Media Release
For immediate release Sunday 1 December
Kelston Make It Four In A Row At Condor Sevens
Kelston BHS won the BNZ Condor Sevens for the fourth consecutive year with a last-gasp try to captain Nathaniel Apa.
The Auckland school beat Wellington champion Scot’s College 19-12 in the final of the Condor Cup after trailing 12-5 at halftime.
"We stuck at it and luckily we got that last-minute try. Scot's have great structures but we stuck to what we know and never gave up," said Apa.
Peter Umaga-Jensen and TJ Va'a scored first half tries for Scot's. Faitatoa Faitatoa crossed for Kelston in the first period and Jovesa Matakasa levelled it at 12-12.
With extra time looming, and Scot's showing their trademark defence, the hosts forced a turnover and Apa crashed over.
Va'a, the Scot’s captain, said they were disappointed to fall short.
"We achieved a lot over this weekend and it's been a great experience for us playing against such class players," he said.
"We shouldn't have put ourselves in that position at the end and we take our hats off to Kelston as they are a great team. We wish them luck, but we'll be back next year!"
Hamilton GHS won the girls’ competition beating New Plymouth GHS 34-5 in the final, having eliminated reigning champion Feilding HS 20-10 in the semi.
Tenika Willison scored three tries in the Final and said she was overwhelmed with the result.
"It's so cool, coming from third last year to winning this year, I don't know how to describe it!
"We have a really good gel in our team and that's what won us the tournament. It was just a fluke I scored three tries!”
Nelson College (boys) and Southland GHS (girls) won the respective Plate competitions, Westlake BHS and South Otago HS triumphed in the Bowl and Napier BHS and Mt Albert Grammar School (girls) took home the Shield.
The 27th Condor Sevens saw 16 teams participating in each of the boys’ and girls’ competitions in while the inaugural Under 15 tournament, featuring 10 teams, was won by Kelston BHS.
The champion teams were well represented in the tournament teams, with four each, while 14 schools supplied at least one player to the selections.
RESULTS FROM THE BNZ CONDOR SEVENS
Boys
CUP
Kelston BHS 19 Scot’s College 12
PLATE
Nelson College 26 PNBHS 5
BOWL
Westlake BHS 22 St Peter’s School (Cambridge) 17 AET
SHIELD
Napier BHS 31 St Peter’s College (Auckland) 14
Girls
CUP
Hamilton GHS 34 New Plymouth GHS 5
PLATE
Southland GHS 27 Opotiki College 7
BOWL
South Otago HS 36 Wellington East Girls’ College 12
SHIELD
Mt Albert Grammar School 36 Long Bay College 5
Tournament teams
BOYS
Blake Hohaia (Mt Albert Grammar School); Eli Vole (Scot’s College); Elia Elia (St Thomas of Canterbury College); Faitatoa Faitatoa (Kelston BHS); Jack Goodhue (Mt Albert Grammar School); Jone Naikabula (Kelston BHS); Malo Tuitama (Scot’s College); Mitchell Hunt (Nelson College); Nathaniel Apa (Kelston BHS); Rolana Alaiasa (Kelston BHS); Varani Komaisavai (Scot’s College); Vilimoni Koroi (Wanganui HS)
GIRLS
Amy Cokayne (Feilding HS); Anastasia Sekene (Avondale College); Ariana Hira-Herangi (Hamilton GHS); Keilamarita Pouri-Lane (Motueka HS); Kiritapu Demant (Mahurangi College); Michaela Blyde (New Plymouth GHS); Morgan Clark (Motueka HS); Nikau Teddy (Opotiki College); Samara Hollows (South Otago HS); Te Awatea Whitiora-Te Uira (Hamilton GHS); Tenika Willison (Hamilton GHS); Terina Te Tamaki (Hamilton GHS)
ENDS
For further information please contact: Nick Jordan, Condor RFC, M. +64-210-609-581