Champions Head Nzrl Schools Field

Champions Head Nzrl Schools Field

Kelston Boys High School will be hunting a three-peat of titles at this year’s NZRL National Secondary Schools Tournament, but have had to battle to keep their hopes alive in the Auckland competition.

The West Aucklanders are one of 24 teams confirmed today for the national event at Papakura’s Bruce Pulman Park (August 31-September 4).

They captured their second straight title at the same venue last year, when they defeated archrivals St Paul’s College 20-10 in the final.

Those two sides will also face in Auckland’s SAS College Rugby League final on August 22, but Kelston have had to rely on some good fortune to reach that stage.

They were seemingly eliminated in the semi-finals by Otahuhu College, but progressed when their opponents were found to have fielded an ineligible player.

This week, they needed an extra-time field goal to edge Mt Albert Grammar in the major semi to join St Paul’s in the final.

This exciting climax to the Auckland competition sets the table for a thrilling national tournament, contested in two grades – premiership & development.

Kelston has drawn a pool that includes 2014 development winners Papatoetoe High School, while St Paul’s face Manurewa High School and newcomers Manukura School from Palmerston North.

Twelve of the 16 premiership teams hail from Akarana or Counties Manukau zones (Auckland). Whangarei Boys High (Northland Zone), Tokoroa Boys High (Upper Central Zone), Manukura (Mid Central Zone) and Aranui High (Southern Zone) are the exceptions.

Trident High School from Whakatane (Upper Central) and Onehunga High School (Akarana) will also make their tournament debuts in the development grade.

Pools for each grade are:

PREMIERSHIP
Pool A - St Paul's College, Manurewa HS, Manukura School, Rosehill College
Pool B - Kelston BHS, Papatoetoe HS, Tokoroa HS, Tamaki College
Pool C - Mt Albert Grammar, Southern Cross Campus College, Mt Roskill Grammar, Aranui HS
Pool D - Otahuhu College, Aorere HS, Whangarei BHS, Westlake BHS

DEVELOPMENT
Pool E - Trident HS, Howick College, Wesley College, James Cook HS
Pool F - Francis Douglas Memorial College, St Thomas of Canterbury College, Papakura HS, Onehunga HS

Pool draw (August 31-September 2) here

ENDS

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