Feilding book semifinal berth

The Feilding High School first XV will host a Central North Island competition semifinal.

Feilding beat St John’s College 34-0 at Hamilton on Saturday in the final match of the round-robin to finish second in the competition behind St Paul’s Collegiate School (Hamilton).

St Paul’s finished ahead of Feilding by three bonus points. Both teams had nine wins but St Paul’s won their clash earlier in the season.

Feilding, who finished third, will host St Peter’s School Cambridge in the semifinal this weekend. Top qualifier St Paul’s will play fourth-placed Wesley College in the other semifinal.

Feilding led 7-0 at halftime against St John’s, having spent a good chunk of the first half on defence, then their backs started ripping up in the second spell.

Fullback Layton Manuel, wing Coby Osborne and centre Josiah Maraku were all dangerous. Welshman Joe Locke scored two tries.

Feilding High School have a Hurricanes co-ed knockout semifinal against Wellington’s Aotea College on August 25 in Feilding. Foxton’s Manawatu¯ College and Wairarapa College are in the other semifinal.

The Hamilton Girls’ High School first XV had a successful tour of Manawatu¯ last week.

HGHS, one of the top girls teams in the country, brought a squad of 28 and beat Manukura 29-5 on Thursday, then beat Feilding High School 77-3 on Friday.

Manukura and Feilding play a Manawatu¯ qualifying match for the national top four in two weeks and the winner goes to the Hurricanes final.

The Horowhenua Ka¯ piti senior men’s team beat Poverty Bay 37-14 in a pre-season game at Napier.