Rotorua Boys’ High School beat Scots College in thriller

 UPDATED: Rotorua Boys’ High School are the 2015 National Top 4 champions.

A passionate 13-man Rotorua Boys’ High School held off Scots College to win today’s National Top 4 final for the New Zealand Barbarians Cup in a 10-try thriller.

Rotorua held their nerve over the final several minutes to beat a fast-finishing Scots 36-27 in the final in front of an army of their home supporters, after losing their second five-eighth to a red card for a spear tackle and their halfback Te Ra Whata for punching on the ground in the dying minutes.

Trailing 27-29 at the time, Scots couldn’t take advantage of their two-man advantage and instead it was Rotorua that re-gained territory and No. 8 Kaydis Hona crashed over to score a try and their first five-eighth Kaleb Trask sent the conversion through the poles with the final play of the game.

In a high quality, entertaining final, Rotorua out-scored Scots six tries to four, featuring two stunning tries to Club Rugby’s Player of the Match, fullback Issac Te Aute.

Te Aute scored a sensational 60-metre try in the first half when he ran the ball back from a kick in general play and gassed the Scots defence and then skipped through the tackles of two defenders and beat a third to score a decisive second half try. Te Aute also had a hand in a another key first half try.

Two other players also bagged braces in the final; Rotorua left wing James Tofa and Scots human bulldozer Alex Fidow.

Rotorua beat Scots at their own game. Led by hard working lock forward Harrison, their forwards were committed and spurred each other on all match, whilst their backs led by Te Aute, Tofa and right wing Black were electric.

Rotorua timed their run to the New Zealand First XV title perfectly, beating defending co-defending champions Hamilton Boys’ High School in the recent Chiefs semi-final and then tipping over Auckland powerhouse St Kentigern College in Friday’s semi-final.

Rotorua have now earned the right to represent New Zealand at the SANIX World Schools Championships in Japan in early 2016. Scots finished third in this tournament this year.

Earlier, playing into a moderate wind, Rotorua scored three outstanding tries to lead 19-12 at haltime.

Setting the tone of the match, Scots College made a promising start with ball in hand, using the width of the field and asking early questions of the home team’s defence, through Fidow and Thomas Umaga-Jensen.

However, it was Rotorua that scored the game’s first try, right wing Black broke from a scrum and dated into space and kicked ahead. Scots wing Malo Manuao fielded the kick but then threw the ball away for Black to collect and pass inside to halfback Te Ra Whata who scored to make it 7-0.

Rotorua were almost in again with a break up the left wing, averted by a try saving tackle by fullback Peter Umaga-Jensen.

Fidow stole a Rotorua lineout and the Scots forwards punched towards the try-line. Scots then ripped the ball wide and fullback Jack Gray ran in to score under the posts to level the scores at 7-7 after 20 minutes.

Rotorua hit back and re-took the lead after their outstanding attacking fullback Issac Te Aute atoned for missing the tackle on his opposite Gray and second guessed the Scots midfield defence and fed right wing Black, who linked up with left wing James Tofa on his inside to score to make it 12-7.

Scots ran the ball from their own 22, Thomas Umaga-Jensen broke the line and took off into space and flung a pass out wide to his support players. But this was called back for being forward and Rotorua launched a ferocious raid from the ensuing midfield scrum.

Rotorua left wing James Tofa darted at the try-line but he was called back for a double movement in a determined tackle by Scots fullback Gray.

Rotorua fullback Te Aute then scored a fantastic individual try. Feilding a kick from his own side of halfway, Te Aute ran through and around Scots’ defence and sprinted all the way to the line. Flyhalf Trask converted and Rotorua now led 19-7.

Needing to score again, Scots won a series of penalties and attacked in the corner from a lineout. This paid off when Fidow powered his way over to score a crucial try in the right corner and Rotorua went into halftime leading 19-12.

Scots closed the gap to 19-15 with the first act of the second half with a penalty from the re-start to Manuao.

Rotorua had a strong period on attack, probing for opportunities inside the Scots 22.

But Scots broke out from a ruck under their own posts to score a length of the field try.

Halfback Ollie Whiteman created half a gap and offloaded to Thomas Umaga-Jensen who ran 50 metres up field and offloaded off his shoulder to his brother Peter Umaga-Jensen to score the try.

Manuao added the conversion to put Scots ahead 22-19.

Undeterred, Rotorua struck back straightaway. Fullback Iaasc Te Aute made inroads; Rotorua recycled and went across to the other side of the field and left wing James Tofa crossed in the corner for his brace. Trask was unable to bring the conversion around, but Rotorua led 24-22 with almost 25 minutes still to play.

Te Aute cut through in general play on a 25 metre run to the line to score his side’s next try, extending their lead to 29-22.

Rotorua continued to ask questions of Scots inside their own 22, and it was all Scots could do to hang on by a thread.

Rotorua knocked the ball on cold and Scots pounced.

Thomas and Peter Umaga-Jensen were both involved in a sizzling 70-metre counter-attack that led to Alex Fidow scoring his second try in the corner, to close the gap to 29-27 with 10 minutes to play.

Scots looked to be coming home on a wet sail when Rotorua second five-eighth was red carded for a spear tackle on Manuo in the 63rd minute and then their halfback Ra Whata was shown yellow for punching on the ground.

With the big crowd and wind behind them, Rotorua hung tough to the end and wrapped the result up on fulltime with a Trask penalty.

Rotorua Boys’ High School 36 ( Te Ra Whata, James Tofa 2, Issac Te Aute 2, Kaydis Hona tries; Kaleb Trask 3 con, pen) beat Scots College 27 ( (Jack Gray, Alex Fidow 2 Peter Umaga-Jensen tries; Malo Manuao pen, 2 con). HT: 19-7

Meanwhile, Auckland’s St Kentigern College beat Otago Boys’ High School 31-27 in the playoff for third and fourth. Otago Boys’ High School held the lead until late in the match, but St Kent's flew home to win at a try at the end. 

St Andrew’s College beat Cambridge High School 30-13 to win the National Co-ed final. 

Hamilton Girls’ High School pulled clear in the second half to beat Southland Girls’ High School 27-5 in the Girls Top 4 Final at Palmerston North.

Southland led 5-0 throughout most of the first half, before Hamilton scored a converted try on halftime and then skipped out to retain their title in the second spell.

Feilding High School defeated Southern Cross Campus 27-24 in the playoff for third and fourth.