Southern Cross into grand finals

‘‘I'm really pleased, especially so for the boys. ’’

Southern Cross Campus and Papatoetoe High School are through to College Rugby League’s pennant and bowl finals.

The pair got through with hardfought wins against respective South Auckland neighbours Manurewa High School and Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate last Wednesday.

Southern Cross beat Manurewa 18-12 after leading 12-4 at halftime and Papatoetoe beat Sir Edmund Hillary 24-14. They led 12-8 at halftime.

Both winners get the benefit of a week’s rest because they go straight to the final.

Manurewa and Sir Edmund Hillary, the second seeds in their respective sections, get another crack at the finals.

Manurewa faces Mt Albert Grammar School at home and Sir Edmund Hillary face St Paul’s B in Otara in the major semifinals tomorrow.

The winners go to the grand final. Papatoetoe High School coach Tame Loamanu has only praise for his squad.

They’re unbeaten in their last six games having lost all their firstround matches which resulted in them playing for the bowl.

‘‘I really pleased, especially so for the boys. There are lot of brilliant individuals but as a team they lacked unity.

‘My main focus since taking over the side has been getting them to worked and play together as a team. They’re doing that now and it’s showing in the results.’’

Loamanu says the focus of their week off will be about playing an uptempo game in the grand final. ’’We want to play a fast game in the final so getting the boys playing at pace will be a key focus at training.’’

Wesley College is on the cusp of an historic debut season in College Rugby League. It’s the rugby-mad school’s first year in the 13-man code and they’re just a win away from the grand final of the premier grade where St Paul’s College waits.

Third-seeded Wesley beat Westlake Boys’ High School 12-10 in Pukekohe last Wednesday to book their place in the major semifinal against Kelston Boys’ High School in Kelston tomorrow. Kelston were beaten 14-10 by St Paul’s in yet another tight semifinal.

James Cook High School and Mangere College will play for the under-85kg crown. Top seeds got through when Howick College defaulted their semi final and will host Mangere College who beat Pakuranga College 28-4 in their semi final.

Semifinal matches start at 4pm.