rivals MacLeans College and Howick College annually to see who is next best in the suburbs behind 1A powerhouse St Kentigern.

Coach: Darren Jardine & Maia Solomon. Manager: Heemi Gilbert Trainer

Key player: Tevita Latu

Top points scorer/ top try scorer: Tevita Latu

Key game for the season: Winning the 2016 Gold Coast Rugby Carnival during the July School Holidays gave the players the confidence and self-belief that they can compete against much bigger teams.

Highest achievement for the 1st XV: Pakuranga College are the defending 1B Plate Champion, which to date is the most successful result for the school in Auckland. Winning the Gold Coast Rugby Carnival this year especially beating NZ, Australian and English teams.

Key to your success this year: A self-belief that hard work pays off, the boys have given a lot of time and effort from pre-season to now. They do not want to let their brothers down they give everything on the field. Also the school and parents support has helped the boys succeed this season.  

Mt Roskill Grammar School (7W – 4L)

Founded: 1954

Mt Roskill Grammar School (MRGS) has produced some talented rugby players over the years with some making their way towards Mitre 10 Cup level such as Otu Mausia (‘12/Auckland) and Amos Pogia (‘12/Tasman) and international players such as Kisi Pulu (3 Rugby World Cups for Tonga). 

MRGS continues to develop their rugby programme and hopefully see future talent emerge from the recently introduced Junior Rugby Academy in the years to come.

MRGS Girls 10s will compete for the Girls 10s Championship next week and this area continues to grow rapidly.  There is a proud Rugby history and with 14 of the current squad returning in 2017, there are high aspirations of making it into the 1A in the near future.

Coach: Ciaran Overton and Callum McGibbon

Key player: Sam Pau and Tyrique Renata

Top points scorer/ top try scorer: Tyrique Renata (55) Akeiti Pifileti (10 tries)

Key game for the season: After the disappointment of not making the Championship Round our key game was the semi-final against Southern Cross Senior Campus. The team gave their most complete performance of the season with a dominating 50-5 win led by 1st XV veteran and Captain Sione Lui who scored a brace. 

Highest achievement for the 1st XV: 1A Twice in 1960s; 1B Champion 2001, Semi Finalists 2006 & 2007

Key to your success this year: A couple of narrow losses early in the season (One Tree Hill 0-3 and Botany Downs 3-7) meant MRGS missed out on the Championship round. Talented first five-eighths Tyrique Renata joined the squad late and has ignited a robust back-line with power and speed. A strong forward pack with Auckland U18 Divisional hopeful’s Viliami Panuve and Sam Pau have worked hard all year. A rock solid defence has laid the platform for success alongside self-belief, hard work and the right attitude they have started to play the style of rugby they are capable of producing. We played Pakuranga at the start of the season and were disappointed to lose 26-27 in the last play of that game so the team is not taking them lightly.