Making the most of Eden Park loss

ALAN APTED

Papatoetoe High School might be crushed at losing Auckland schoolboy rugby's 1B championship by one point to Onehunga High School.

But their coach Graeme Phillips is already planning their assault on the 1A championship starting with a promotion relegation match against Tangaroa College.

Their pre-season starts in the middle of October.

"That's when we will start fitness and conditioning," he says.

"We will be losing four players, our captain Greg Foe, fullback John Fili, loosehead prop Danny Olive and centre Sam Tulemoe.

"But the bulk of the team is returning.

"There are quite a few seventh formers in the team and they're all quite motivated to have a crack at the A grade and obviously get their credits as well.

"They won't be coming back just for the rugby."

Phillips says while he and his team were crushed at having come so close, Onehunga High School were the better team on the day.

Both teams scored two tries. The difference was Onehunga kicked two penalties to Papatoetoe's one conversion and one penalty.

Wing TJ Hopoi and tighthead prop Jamie Lia scored Papatoetoe's tries. James Faiva kicked a conversion and a penalty.

The match was played at Eden Park in driving rain.

"On the day Onehunga were the better team.

"I think they adapted to the conditions – the weather obviously was a factor.

"They didn't try to play too much rugby and their lineout again was a major strength.

"They were able to control their own possession," he says.

"We had a game plan and knew what we wanted to do.

"Unfortunately they controlled the territory and that meant we had to probably try and play it a bit too much."

Phillips says his players are getting over the loss and recognise they were beaten by a better team.

"You don't get much closer than one point.

"You just have to take the positives out of it and at the end of the day they got to the final and got to play on Eden Park and that's an opportunity not a lot of kids get to do.

"The team has progressed over the three years.

"Three years ago we finished eighth. Last year we finished third and this year we finished second," Phillips says.

"We're moving in the right direction and obviously we've secured that promotion game against Tangaroa College next year. That's a massive positive for us really."

A date for the Tangaroa game is to be comfirmed.

Mt Albert Grammar School beat King's College 18-6 to win the 1A championship for the second year running.

The Papatoetoe High School first 15 is: John Vili, TJ Hopoi, Sam Tulemoe, Nano Kalauta, Mike Ki, James Faiva, Sami Tu'itupou, Greg Foe captain, Sione Tonga, Taulima Latu, Kava Latu, John Fifita, James Lia, Inoke Latu, Danny Olive, Harry Pualau, August Aiga, Jayden Mika, Eric Latu, Aisake Tuitupou, Sean Lepua, Takeshi Fa'amasino.

Coaches: Graeme Phillips and Shane Singe.

- © Fairfax NZ News