12 October 2024

A showcase of talent descended on St. Peter’s College in Cambridge for the New Zealand 18s Clubs vs Schools Girls match, each player hand-picked after excelling in the recent National Secondary Schools Competition and National Youth Tournaments. With New Zealand Secondary Schools taking out the game last year 32-18, the team this year were looking to back it up with another strong showing. 

New Zealand Resident Clubs Girls v New Zealand Secondary Schools Girls 

Final score: New Zealand Secondary Schools Girls 22-16 

With New Zealand Secondary Schools taking out the game last year 32-18, the team this year were looking to back it up with another strong showing. Straight from the kick-off they looked dominant, taking some good hit ups in their first set of six before going over in the left-hand corner to take the early lead. Off the next set, a number of slick offloads helped them up the field, and after spreading it wide they were odds on to score again before the last pass went high and was dropped just before the line. 

It was another error by Schools, this time off a high ball around 20 metres out from their line that gave Clubs good territory, and they didn’t disappoint, dotting over to level it up 4-4. Some quick passing by Clubs saw them mount more pressure later in the half to go under the posts and take the lead. Right before the half Schools looked again like they were going to cross over, but a cut out ball on the left edge went over the heads of the players and another opportunity went begging. 

Coming into the second half, it looked like Clubs had the slight edge. They burst through the line early before regathering a grubber kick off an awkward bounce to score and push the scoreline out to 16-4.  

But the tides turned dramatically with Schools finding their form and putting in four unanswered tries throughout the half to not only mount their comeback but take the lead back with 5 minutes left. The fourth try was the nail in the coffin with only a few minutes on the clock, the final score 22-16. 

MVP Clubs: Mihikorama Kerr 

MVP Schools: Billie Va’a 

To watch the game, visit NZRL’s YouTube