Latest news with #BloodMatch
Otago Daily Times
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Draw after dramatic ending
Waitaki Boys' players celebrate after retaining the Leo O'Malley Trophy with a 19-19 draw in the Blood Match on Saturday. PHOTO: NIC DUFF Complete and utter pandemonium. That is the only way to describe the frantic and, for a moment, confusing ending to Saturday's Blood Match between Waitaki Boys' and St Kevin's. St Kevin's led 19-12 with time up on the clock, but Waitaki Boys' had a lineout 5m from the line. Their driving maul fell short and two more pick and go attempts also fell short before replacement prop Andrew Kaufana scored. It was then over to 17-year-old Hau'ofa Latu to line up the conversion from out wide. As he slotted it between the uprights to end the match with the scores tied, cheers erupted from the Waitaki Boys' sideline. Waitaki held the Leo O'Malley Trophy, so a draw meant they retained the treasured "peanut". There was some confusion as the Southern Schools Rugby Championship determines the winner of a one-off game through a series of tiebreakers including who scored the first try, which was St Kevin's. However, it was soon clarified that Waitaki Boys' did in fact retain the trophy as this was a game held outside that competition. It was the first time the Blood Match had ended in a draw since 2006. Latu said while he was nervous taking the final conversion, he was confident when lining up the kick. "All I can hear is the SKC crowd just going at me. "All I thought was just, do what I do." It was a frantic end to the annual clash with both sides scoring a pair of tries late. St Kevin's led 7-0 at halftime but Waitaki Boys' equalised after the break. Waitaki Boys' took the lead after a well-worked move off a lineout put Latu in space down the right touchline. He stabbed a chip kick ahead and the lightning-fast Jack Nicol beat everyone to it to score. Not letting the game slip away, St Kevin's hit back. They got the ball out wide to fullback Kobe Narruhn, who drew in his defender and gave it to Louie Hose on his outside. The winger then gave it back to Narruhn on the inside to run away and score. St Kevin's had another just a few minutes later when a midfield bomb took an awkward bounce. Narruhn was able to grab it and pass to Kenton Tokai, who sprinted away to score in the corner, setting up the grandstand finish. • St Kevin's showed immense courage to back up 24 hours later for a Southern Schools Rugby Championship game. They were beaten 43-5 by Otago Boys' 1sts yesterday. Just three other games were played at the weekend thanks to the shocking weather. John McGlashan 2nds pipped Southland Boys' 2nds 18-15, King's 2nds beat Maruawai/Menzies 10-0, and second five Wiandro Wiese scored three tries to lead Dunstan to a 62-0 win over Otago Boys' 2nds. Blood Match The scores Waitaki Boys' 19 Hau'ofa Latu, Jack Nicol, Andrew Kaufana tries; Hau'ofa Latu 2 con St Kevin's 19 Orlando Narruhn, Kobe Narruhn, Kenton Tokai tries: Lachy Neal 2 con Halftime: St Kevin's 7-0.
Otago Daily Times
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
St Kevin's show competitive ability
Photo: file Perhaps the co-educational schools are finally closing the gap in the Southern Schools Rugby Championship. St Kevin's stuck with King's for 35 minutes in a division 1 game at Kettle Park on Thursday. They went into the break tied 12-12. King's finished strongly to seal a 36-12 win. St Kevin's coach Justin Fowler was partially satisfied with the effort. "We were definitely happy with that first half," he said. "I think we controlled territory quite well and we had a couple of try-scoring opportunities which we capitalised on. "Defensively, we weren't too bad either. "But just in the second half, I think we lost our way a little bit by doing too much in the half. We put ourselves under pressure." Powerhouse No 8 Siu Fisipuna carried strongly and got St Kevin's over the advantage line, while openside Sam Fluksa covered a lot of ground. First five Lachlan Neal shone in the opening half. "We probably have [bridged the gap a bit]. But, look, it is early days for us. But we're pretty excited with what we've got, we've just got to sort of limit our mistakes." St Kevin's play Waitaki Boys' in the Blood Match this Saturday and will back up on Sunday with a game against Otago Boys', which is a big ask. In the other division 1 games this round, Otago Boys' beat John McGlashan 17-12 at Logan Park, and Southland Boys' beat Southland Boys' 2nds 63-5. In division 2, Wakatipu edged rivals Mt Aspiring 22-21 in Queenstown, Waitaki Boys' posted a 43-36 win over Dunstan in Oamaru, and South Otago beat Otago Boys' 2nds 27-14 in Dunedin. In division 3, Taieri College beat Cromwell 26-17 in Mosgiel, Central Southland recorded a 32-17 win over Māruawai/Menzies in Winton, and King's 2nds beat John McGlashan 2nds 28-26 at Bishopscourt.
Otago Daily Times
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Waitaki Boys' not willing to commit to breakaway SI schools' competition
Darryl Paterson. PHOTO: ODT FILES A proposed South Island First XV breakaway competition could have one less team. Waitaki Boys' High School rector Darryl Paterson said yesterday the school had opted out of joining the competition in 2026 at this stage but would revisit its stance once it knew more. "Our reasons for opting out are around how we would resource our involvement both financially and with respect to player depth. "As the smallest school in the organisation — we currently only have four rugby teams — we are also realistic about our playing depth, especially in the future. "From our Waitaki perspective we also have concerns about boys having to potentially focus on only one sport and additional time they may need to be out of class." When asked if he thought the new competition could leave the other co-education schools behind, Mr Paterson said he understood their apprehension "about boys potentially moving to one of the bigger all-boys schools for rugby". "You could argue, on the other hand, that a Highlanders competition without the big boys' schools would be a very even competition." He said a breakaway competition would not have an effect on the annual Blood Match interschool fixture against St Kevin's College. Mr Paterson echoed King's High School rector Nick McIvor's comments earlier this week that the competition was not just about rugby. "The group are also committed to raising the standards of boys' education through joint professional development, sharing best practice etc and we are fully committed to this. "We are looking to host a principals' conference in term 1 next year." The proposal is that the breakaway competition would start in 2026, but Mr Paterson said there was still "a lot of clarity needed". "The group are currently doing some scoping around costs, sponsorship etc and when we have a clearer idea of the actual costs, we will revisit our current position."
