Chiefs under 18s through to final
27th July 2011 08:19AM
By Hamish Forsman
The Chiefs under 18s team are through to tomorrow’s final of the New Zealand secondary schools regional rugby tournament after grinding out a 21-6 win over South Island Schools at St Paul’s Collegiate yesterday afternoon, setting up a local derby against the Blues, who beat the Hurricanes 28-27 in the day’s earlier match.
The two day tournament, hosted by St Paul’s, features the best New Zealand under 18 secondary school players - split into the three super rugby franchises of the North Island and a selection team from the South Island - playing off for the New Zealand Barbarians Shield.
The young Chiefs started brightly in their match against South Island and opened the scoring with a penalty to first five Wharenui Hawera of St Peter’s School, but South Island’s first venture into Chiefs territory resulted in a penalty of their own to first five Hagen Schulte.
The Chiefs then responded instantly as quick backline ball created space out wide and fullback Joe Webber from Hamilton Boys’ High cut with flying Wesley College winger Harry Luteru who burst through a gap and raced 30 metres untouched to score under the posts. Hawera added the conversion.
South Island slowly got back into the game and with the wind behind them Schulte kicked them into good field position, but despite their territory they only managed another Schulte penalty right on half time.
Both teams tightened up their play in the second half and the Chiefs defence, led by captain and No 8 Matt Axtens from Rotorua Boys’ High, stifled the South Island attack and pinned them in their own half.
The Chiefs controlled the final quarter and with ten minutes to go Webber kicked a penalty from in front, and then five minutes later quick ruck ball created an easy overlap for Webber to cross the line for the try that sealed the match.
The scoring was completed on full time when replacement first five Te Ahi Toma from Tauranga Boys’ College struck a 40 metre penalty.
Chiefs under 18s head coach Johnny Walters was happy with his sides first up effort after such a short preparation with the squad only being named late last week.
“It took us a while to get our rhythm but it’s what you expect after only being together for two and a half days so I’m pretty happy that the boys stuck at it. We trucked on through for 70 minutes and got there in the end.”
Walters’ side now turns its attention to tomorrow’s final against local rivals the Blues.
“Now we prepare for Thursday and have a couple of days to work on things. We’ll come up with a plan and get these guys rehydrated and get their injuries sorted out and we’ll be ready to go.”
The third and fourth playoff between the Hurricanes and South Island Schools kicks off tomorrow at 11am, followed by the Chiefs and Blues final at 1.15pm.
