31 August 2025
Finals day at the 2025 National Secondary Schools Tournament was full of excitement, despite the wet and windy Auckland weather. With pride, placings, and national titles at stake, schools left it all on the field in todays high-stakes showdowns.
GRAND FINAL: St Paul’s College v Kelston Boys’ High School
Final score: Kelston Boys’ High School 20 – 12
The first ten minutes of the Boys Premiership grand final were a close back-and-forth contest. Both sides showed strength through the middle of the park, with St Paul’s coming close to scoring in the seventh minute, but they were let down by an error. Kelston were first to put points on the board after a powerful run by #11 Rilee Huggins was scooped up and taken from dummy half and over the try line by Rico Finau. Hinkley Ioka then successfully added the extras. St Paul’s quickly fired back minutes later when Bronson Fisiiahi similarly darted from dummy half to score, with Siokatame Kali successfully converting. To end the half, Kelston expertly executed a short kick-off to regather the ball and regain possession. Their skillful halfback, Ioka, then threaded a grubber through, which sat up perfectly for Jeremiah Lemana to score. 10-6 the halftime score to Kelston.
Moments after second-half kick-off, St Paul’s fumbled the ball, which was quickly picked up by Kelston and spread through the hands of the left edge for a diving finish by winger Blake Bruce. In the minutes following, St Paul’s mounted several close charges at the line but were held up and kept out by Kelston’s excellent try line defence. Ioka continued to show his prowess, kicking a 40/20. St Paul’s finally turned their efforts into points when centre William Fotu used excellent footwork to beat defenders, falling just short of the line. Christian Faifua was then able to complete the job, scoring from dummy half on the next play. A pinpoint conversion in strong wind by Fisiiahi brought the score to 14-12, with St Paul’s trailing closely and seven minutes remaining. In the final three minutes, Kelston cemented their victory with a try by left centre Parekaahu Keepa, successfully converted by Dylan Brown. Kelston Boys’ High School are the 2025 Senior Boys Premiership champions, reclaiming the national title after eight years, having last won in 2017.
3rd place: Manurewa High School 14 v Mt. Albert Grammar School 12
Senior Boys Tournament
Manager of the Tournament
Gaye Scott – Gisborne Boys High School
Trainer of the Tournament
Rawiri Waaka – Okea Ururoatia
Coach of the Tournament
Danny Bernard – Kelston Boys’ High School
Emerging Talent
Junior Tavalu – Tauranga Boys’ College
Boys Premiership
Tournament MVP
Gordon Afoa – St Paul’s College
Finals MVP
Hinkley Ioka – Kelston Boys’ High School
GRAND FINAL: Auckland Girls’ Grammar School v Rotorua Girls’ High School
Final score: Auckland Girls’ Grammar School 8 – 0
Auckland Girls’ entered their fourth consecutive national grand final, while their opponents Rotorua, were aiming to deny them another title, in their first NZSST grand final. The Aucklanders had a few close chances in the early minutes, guided the park by nifty half Jada-Breeze Gray, but Rotorua’s defence held firm, keeping them out. AGGS fullback Lala Vaea broke the deadlock with a strong run down the right edge to open scoring at the ten-minute mark. Both sides displayed outstanding go-forward on attack, and equally forceful defence, keeping each other scoreless for the remainder of the half. The halftime score stood at 4-0 in favour of AGGS.
At the start of the second half, Rotorua earned back-to-back attacking opportunities through multiple repeat sets, including two forced line dropouts, but they were unable to find a gap in AGGS’ strong defensive line. When AGGS finally regained possession and attacking momentum, their powerful forwards charged downfield, before shifting the ball to the left centre Faith Tavita, who used her speed and strength to shrug off defenders and score their second try. Rotorua stayed in the fight and came close again after forcing another line dropout, but were once more denied by AGGS’ unrelenting defence. The tough match-up ended 8-0 in favour of AGGS. Auckland Girls’ Grammar School are the 2025 Senior Girls Championship winners, reclaiming the title after last holding it in 2023.
3rd place: Southern Cross Campus 18 v Manurewa High School 0
Michelle Mahuika – Okea Ururoatia
Mary-Ann Collins – Sacred Heart College
Dave Rewi – Auckland Girls’ Grammar School
Kimora-Lee Lisone – Auckland Girls’ Grammar School
Ryteous Tutaia – Kelston Girls’ High School
Faith Tavita – Auckland Girls’ Grammar School
1
Lala Vaea – Auckland Girls’ Grammar School
2
Mason-Marie Playle – Rotorua Girls’ High School
3
Betsy Fifita – Auckland Girls’ Grammar School
4
5
Shakira Lui – Southern Cross Campus
6
Jada-Breeze Gray – Auckland Girls’ Grammar School
7
Reve Ngaheu – Rotorua Girls’ High School
8
9
Maraea Makiha – Rotorua Girls’ High School
10
Jayne Fateia Langsiu – Auckland Girls’ Grammar School
11
Alaina Lauitiiti – McAuley High School
12
Te Raukura Leafe – St Mary’s College
13
Neveah Harris – Rotorua Girls’ High School
14
Khaidyn-Bre Teau – Avondale College
15
Malia Sio-Namulau’ulu – Auckland Girls’ Grammar School
16
Brylee Adams – Rotorua Girls’ High School
17
Kaiarihi Puku – Rotorua Girls’ High School
18
Shanthie Lui – Southern Cross Campus
19
Lavinia Liufau – Manurewa High School
GRAND FINAL: Dilworth School v Tauranga Boys’ College
Final score: Dilworth 26 – 6
The boys from the Bay of Plenty opened the match with a stirring haka, just before the heavy Auckland rain returned just in time for kick-off. Dilworth were the first to score, with their forwards rumbling down the middle before shifting the ball through the hands on the left edge for the winger to cross. They struck again just a few minutes later through skilful hooker George Mann. After a few more close attempts that were thwarted by the wet and windy conditions, Steven Luatua darted from dummy half to cross for Dilworth’s third try. A Tauranga penalty 20 metres out from their own try line gave Dilworth the opportunity to kick for 2, the last points of the half, to mark the score 18-0 at the break.
The rain cleared for the start of the second half, and Tauranga stayed in the fight, showing reinvigorated defence to keep Dilworth at bay. After back-and-forth efforts from both sides, a Dilworth line break down the left edge in the 33rd minute saw Steven Luatua cross for his second, scoring the first points of the half. With the game already out of reach, Tauranga finally found some joy through Lucas Taula, who scored under the posts and was sucessfully converted by Benjamin Atoa. Dilworth would have the last say, with George Mann scoring his second try. In their first-ever rugby league campaign and appearance at NZSST, Dilworth School are the Senior Boys Championship winners for 2025.
3rd place: James Cook High School 18 v New Plymouth Boy’s High School 6
Steven Luatua – Dilworth School
George Mann – Dilworth School
GRAND FINAL: Kelston Boys’ High School v Manurewa High School
Final score: Kelston Boys’ High School 26-8
The West Aucklanders from Kelston came out firing, scoring in the first minute of the game through Viliami Otutaha. Manurewa responded with a try of their own in the 10th minute, but Kelston’s formidable forward pack continued to power through the middle, laying an impressive platform for the backs to finish. Boaz-League Maiu’u scored a double to put Kelston ahead 16-4 at the the half.
Kelston kept their foot on the gas, scoring two more tries within the first ten minutes of the second half, including one to Filimone Tuinauvai, who already had four points to his name from first-half kicking duties. Manurewa were able to find joy once more, scoring the final try of the game, but they were ultimately no match for Kelston, who emerged victorious, 26-8. Kelston Boys’ High School are the 2025 U15 Boys Carnival grade champions for the first time. This marks a double victory for the school, who also claimed the Senior Boys Premiership title.
3rd place: Southern Cross 14 v Tipene 12
Leilani Fou – James Cook High School
Tom Taiaroa – Tipene St Stephen’s
Lonnie Papani – Manurewa High School
Dayton Drollet – Southern Cross Campus
Rome Fa’anana – Kelston Boys’ High School
Joshua Poutu – Kelston Boys’ High School
For all results and final standings visit sporty.co.nz
