Premier 1st XIII Champions!

After a fairly dominant regular season, winning all of our games and not conceding more than 10 points in a game, the 1st XIII played the semi-final against Manurewa High School in front of a packed crowd at home on Wednesday 18 June. A tough game with both sides showing resilience and refusing to go down. It was a hard fought victory for our young men but they managed to win 20-16 and advance to the grand final against old foes, De La Salle College. 

The ARL College Rugby League Grand Final was held at Cornwall Park this year. Our supporters turned out in droves to cheer on our 1st XIII. Our young men got off to a fast start and scored within the first 10 minutes of the contest. From this point on, the floodgates opened and our young men were able to build momentum and string together a couple more tries, going into halftime leading 24-0. The second half started where the first half finished, with our captain AJ Balchin (Year 13) and Gordon Afoa (Year 13) dominating through the middle and setting a platform and creating space for our outside backs to score tries. Our boys were dominant and finished the game victorious with the final score being 46-0. The man of the match was awarded to our captain - AJ Balchin (Year 13). 

Coach Alan Ettles spoke the whole season to the team that “effort adds results” and our young men understood the assignment. They competed on every play and everybody understood their role in the team and executed it to perfection. The result is a reflection of the “school first, team second, individual third” mindset instilled into our young men from the beginning of the season. Our young men were acknowledged in assembly on Thursday 26 June and AJ Balchin (Year 13) was awarded the trophy.

A special thank you to our coaching staff - Head Coach Alan Ettles, Frank Fuimaono, Taisyn Williams and Lu Birkenhake. Thank you to all of our whānau for their support throughout the season. 

Mr Samuel Tanielu 

1st XIII Manager 

A hard fought game for our 2nd XIII - after a dominant start James Cook took the win 12 - 10.

Unfortunately, this game did not go our way, losing 12-10 in the final play of the game to James Cook High School’s 1st XIII. I understand the immense disappointment of the players; no one enjoys losing, especially in a Grand Final. However, I did want to give some context to the accomplishments of this young team: A team of Year 11’s, Year 12’s playing the 1st XIII’s of far bigger schools - courageous. A team who have gone through the entire season never conceding more than 2 tries in a game - committed. A team that played with exemplary sportsmanship and represented St Paul’s College to the highest standard at all times. 

I am very, very proud of this team. 

My sincere gratitude to the support of our St Paul’s families, we have had all season and also thank you to Mr Willetts, who has done an exceptional job as manager; his organisation and communication have made this team seamless in their preparation week to week. 

Thank you also to Mr Sargeant, one of St Paul’s longest-serving volunteers, who has helped with 1st XIII and 2nd XIII without complaint week to week, season to season. 

Mr Dave McDermott

St Paul’s U15 Blue Claim Third Consecutive Title in Golden Point Thriller

In an electrifying showdown at the Auckland Rugby League College Sport Grand Finals, St Paul’s U15 Blue team cemented their legacy by claiming their third consecutive championship title, edging out a determined Manurewa High School side in a dramatic 15-14 golden point victory.

The high-stakes final began with Manurewa setting the tone early, crossing the line first and taking a 4-0 lead after a missed conversion. St Paul’s remained composed, and their patience paid off late in the first half. A quick play-the-ball from RJay Matini set-up Lebron Loia, who seized the opportunity to score, followed by a successful conversion. Manurewa responded with a penalty goal just before the break, leading 10-6 at halftime.

The coaches’ halftime talk proved crucial, as they reminded the boys to stick to the basics and play with a team-first mentality. The message hit home, and the second half saw a renewed sense of purpose and cohesion from the St Paul’s side.

The second half delivered a fierce contest. Manurewa extended their lead with a try on the left edge, pushing the score to 14-6. But the relentless St Paul’s forward pack—Elijah Leaoasavaii, Alesana Roberts, Jariyus Mauai-Makatuki, and Persaius Lemalu—powered through with strong carries that cracked the defensive line. This laid the platform for Phoenix Sula to crash over the line, narrowing the gap to 14-10.

St Paul’s also utilised their interchange bench to great effect, with Abner Ma'afu and Tiuesa Ngaluafe bringing fresh energy and making a real impact when they came on. Their presence helped swing momentum back in St Paul’s favour at key moments in the match.

With the clock ticking down, St Paul’s executed a mirror play in the dying minutes. A clever grubber from RJay Matini found Lebron Loia once again, who dotted down for his second try, tying the game at 14-14 and sending it into golden point.

The intensity peaked in extra time as both sides battled for territory. On their second attacking set, St Paul’s capitalised on a Manurewa error deep in their red zone. From dummy half, the ball was shifted to Havi Taufa, who coolly slotted a drop goal from 22 metres out, securing a heart-stopping 15-14 victory.

It was a tough win but a great team effort—a match that showcased skill, grit, and unity across the board. This remarkable performance crowns St Paul’s U15 Blue as three-time reigning champions, a testament to their resilience, smart game management, and unbreakable team spirit.

Congratulations to the players, coaches and management team on a phenomenal achievement!

Confortare Esto Vir.

Mrs Fiu & Ms Eniata (Managers/TICS)

Badminton

Another enjoyable badminton session in the books for SPL, and I'm pleased to say we snagged the win! We played against Epsom Girls Grammar and our team really focused throughout the game. It's always great to see improvement in Leeroy Skudder (Year 10) and Oscar Rattray's (Year 9) shots, and today felt like a step forward.

Kudos to our Team Captain, Neil Fernandes (Year 12) and Miguel Gazo (Year 13) who led our team to a superb victory. 

So proud of the effort and win.

The final score was 4 - 2 to SPL.

Basketball

This term has been a strong one for basketball at St Paul’s College, marked by great games and significant development across all junior teams. A highlight was the tour to Whangārei, where our U17A and 1st V teams faced tough opposition. The U17s, led by Larenz Pua (Year 12), showed resilience against a fast-starting Whangārei team, with standout defensive efforts from Hezza Al Nuaimi (Year 12) and Preston-David Stanley (Year 11) keeping the game close until the end. The 1st V, up against a tall and athletic Whangārei Prems side, fought hard and looked to break in transition, though ultimately came up short against a well-drilled defence.

The experience of the Whangārei trip proved invaluable for team bonding and growth, especially for newer players. Back home, the season has seen exciting progress, with new talent joining across Years 9 to 12. The 1st V, led by Leaam Kelemete (Year 13), has had strong performances against schools like AGS, Green Bay, and St Peter’s, with seniors like Sebastian Smith, Joe Samuels, and Kyan Henry (Year 13) setting the tone. In the U17s, Larenz Pua and Preston Stanley have led the A team with maturity, while Peter Creevey (Year 12) has anchored the defence. The U17B team, despite results, has shown great spirit and support, with standout newcomer Iverson Niuula (Year 12) making a strong impact.

At the U15 level, ten new players have joined, with Agaputu Southon (Year 9) and Vilisone Matalave (Year 9) driving growth in the Maroon team. Meanwhile, the Year 7 & 8s have had an outstanding term, finishing with a 13–1 record as they prepare for the AIMS Games. New players Lomio Opetaia (Year 8) and Ezra Asnake (Year 7) have slotted in well, contributing on both ends of the court. Notably, Year 7 student Leon Williams, also playing up in the U15s, has shown great promise with his scoring, passing, and leadership—highlighting a bright future for St Paul’s basketball.

Thank you to Mr Jebb for his usual 110% effort with the Basketball programme. St Paul’s has 6 teams entered in the College Sport competition, meaning that in 2025, Basketball is the most popular sport at the College. This is an enormous effort that relies heavily on the support of staff and volunteers. 

Mr van den Heuvel has been huge in his service with many, many hours every week spent organising teams, transporting, scoring and hosting teams at home and away. Mr Jebb has made mention of the massive role he has played in the smooth running of our Basketball programme. 

The Basketball competition is far from over with the business end of the season approaching after school holidays. 

Keep working hard, gentlemen - we are right behind you all the way.

Rugby Union

1st XV - Since our last article, the 1st XV boys have continued to show heart and determination on the field. In a fiercely contested Central Zone grudge match against Mt Albert Grammar School, the team fell just short in a nail-biting 21–14 loss. 

On Saturday 14 June, the boys faced another formidable challenge in 1A powerhouse and fellow Catholic school, St Peter’s College. St Peter’s came out strong, taking a 21–3 lead into halftime and extending it to 28–3 shortly after the break. Despite the scoreboard pressure, our team refused to fold. Digging deep, they rallied together and scored a well-earned team try to close the gap to 28–8—showing real grit and unity until the final whistle.

On Saturday 21 June we played in a match that had everything on the line against Botany Downs High School.

The first half was a frustrating affair for both teams, but St Paul’s held a slender 7–0 lead at the break. Whatever was said in the halftime huddle clearly sparked the boys into action. Tries to Drew Scott (Year 13) and an 80-metre intercept stunner from Sebastian Smith (Year 13) extended the lead to 19–0. With the momentum fully in their corner, it looked like St Paul’s would cruise to victory.

But Botany weren’t done yet.

Fueled by grit and urgency, BDHS clawed their way back into the match, scoring 17 unanswered points and silencing the St Paul’s crowd. With just minutes to go, the game hung in the balance. A late penalty from 22 metres out and only 10 metres from the sideline gave BDHS a shot at glory — and at pulling off one of the biggest comebacks of the season.

The crowd held its breath.

He struck it… and missed.

The roar from the home supporters was deafening as St Paul’s held on in a dramatic 19–17 win. A game of two halves, plenty of heart, and a finish that reminded everyone why schoolboy rugby is so special.

U15 Rugby Union: Dominating the Season!

The St Paul's U15 Rugby Union team is halfway through their season and in excellent form! We have kicked off the competition with an impressive three wins from three games, amassing a total of 118 points for and conceding only 24 points against. 

While it took a little time to build momentum at the beginning of the 2025 season, the boys are improving with every game and truly embodying the St. Paul's spirit of never giving up. Unfortunately, we saw one of our inspirational co-captains, Roy Tuliakiono, sidelined with a broken wrist in the first game. However, his absence has been admirably filled by our other co-captain, Emmanuel Neemia, and other senior players on the team.

Several players deserve a special mention for their outstanding contributions so far. Jackson Leavai has been expertly leading the team in his new position of first five-eighth. Sivihiva Sisi has been a rock in defense, consistently laying down solid tackles. Jaryius Mauai-Makatuki and Tiuesa Ngaluafe have been making incredible, barnstorming runs. Pio Lefai has been showcasing his blistering speed, scoring tries from all over the field.

The team is hopeful they can continue this fantastic form into the second half of the season. They're aiming to surpass last year's U14 result and go all the way.