Scots College and Rotorua BHS to meet in National Top 4 Final

UPDATED: Wellington’s Scots College and Rotorua Boys’ High School will meet on Sunday in the final of the National Secondary Schools Top 4 tournament in Rotorua.

Both won tight and willing semi-finals on Friday, with Hurricanes region representatives Scots College narrowly overcoming South Island champions Otago Boys’ High School 35-27 and Chiefs champions Rotorua Boys’ High School tipping over Auckland’s St Kentigern College 7-5 in an absorbing battle.

Scots and Rotorua will play for the New Zealand Barbarians Cup in Sunday afternoon’s final.Scots College are the defending co-champions, whilst Rotorua will be playing in their first final since 2003.

In the Co-ed Schools semi-finals, Cambridge High School scored a try with the last play of the game to beat Auckland’s Aoere College 18-16 and Christchurch school St Andrew’s overcame Fielding High School 27-18.

The National Top 4 Girls semi-finals were played today in Palmerston North, where defending champions Hamilton Girls’ High School beat Auckland’s Southern Cross Campus 46-12 after leafing 27-0 at halftime. Southland Girls' High School defeated Feilding High School 20-10 in the other semi-final.

Hamilton GHS will play Southland GHS for the Hine Pounamu RugbyGIRL Trophy in Palmerston North on Sunday.

Scots College 35 – Otago Boys’ High School 27

Scots College earned their right to defend their National Top 4 title after beating Otago Boys’ High School in a high scoring and thrilling final.

Scots were down 25-27 with about 10 minutes to go, but wing Malo Manuao kicked a 50 metre penalty goal to make it 28-27 to Scots.

Otago then desperately tried to launch a counterattack to score the winning try but unfortunately for them an errant pass was intercepted by Alex Fidow who stormed 55 metres up field before being tackled just short of the line. The ball was recycled quickly and Thomas Umaga-Jensen was on hand to score the winning try for Scots.

Earlier, Otago BHS started strongly. Two tries to No. 8 Slade McDowall put them into a 10-3 lead. McDowall was one of the standouts for Otago with his defence around the rucks and strong carries.

The game then took a turn in Scots’ favour when Peter Umaga-Jensen scored a try from a 70 metre break by Alex Fidow.

Otago responded by breaks by centre Samisoni and by fleet-footed fullback Josh Buchan, and eventually the pressure told and tighthead prop Sione Asi crashed over for a try. Buchan converted to extend their lead to 17-10.

Scots’ loosehead prop Moala Katoa scored a try after a break by Peter Umaga-Jensen, locking the score up to 17-17 at halftime.

Otago loosehead prop Liam Sharples was yellow carded early in the second half and Scots kicked a penalty to give them the lead for the first time, 20-17.

Scots then had a period of pressure but failed to score. The No. 8 knocked the ball over the line. Scots hooker Lotonu’u Haueia scored after another searing break by Peter Umaga-Jensen. This made it 25-17 to Scots.

Peter Umaga-Jensen then boldly tried to run the ball from underneath his posts. He got caught and penalised. Otago took a lineout drive and prop Sione Asi rumbled over to close the gap to a point.

Otago then kicked a penalty through first five-eighth Burnes Mills to put them in the lead.
But it wasn’t enough and Scots blasted back to win at the end.

Boys Top 4 semi-finals

Scots College 35 (Lotonu’u Haueia, Moala Katoa, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Thomas Umaga-Jensen tries; Malo Manuao 3 pen, 3 con) beat Otago Boys’ High School 27 (Slade McDowall 2, Sione Asi 2 tries; Burnes Mills 2 con; Josh Buchan pen). HT: 17-17.

Rotorua Boys’ High School 7 (Kaydis Hona try; Kaleb Trask con) beat St Kentigern College 5 (Henry Saker try). HT: 7-5.

Co-ed Boys semi-finals

St Andrew’s College 27 (Layton Francis 2, George Mirfin, Elliott Smith; Sam Gilbert 2 con, pen beat Feilding High School 18 ( Siosaia Teumohenga, Chris Cairns tries, Tom Stewart 2 pen, con).

Cambridge High School 18 Daniel Thornton, Caleb Sheehan tries; Spencer Jones 2 pen, con) beat Aorere College 16 (Mose Senio, Isaac Laga tries; JP Mgatoko 2 pen)

Girls Top 4 semi-finals

Hamilton Girls' High School 46 beat Southern Cross Campus 46-12

Southland Girls' High School beat Feilding High School 20-10