DAVID UNWIN/Things
Feilding High Schol defeated St John’s College Hamilton in the final of the Central North Island competition in Taupō on Saturday. (File photo).
RUGBY: The Feilding High School boys first XV has broken through to win its first Central North Island league title.
Feilding upset top seeds Hamilton’s St John’s College 33-22 in the final in Taupō on Saturday
Since 2014, St Paul’s Collegiate has won the title outright six times, sharing it once with St Peter’s School. Wesley College is the only other school to have won it since.
Feilding lost the final to Wesley in 2017 and St Paul’s in 2015 and 2017.
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Coach Justin Lock said it was a big achievement to win the competition for the first time.
“It’s huge, it really is. There is quite a bit involved in such preparation and there was a lot of celebration and tears and happiness. It was amazing.”
Feilding also won the Rick Francis Memorial Shield Challenge Trophy.
St John’s was the form team this year. They had not yet lost a CNI game, beating Feilding 38-12 in Feilding during the season.
“It is a very serious team. I have no doubt they have the best backline in the country. We also knew that when they got here we weren’t at our best and we made a lot of mistakes.
“In rugby finals, the form book goes out the window. We were confident [Sunday].”
Feilding’s lineout was offensive and defensive.
They were physical, denying St John’s, who had more than their share of territory in the first period, with enough possessions to pose a threat.
Feilding led for most of the game, leading 16-5 at halftime, and St John’s narrowed the deficit with a try 30 seconds from time.
St John’s scored right after the break, but Feilding scored two tries himself to maintain the lead.
Hooker Vernon Bason, who is signed by Manawatū, was a class above and physical, while halfback Kade Manuel was a big influence with his kicks and passes.
William Fonohema and Hoani Herewini-Dygas also had standout matches.
The national co-ed competition doesn’t exist in the same format this year, so Feilding has entered the national boys competition and aims to make the national top four.
They will play against the Wellington winner, either St Patrick’s College Silverstream or St Patrick’s College Wellington, in the capital in the Hurricanes semi-final at the end of the month.
On the other side of the draw, Palmerston North Boys’ High School will face Napier Boys’ High School, with the winner taking on Hastings Boys’ High School.
Meanwhile, the first XV of Manukura girls is through to the next round of Hurricanes qualifiers this week and will play Hastings Girls’ High School in Hastings on Wednesday.
Manukura defeated Feilding High School 72-12 in their qualifier last week.
Falling HS 33 (Simi Ului, Kade Manuel, William Fonohema, Hoani Herewini-Dygas, Matt Anstis, tries; Mosese Palelei con, 2 pen) St John’s College 22 (4 tries, against) HT: 16-5.