Presbyterian St Kentigern will face Catholic Sacred Heart in the Auckland 1A First XV final next Saturday at Eden Park.

St Kentigern are still in contention for their fifth title in the last seven seasons, while Sacred Heart are still searching for their elusive first 1A crown since 1965.

This follows semifinal action this afternoon in topsy-turvy weather conditions, one minute wet and the next in bright sunlight.

St Kentigern, the 2015 winners, had to work hard to defeat Auckland Grammar at their east Auckland home field. They overcame several deficits and a yellow card to edge the visitors 17-13, with their halves and scrum standing tall when it mattered.

At Sacred Heart, the home side triumphed 21-0, three tries to zip, over St Peter’s.

Sacred Heart were the second qualifiers and will contest their second straight final but first decider with close rivals St Kentigern. Gus Leger’s charges beat St Kentigern in an epic 2016 semifinal, but fell 17-6 earlier this season to Tai Lavea’s young men.

Against a St Peter’s unit that was resolute on defence and committed to all aspects of their game, Sacred Heart struggled to impose themselves in the first half. That they led 7-0 at the break was entirely down to a startling 40m solo try by loosehead prop and man of the match Fatongia Paea.

St Peter’s had in fact controlled most of the play, their pack, led by the tireless loose trio of captain Calum McNab, Josh Wheeler and Niko Jones, muscling up to the more vaunted Sacred Heart eight, and they might have scored twice but for a stray foot in touch. But they showed an effective maul and enjoyed the better of the field position.

However, it was a far different home side in the second spell. Looking far more focused and disciplined, Sacred Heart seized control of the encounter with an early score and never relinquished field position or dominance.

Fullback Josh Ka latched onto a grubber from captain and centre Lemeki Namoa and the home side gradually wore down the visitors and their vuvuzelas.

Halfback Taufa Funaki nearly scored a solo try himself, while first five Josh Jacomb was kicking tactically with more authority.

Replacement wing Brian Leali’ifano put the exclamation mark on the home display with a try in the corner off a long pass by hooker Macaulay Casey, set up by Paea. Chay Fihaki’s sideline conversion capped a well-executed second stanza by Sacred Heart.

There was jubilation and a school haka at fulltime, but any ‘full monty’ celebrations will be on hold for at least a week as Sacred Heart enter the decider before what should be a large crowd in next Saturday’s curtainraiser to the Auckland v Northland Mitre 10 Cup match.

Botany Downs and One Tree Hill will contest the 1B final. Botany Downs beat Mt Roskill Grammar 23-3 and One Tree Hill lowered Tangaroa 18-17. – Campbell Burnes

Sacred Heart 21 (Fatongia Paea, Josh Ka, Brian Leali’ifano tries; Chay Fihaki 3 con) St Peter’s 0 HT: 7-0