St Peter’s win schools title
This won’t be the last you hear of Niko Jones.
The son of former All Blacks great Michael Jones, Niko Jones played a star hand for St Peter’s College, Auckland, as they beat Napier Boys’ High School 31-28 in the final of the national secondary schools top four championships in Palmerston North yesterday.
St Peter’s were down 21-0 heading into halftime but No 8 Jones helped set up two tries and scored one of his own to turn the match.
It was St Peter’s fourth visit to the national secondary schools final and the fourth time they have won, according to long-time coach Walter Alvarez, who started working with the team in 2003. ‘‘I knew it was going to be hard but I was confident,’’ he said. ‘‘I said to the boys we didn’t have the ball because we were losing the breakdown.
‘‘You need to add a lot more urgency to the breakdown and keep the ball safe.’’
In the first half Napier used their rolling maul to good effect.
A charge-down try had them up 21-0. But Jones made two breaks then an offload to set up a try and keep St Peter’s in the game at 21-5 at halftime.
Another Jones offload led to their third try, then Jones scored one of his own, grabbing a loose Napier lineout throw, then raced 50m to score and give St Peter’s a 22-21 lead.
‘‘He was player of the match in the semifinal against Hamilton Boys’ High School [on Friday] and he was huge today,’’ Alvarez said. ‘‘He’s a great player, a great leader and he was the spark to energise us.’’
The big St Peter’s forwards, including hulking prop Zyon Holo and outstanding flanker Chris Hala’uifa, got rumbling up field in the second half, while Napier didn’t look like scoring outside of their lineout drive or pick and gos.
St Peter’s centre Tone Vaka was a threat while front rowers Tyrone Thompson and Patrick Teddy, and centre Leo Thompson were among Napier’s best.
Hamilton Girls’ High School dominated most of the girls final in their 42-7 win over Manukura, for their third national title.
Hamilton had most of the ball and their forward runners kept making inroads, as Manukura kept giving away penalties.
Manukura were in the game when they led 7-5 in the early stages but Hamilton scored four quick tries heading into halftime to lead 25-7.
Hamilton prop Vici-rose Green, who scored a double, and centre Jazmin Hotham made metres every time they took the ball up and halfback Montessa Tairakena was influential directing play.
Manukura lock Mia Waiariki was strong with her carries.
St Peter’s Cambridge won the co-ed schools final, beating Rangiora High School 33-26.
St Peter’s College 31 (Zyon Holo, Chris Hala’uifa, Niko Jones, Tone Vaka, PJ Tonga tries; Alay Faleafaga 3 con) Napier BHS 28 (Tyrone Thompson, Patrick Teddy, Henry Williams, Jayden Stok tries; Kegan Christian-goss 4 con). HT 5-21.
Hamilton GHS 42 (Vici-rose Green 2, Hunter Randle, Kiriana Nolan, Lela Ieremia, Shae Daley, Montessa Tairakena tries; Nyesha Hamilton 2 con, pen)
Manukura 7 (Nicola Chase try; Kayln Takitimu-cook con). HT: 25-7.