The UC Championship final is the showpiece event in Crusaders First XV rugby. Here is the history of the final.
2001: Christchurch BHS: 29 v Christ’s College: 3
The first Press Cup final was played at Jade Stadium. Christchurch led by 12-3 at halftime and completely dominated the match to win by 29-3. Tries were scored by George Naoupu (2), Kele Leatua, Andrew Olorenshaw and Tonga Mounga. The Christchurch Boys’ High School Magazine reported: “Seldom do things come together in a team sport like rugby as it did during this final.” Naoupu and Olorenshaw went onto play for Canterbury. Goal-kicker, Neil Broom, who added three conversions and a penalty, played cricket for New Zealand. Christchurch beat Christ’s three times in 2001.
2002 Christchurch BH: 28 v Nelson College: 15
Played August 17th at Rugby Park, adominant first half saw Christchurch lead 23-5 at halftime, scoring 16 points in the first 13 minutes. Nelson ralliedin the second-half with two tries, but poor goal-kicking and errors ensured that Nelson was always chasing a superior Boys’ High outfit.
Matt Holloway and Michael Saunders scored two tries each with Steven Brett (A Future NZ Maori Representative) kicking two penalties and a conversion. Sam Giddens(2) and Jayden Thompson scored Nelson’s tries.
Andrew Olorenshaw was named Man of the Match for Christchurch who beat Nelson three times in 2002
2003: Christchurch BHS v Shirley BHS – Won: 24-23
August 16, 2003 is a day that spectators at Rugby Park will never forget, a classic Press Cup final! The first half was a low scoring affair with a Steven Brett converted try separating the two schools.
The second-half was a thriller! Mitchell Alcock scored a try to extend Christchurch’s advantage to 12-3, before Shirley powered ahead 16-12.
A memorable try by rampaging Number 8 Setaimata Sa and a drop goal by Cory Simpson were among the highlights of the Shirley rally. Christchurch was a champion team though and tires to Kieran Black and fifth former Tim Bateman put Christchurch back in front 24-16.
Robbie Flynn scored a converted try on fulltime for Shirley. Kris McNicholl scored ten points for Shirley, gallant losers by a point.
Note: Setaimata Sa played rugby league for Samoa and New Zealand as well as international rugby for Samoa. Black, Flynn, Alcock and Bateman all played for Canterbury. Christchurch Boys’ High School won the Under 18, 16, 15 and 14 finals on same day as the Press Cup.
2004: Christchurch BHS: 43 v Nelson College: 16
Christchurch, on the receiving end of a heavy penalty count, struggled in the early stages of the first-half. It took a series of powerful runs by Kieran Black and Mason Pomare to get the scoreboard moving, Christchurch led 19-11 at the break. In the second half, Christchurch was rampant and cruised to their 4th Press Cup title in a row, finishing with seven tries overall. Hoani Matenga (2), Reuben Fitzgerald (2), Kieran Black, Tim Bateman and Chris Small scored tries for the winners. Christchurch was unbeaten in 19 games and shared the National Top Four tittle with Wesley College in 2004.
2005: Christchurch BHS: 51 v Nelson College: 17
The 2005 final was played at Jade Stadium on August 20. Nelson started strongly but was denied by the Christchurch defence.
Future All Black, Colin Slade opened the scoring with a penalty and that seemed to settle Christchurch, who scored 32 points in a dazzling first-half to decide the contest; Christchurch winning by a record score.
The winner’s tries were scored by Tim Jones (2), Matt Todd, Michael Coom, Ryan McLeod, Andrew Horrell and Colin Slade, who added four conversions and two penalties. Mason Pomare was invited to kick a conversion, and it brought up the half century. Nelson’s two tries were scored by James Marshall and Tyler McKinnion-Stevenson. Christchurch went 24-0 in 2005, successfully defending their National Top Four title.
2006: Christchurch BHS: 28 v MarlboroughBoys’ College:10
Christchurch travelled to Blenheim to tackle Marlborough Boys’ College who had upset the National Champions, 16-12 in the round-robin. A car buzzing around the Christchurch hotel playing loud music at 3am in the morning was not ideal preparation for the match.
Christchurch started strongly however and led 18-3 at the interval. Strong defence denied Marlborough’s opportunities to score and a powerful wind helped Christchurch gain an advantage in the battle for territory. In the second half, Marlborough fought back and scored the first try. However, the result was settled midway through the second half when Matt Latham scored a 60-meter stunner which saw the ball being handled by most of the backs.
Other Christchurch tries on the day went to Brendon MacFarlane (2), Marshall Suckling and Mark Jackman. Tyler Bleyendaal had a rare off day, contributing just a single penalty.Later Christchurch won their third National title in a row, going 22-1 for the season!
2007: Nelson College: 31 v St Bede’s College: 26
Played in Nelson, in front of an estimated crowd of 3000 spectators, Nelson surged to a 21-5 lead after just 15 minutes; Ricky Kennett, Sam Westerna and Mitchell Thwaties scored tries, all converted by James Lash. St Bede’s surged back to tie the game, 21-21 with 22 minutes left. St Bede’s tries were scored by Jason Morgan, Hamish Catherwood and Alex Ryan. Lash kicked a penalty to edge Nelson ahead before replacement winger Kim Bateman went over for the try that sealed Nelson victory. Nelson won 19 of 22 games in 2007, making the National Top Four for the only time in the school’s history.
2008: St Bede’s College: 34 v Marlborough BC: 14
Played at Rugby Park in Christchurch, Marlborough started strongly and led 9-0 via three Tyrone Elkington penalties. However St Bede’s with tries from James Schrader (2), Hamish Catherwood, Josh Navidi and Hiro Ono won easily in the end, despite holding just a one point halftime advantage. St Bede’s won their first Press Cup undefeated and won a record 28 games during the 2008 season, reaching the National Top Four for the first time since 1984.
2009: St Bede’s College: 32 v Nelson College: 6
The final was played at Rugby Park in Christchurch. St Bede’s won a comprehensive victory by 32-6 scoring five unanswered tries. Tyson Kamo collected two, Michael Stewart and Logan Taylor scored one each with Taylor adding three conversions and two penalties. St Bede’s won 18 games in a row on course to the National Top Four Final which they lost to Hamilton Boys’ High School, 0-17.
2010: St Bede’s College: 27 v Christchurch Boys’ High School: 12
The game burst into life during the second-half. An error ridden first spell saw St Bede’s, enjoy a narrow 3-0 advantage at the break. In the last 35 minutes five tries were scored as both sides played some expansive rugby. St Bede’s, who scored a record 826 points during the season, scored three times as they won a third Press Cup in a row. Tyron Davies and Zac Lilley scored tries while ZacSouthen was a colossal figure, contributing a try, three conversions and two penalties. For Christchurch, Joe Taylor scored two tries and Martin Swart kicked a conversion.
2011: St Bede’s College: 30 v Nelson College: 12
St Bede’s College bullied their way to a fourth Press Cup title by beating Nelson College 30-12. The larger St Bede’s forwards recycled the ball quickly, allowing their dangerous backs quick, go-forward ball. Jesse Bryant (2), Moses Faletolu and Misimoa Lamositele scored tries with Hagen Schulte kicking two conversions and two penalties. For Nelson College, openside Steve Soper was impressive and bullocking prop Connor McKinnin-Stevenson’s runs were well worth watching. Soper and Latham Jones scored tries for Nelson. St Bede’s went onto to make the National Top Four for a fourth time. They finished third equal.
2012 Christchurch BHS: 27 v St Bede’s College: 8
Christchurch Boys’ High School became Press Cup champions for the first time since 2006 after defeating reigning champions St Bede’s College, 27-8 in the final at Rugby Park.Played in front of a huge crowd, Boys’ High played most of the rugby in the opening exchanges, dominating both territory and possession. They were on the board early via a Fletcher Smith penalty.St Bede’s eventually managed to build some phases and after Boys’ High infringed at a ruck, right under their posts, St Bede’s first five Tim Cossens had the scores level after ten minutes.Second five Anton Lienert-Brown was impressive, regularly breaking the first tackler. To St Bede’s credit their defence held strong until late in the first half.
From a rolling maul Boys’ High worked their way towards the try line which led to hard working lock Angus Cameron falling over the line to have his side heading into the break with a 10-3 advantage.St Bede’s came out firing early in the second half with Captain Misi Lamositele getting his side on the front foot with a great run up the middle of the field. A few phases later Number 8 Sione Lavemai worked his way over and at 10-8 it was now game on.
However reckless kicking and consistent mistakes from St Bede’s gave Boys’ High possession and they made the most of it when it was on offer.Fletcher Smith showed great speed from a scrum to score his side’s second try to make it 17-8, before a penalty extended the lead to 20-8.
Lienert-Brown showed his class near fulltime againwhen he broke a series of weak tackles to runaway 70 meters and score a stunning try, 27-8 the final score. St Bede’s only lost to Boys’ High in 2012. Christchurch went onto to lose the mainland final to Otago Boys’ High School.
Christchurch won 17 of 20 games during the season.
2013: Marlborough BC: 15 v Nelson College: 11
The Press Cup has finally come to Marlborough. After being beaten in the 2006 and 2008 finals, the King Salmon Marlborough Boys’ College first XV made no mistake at Lansdowne Park in Blenheim this afternoon, downing Nelson College 15-11 in an enthralling final.
This battle wasn’t for the fainthearted. MBC, facing a howling southerly and driving rain in the first spell, kept the ball in hand, driving forward through their “big boppers” skipper Atu Moli, fellow prop Bevan Moody and number eight Sokepe Lopeti. When the ball was turned over Nelson, mainly through skipper Mitchell Hunt and halfback Reece Fuller, kicked long and tried to force a mistake.
After 12 minutes their tactics paid dividends when second five eighth Finn Hart-Strawbridge landed a penalty from a handy position.
But the home side responded immediately, setting up a series of pick and goes close to the Nelson line. Initially repelled, their patience was rewarded on the 26 minute mark when MBC first five TC Campbell sold a dummy and sprinted 20m on the angle for the first try which Mitchell Smith converted to the delight of a very vocal crowd of around 2000. Nelson replied with a second penalty to Hart-Strawbridge from the restart and the sides went the break with MBC ahead 7-6.
A Smith penalty from 27m in front after five minutes stretched MBC’s lead to four before Moli, my man of the match, capped a period of concerted pressure on the Nelson line with an unstoppable drive from two metres. The conversion was missed but MBC led 15-6 and had one hand on the trophy.
But Nelson were not done for. Through hard working front rowers Miro Mitchell and Brendan Asamua-Goodman they took the fight to the home side, mounting wave after wave of attack. Urged on by the crowd, MBC defended superbly, twice forcing knock-ons on the line. But eventually the pressure told when Fuller scored with 1 minute 50 seconds remaining. Nelson’s conversion was charged down, but the margin was back to four and the game was back on.
MBC made an error from the kickoff, a scrum on halfway offering Nelson a last roll of the dice. They attacked strongly, but a turnover saw their hopes shattered, MBC halfback Curtis Petersen-Line gleefully booting into the terraces. Perhaps fittingly, given the upheaval in the Press Cup pecking order, a earthquake aftershock rolled through the park as referee Dave Woodhouse signalled full time.
The trophy, symbol of secondary school rugby supremacy north of the Waitaki River, was proudly held aloft in the middle of the park by the humble Moli amid scores of young supporters who invaded the field at fulltime. Their time had come.
Scores: Marlborough Boys’ College 15 (TC Campbell, Atu Moli tries, Mitchell Smith con, pen) Nelson College 11 (Reece Fuller try, Finn Hart-Strawbridge 2 pen). Halftime 7-6 MBC.
Credit: Peter Jones, Marlborough Express
2014: Christchurch BHS : 27 v Nelson College: 13
Christchurch won all 16 games and scored 106 tries on their way to yet another title.
Christchurch burst to a 19-3 lead, blindside Jacob Vincent was responsible for two tries.
Nelson rallied and reduced the deficit to six. The outstanding Turoa Stephens was rewarded for his efforts with a try.
Christchurch sealed the game when captain Sean Forster crashed over from a powerful rolling maul.
Second-five Alex Nankivell was named Man of the match. Christchurch won 18 out of 21 games during the season and attended the National Top Four for the sixth time.
2015: St. Bede’s College: 32 v Shirley BHS: 13
St Bede’s College beat Shirley Boys’ High School 32-13 in the final of the UC Championship on Saturday.
In a mostly tight tussle, there was no fairytale finish for Shirley Boys’ who were seeking their first ever Crusaders region 1st XV championship.
Instead it was a polished St Bede’s, once again laying claim as the best school-boy rugby team in the Crusaders region.
St Bede’s coach Andrew Langley said he is “very happy for the boys”.
“They’ve worked hard and thoroughly deserve this win.”
He attributed determined defence as the key to victory as Shirley Boys’ never seemed to fire on attack.
Going into the second half with a narrow 10-8 advantage, St Bede’s seemed to have their tails up.
But it was not until first five eighths Tiare Day-Jones stabbed through a perfectly weighted grubber kick for impressive fullback Zach McKay to latch onto and run under the posts that the game started to blow open.
Shirley Boys’ didn’t take long to hit back though with standout prop Brody McAlister snaring his second for the match with a determined pick and go.With St Bede’s up 17-13, they went on a winning run with 15 unanswered points including McKay grabbing his second try.
Shirley Boys’ coach Allan Lindsay said he is extremely proud of his boys for getting this far and achieving what they have.
“We haven’t been in a final for 12 years, and now we definitely have the belief we can beat teams,” he said.
Credit: Christchurch Press
Christchurch BHS: 21 v Shirley BHS: 20
Shirley Boys’ High School returned to the final, but failed to break their title drought at a packed and sun drenched Rugby Park. Each side scored three tries, but goal kicking accuracy was the telling difference with Shirley missing a handy penalty shot with less than five minutes left.
Each side scored three tries. Shirley second-five Logan Bell, celebrating his 50th match for the First XV, and Christchurch wing Atu Manu crossed the chalk twice for Christchurch BHS.