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.
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Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- 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
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Jacob Coghlan. PHOTO: ODT FILES 1. Favourite rugby memory? Winning a couple of Blood Matches with St Kevin's in 2013 and 2014. It would be a toss-up between those and winning the Meads Cup with the Old Golds in 2019. 2. Hardest opponent? Jesse Lusty-Winter, who played for Waitaki Boys'. Absolute grub, ha ha. Also one of my best mates and he is going to be in our wedding party. 3. Which rugby player do you admire and why? Morgan Mitchell. He's just one of the best blokes you will ever meet. Workhorse, scrummaging powerhouse, puts in shots. 4. What do you do to relax? I like to read a book. And I'm a bit obsessed with my fire and collecting firewood. I know it sounds weird but the best part of my day is getting home and lighting the fire, ha ha. 5. If Jacob Coghlan is cooking, what are we eating? Lamb roast.
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Kapa haka swansong poignant for student
King's High School student Archibald Valentine (left), 16, holds a tewhatewha, a Maori weapon, as he and his cousin Nikora Wiparata-Evans, 17, perform at Te Hautoka, the two-yearly Otago and Southland kapa haka competition, at the Edgar Centre yesterday. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH Performing at the Te Hautoka kapa haka contest felt a little bit sad for Archibald Valentine, 16, because he knew it was going to be his last time. The King's High School year 13 student took the stage for one final time with his peers at the biennial Otago and Southland kapa haka competition at the Edgar Centre yesterday. Archibald focused on just trying to the get his words out clearly. "I was nervous before, but when I got on the stage I was all calm," he said. His group — He Waka Kotuia, which includes students from King's and Queen's high schools — had been preparing since the start of the year for the competition. But Archibald has been performing in haka competitions since he was a 1-year-old. "I've been doing this my whole life." It meant the world to him to be able to represent his culture and speak on important topics. One of the the waiata the group sang celebrated those who had gone before them, another welcomed other groups to the competition, and another called out local government for "trashing the waters in Otago". Yesterday's performance ranked among the best he had been a part of, he said. "It was great — the energy was great. "One of the top ones, to be honest." He said his last-time performance was bittersweet, but he would be back to help put the show on next year. "Coming back and getting undressed for the last time was pretty sad." Te Hautoka organiser Cherie Ford said the day went well. It was hosted at the Edgar Centre as a standalone event for the first time this year. The centre had a bigger stage than the competition's former venue, the Dunedin Town Hall, and that allowed the groups to have a similar size stage to the one at the national finals in Tauranga later this year, Mrs Ford said. The competition had grown a lot, and it was "pretty special" to have a whole day of quality kapa haka. "Every group is competitive, and the prizes could go any way." Fourteen groups from secondary schools across the South took part in the event.
