Feilding leave it late to reach final
The Feilding High School 1st XV pulled off a remarkable last-gasp 30-27 win over St Paul’s Collegiate to stamp themselves a trip to the CNI final.
Feilding looked to be down and out when they fell 27-11 down midway through the second half against their favoured opposition before they come storming back in Hamilton on Saturday
With time almost expired, Feilding trailed by four and they put their faith in their forward pack. called on the team to stop kicking the ball away.
Wing Coby Osborne proved the spark for the come-back as he sprinted 85m down the field before being dragged down just before the line when he offloaded to captain David Parker.
Ethan Mcquinlan then picked up a try to get Feilding into striking range for the crucial final try from Fleury.
Flanker Lennox Shanks put in a strong performance all game, while Kody Edwards also impressed at first five-eighth.
Feilding will travel to Pukekohe to take on Wesley College in the CNI final on Saturday.
But first they face an away match against Wanganui Collegiate on Wednesday as they look to stay in the hunt to defend their spot as co-ed top four champions.
Meanwhile, Palmerston North Boys’ High School got revenge over Napier Boys’ High School as they stayed alive in the Hurricanes region knockout tournament winning 21-20 in Napier on Saturday.
It was just one week on from Boys’ High losing the Polson Banner to the same side. The match kicked off in sunny conditions which looked to suit Napier.
And when they raced out to an 8-0 lead, they looked a good chance of repeating their Polson Banner heroics.
But the conditions also suited Palmerston North fullback Jacob Hewitson-talamaivao who had a strong counter-attacking game.
Palmerston North bounced back with a brace of tries to Sam Stewart and Bryn Wilson and carried a 14-13 lead into the break.
The weather then took a turn and the wet and windy conditions which suited Palmerston North.
They bagged their third try through co-captain and No 8 Tyler Laubscher early in the second half.
They clung onto that lead until late in the match, when they were left defending with 14-men and conceded a late try.
Napier knocked the ball on from the kick off to ensure Palmerston North picked up the win.
They will take on the winner of St Pat’s Silverstream and Wellington College in their next match in the competition.