Under 15A Rugby Invitational National Tournament 2024

After winning the Waikato Secondary School 3rd division against the determined HBHS Blue team, the Under 15s set out for the Under 15 Invitational National Tournament hosted by Tauranga Boys' College.

The team was nursing a few injuries and niggles but were ultimately ready to meet the demands of the week. The Tournament went from Monday the 2nd of September to Friday the 6th of September. With 6 games in 5 days the squad was certainly tested physically and mentally over the week.

Tauranga turned on the weather for us with sunshine all week with only the occasional shower and just enough rain to soften up the fields for the next day. 

We drew the pool of death this year with Mount Albert Grammar, New Plymouth Boys' High School and Westlake Boys' High School all worthy of a top two place in the pool to progress through to the quarter-finals. With hard-fought wins against NPBHS and MAGS we progressed through to the quarter-finals and played a tough Auckland Grammar side. They utilised their half with the wind on their backs a little better than us and we did not manage to capitalise on our opportunities to score.

That sent us into playing off for 5th place and against a just-as-disappointed Rotorua Boys' High School. The boys from both teams put on an entertaining display of footy, and in the end we managed to get a bit of payback from them smashing us earlier in the year to win 22-5. Beating them meant we were up against Napier for the best-of-the-rest game. We started well and scored early points through some Ezaiah Solomon individual brilliance. He scored two tries and converted both of them, sevens style, before Napier could even get behind the sticks for a drink. Both teams gave it everything and Napier came back into the game in the second half. However, our boys were able to hold on and finish strong to win. 

We suffered some big injuries across the week and the depth of the squad was tested. All the boys stepped up and contributed on and off the field. It was a fantastic tournament to be a part of this year. Congratulations goes to Tauranga Boys 'College for winning and running a great tournament.

Ngā mihi to all the whānau and friends for the great support and help across the week. It is a tough job watching all those games and trying to regulate the heart rate!

Tournament results:

Pool play

HBHS v Mt Albert Grammar won 15-11

HBHS v Westlake BHS lost 31-22

HBHS v New Plymouth BHS won 15-27

Quarter Final

HBHS v Auckland Grammar School lost 30-15

5-8 Semi-Final

HBHS v Rotorua BHS Won 22-5

5-6 Play-Off

HBHS v Napier Boys’ High School won 21-10

The boys would like to thank their whānau and all the local businesses and organisations  that helped financially to get all our boys to the tournament.

Also a big thanks goes to the Students from Year 13 business Studies that donated the player of the day awards. Ignite Potential, Den clothing and KSG Supporters gear. Huge mihi to Dallin Watene-Zelezniak for donating a signed training tee for our Player of the Tournament which was Ezaiah Solomon.

Ngā mihi to all the sponsors. Could not have done it without you.

Tuitala Law Ltd

Express Lawn Mowing

Paul Nathan Fencing

Midwifery Villa

Heartland Rugby New Zealand

Design and Brighten your Golf ALBA.Inc

Phantom Graphics

Forest Protech Services

Cat Mew and Coo

Admaine Solutions Ltd

Alliance Services Ltd

Waikato Dental

PĀKURA PODIATRY GROUP

AURORA LAW

Gateos MTL Contractors LTD

McConnell Farms

Shepherd Plastering

NZ Institute of Sport

Pohutukawa Frame and Truss

Audrey Quigley Physio

Organic Nation Ltd

Brainchild

RGL Construction

Cooper Builders

Turf Kutterz

Raglan Electrical

Glamacote 2021 Ltd

Waikato Dental

Reel Tuff Sport Fishing

Putauaki Trust

The Double Glazing Company

Bec & Bev Ltd

The Johnson Family

Changing Faces

Frame-X

Marshall Coatings Ltd

M.T.G Painters

Wild at Heart Aotearoa

VHS SWEET AZZ

Masica

Waitere Group

Ashley Place Kitchen Papamoa 

First Place Fitness

Paul Nathan Fencing

Phantom Graphics

EdventureTours Group Travel

Omataroa Rangitaiki No.2 Trust

Geckco Motorsport Ltd

S & T Wheeler

Pounamu Pools

Swamp Frog Environmental and Tree Consultants

Tauhara Te Maunga Sports Club

Richard Thomson Real Estate

Victor's Place

Forest Protech Services

Peak Project Management

Clan Ramsay

DIY Supply

Melville Jnr Rugby

MTG PAINTERS

Wolfpack Construction

Plumbuilt Plumbing Services

Moore Whānau

Halauafu