6 September 2024
Back for another year, and bigger than ever, the 2024 NZRL National Secondary Schools Tournament (NZSS) kicked off what is set to be a huge weekend of rugby league.
A record 49 teams took to 8 fields across two parks this year, Auckland’s Bruce Pulman Park and Walter Massey Park. The biggest NZSS tournament yet, nine new schools entered the mix across the four divisions, with another seven returning after several years away.
With 143 under 12 teams also hitting the park at Avondale Racecourse over the weekend for the Pasifika Wellbeing Carnival, the amount of young talent on show across Auckland will be like never before.
2023’s NZSS champions St. Thomas of Canterbury College, Auckland Girls Grammar School, Aorere College, and St. Paul’s College all returned this year, each looking to stamp their mark even further on the history books.
Day 1 consisted of round-robin matches within the different sections of the Girls Championship and Boys Premiership, while the Boys Championship teams battled it out in grading games before heading into Day 2. The U15 Boys Carnival saw a mix of games both within their sections and crossover games between the sections.
Last year’s finalists, Auckland Girls Grammar School and Southern Cross Campus, found themselves in the same Section, but both started the tournament strongly with impressive 34-0 wins over new entrants Wesley College and Hamilton Girls High respectively. Auckland Girls Grammar School especially highlighted their intentions, and skills, early with a try off their first set of the game.
The other early Girls games were a lot tighter, each going down to the wire. Tokoroa High School started strongly against Tauranga Girls College but were held up in the dying seconds, resulting in a narrow 8-10 loss. McAuley High School also took the game out late thanks to a try with only a few minutes to go against St Mary’s College, the final score 8-4.
Round 2 saw Auckland Girls Grammar and Southern Cross exert their dominance once again in Section A, with St Mary’s and McAuley in Section B both securing wins too over Tauranga Girls and Tokoroa High School respectively.
With a 2023 final repeat set for 9am tomorrow, bragging rights and vital points will be up for grabs before the semi-finals.
Standings
Section A:
Southern Cross Campus
AGGS: Auckland Girls Grammar School
Hamilton Girls High
Wesley College
Section B:
McAuley High School
St Mary’s College
Tauranga Girls College
Tokoroa High School
Day 1 in the Boys Premiership saw some dominant performances, especially from last year’s winners St Thomas of Canterbury College and runners up St Pauls College both teams with two wins each.
Rotorua Boy’s High School and De La Salle are also looking strong on the table with two wins each. Rotorua edged out Southern Cross Campus early in the day, with De La Salle fronting strongly against Aorere College after a closer game against Manurewa High School. Manurewa took the half-time lead with a try in the corner, however De Le Salle came back, a last-minute stroll in over the line taking it to a 26-14 final margin.
St Thomas of Canterbury College
De La Salle College
Manurewa High School
Aorere College
St Pauls College
Rotorua Boy’s High School
Mt Albert Grammer School
Initial grading games for the Boys Championship saw a mixture of results. Otahuhu College showcased their talent with two dominant wins that will boost confidence going into Day 2.
There were also several teams returning to the tournament after a number of years away that posted favourable scorelines including Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate, Whangarei Boys’ High School, Te Wharekura, and Francis Douglas Memorial College.
Standings (Grading):
Otahuhu College
Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate Senior School
Whangarei Boy’s High School
Westlake Boys High School
Hornby High School
St Bede’s College
James Cook High School
Te Wharekura o Rakaumangamanga
Howick College
FDMC
Hamilton Boys’ High School
New Plymouth Boy’s High School
Tamaki College
Tauranga Boys’ College
Fraser High School
Haeata CC
Trident High School
Onehunga High School
Papatoetoe High School
Whangaparaoa
Western Heights High School
With 10 teams battling it out in the U15s, three teams were able to secure two wins from two on Day 1. Last year’s winners St Pauls College were one of them, as well as Southern Cross Campus and new entrant to the tournament Putaruru College.
With several other teams securing one win, tomorrow’s final games as well as points differential could make all the difference as teams look to secure their semi-final spots.
Sections A/B:
Section C:
Putaruru College
Rotorua High School
For all draw and results updates visit sporty.co.nz
On Day 2, Field 1 and 4 will continued to be live-streamed on YouTube
