A superb second half has carried St Kentigern to a 26-19 victory over Sacred Heart in an intense 1A First XV final at Eden Park.

That gives the east Auckland school its fifth championship in seven years, establishing an enviable pedigree at the top of the province’s schools’ totem pole. It all played out in front of a vocal crowd of some 8000.

But for the first 35 minutes the slight underdog Sacred Heart firmly held the initiative and it looked as though that title drought since 1965 was about to be broken.

The first spell saw Sacred Heart in control, dominating the ball, keeping its attack quite narrow and playing to its forward strengths.

Sacred Heart’s scrum was ascendant and its error rate low, while St Kentigern incurred the displeasure of referee Kyle Harris and lost fullback Etene Nanai to the sinbin, his second yellow card in two weeks.

The boot of No 12 Chay Fihaki was decisive for Sacred Heart in the early exchanges. Loosehead prop Fatongia Paea was again prominent and was ruled, via the TMO, to be held up over the line, but he gave the last pass minutes later for first five Josh Jacomb to score.

Paea did score himself from a lineout drive, his big mitt reaching out to slide the ball off the leg of a St Kentigern defender. At 19-6, Sacred Heart might have almost touched the ASB Cup.

But the Catholics did not reckon on a vigorous and highly effective response from St Kentigern, perhaps stung by the halftime message or at least operating with more clarity. The 2015 champion reeled off three tries in a 14-minute purple patch.

Flanker Mitch Gibson was fed a sweet ball out wide by centre and player of the day Lui Scholtens. Sacred Heart captain and centre Lemeki Namoa was then binned, compounding his team’s defensive issues.

Scholtens then finished his own try in brilliant fashion, reaching high to grab a loose pass. When left wing Benji Pauga caught a well-directed Rivez Reihana crosskick, it was 23-19 and the momentum had not so much shifted as swung a knockout blow.

Sacred Heart was dropping off tackles and could not hold the ball long enough to create pressure. Still, there was a late surge, but the ball was again lost.

St Kentigern had again shown its resilience under pressure. – Campbell Burnes

St Kentigern 26 (Mitch Gibson, Lui Scholtens, Benji Pauga tries; Rivez Reihana con, 3 pen) Sacred Heart 19 (Josh Jacomb, Fatongia Paea tries; Chay Fihaki 3 pen) HT: 19-6 Sacred Heart