Rosmini College have won their eighth North Harbour First XV title after edging Westlake Boys’ High School 18-12 in a typically spirited final.
Played in greasy conditions at QBE stadium ahead of the North Harbour v Otago NPC fixture, Rosmini required a fine individual try to seal victory.
With about seven minutes remaining and behind 12-11, Rosmini strung together 14 phases of desperate attack inside the Westlake 22. The Catholics appeared to be losing momentum when halfback Connor Leather delivered a laboured pass, ten meters backwards, to fullback Seamus O’Reilly. O’Reilly dodged the first defender with a dummy and then swatted aside two more in reaching the line where he was caught by a duo of Westlake retreaters. O’Reilly had the strength to force the ball.
Westlake predictably rallied and three times managed to string together more than half a dozen phases inside the Rosmini 22. Prop Sean Vete was held up over the try line and fullback Johnny Cooper dropped the ball with glory ahead.
In reality Westlake should never have been so close to winning. Rosmini dictated possession in the first-half, but only had two Leather penalties to show for their advantage. In the 28th minute O’Reilly dropped the ball over the try line.
In the 40th minute Cooper made a 30-meter break to spark a rare attack for Westlake. Five vigours drives later and blindside Tupou Afungia had scored the first five-pointer of the final.
Rosmini continued to seize the territorial initiative and were rewarded when Joe Taylor outpaced the cover defense dotting down in the corner. A wobbly, but accurate 20-meter pass by workhorse lock Max Hocks opened up space for the wing to finnish.
Westlake first-five Nikau Graham made the most exciting burst of the match. He surged 50-meters and flipped a reverse pass to the supporting Nikau Drage who was stopped inches short of the try line. Eight bullish phases later and No.8 Lotu Inisi muscled over. Cooper’s conversion nudged Westlake into a one point lead which they only held for ten minutes.
The first-half was feisty and error ridden. The second-half vibrant and gripping. Rosmini centre Julian Vea was consistently threatening, No.8 Luca Sciarone immense in both attack and defense and Blues Under-18 rep and openside Tamarau McGahan grew in stature.
Rosmini has won their last two North Harbour finals. The two schools clash in a basketball semi-final on the North Shore tomorrow night.