Badminton

Our Badminton team have improved this season with a 3rd placing in their grade, playing every Tuesday night at ABA Stadium in Epsom. Well done to Neil Fernandes for his leadership with this team, he is passionate and committed to all sports and academics.

Thank you to Mrs D'Souza for managing this team for the second year in a row.

Basketball

Term 2 has been a great Term for St Paul’s Basketball Program, with six teams entering into College sports, and playing competitive basketball. Our newly formed U17s B team has done very well in their pool, demonstrating remarkable progress and exceeding my expectations. We have had three Year 7 and 8 players playing in the U15 grade, showing significant improvement and ensuring a bright future for our program.

Four of our players have achieved the honor of being selected for Auckland Representative teams, marking a significant milestone for our program. Congratulations to:

Naea Williams and Preston-David Stanley: U16 Auckland Representative Development team

Seron Stanley: U14 Auckland Representative Team

Larenz Pua: Preparing to play for Auckland in the U16 Nationals at Bruce Pullman during the school break.

Our 1st V have only lost 1 game all term with outstanding performances from Sebastian Smith, Solomon Nash, and captain Leaam Kelemete often ensuring the game is finished within the 1st Quarter. The team has secured dominant victories, including a 109-18 win against Liston and an 86-26 win against MAGS, setting them up well for the upcoming BBNZ Tournament with hopes of winning a second trophy.

U17s A Team: Despite facing tough competition, the team has shown continuous improvement. Their recent game against a strong MAGS team highlighted their progress, with notable performances from Preston Stanley, Hazza Al-Nuami, Laurenz Pua, and Malakai.

U17s B Team: Comprising a mix of Year 11-13 students, this team has quickly gelled and improved both as a team and individually each week. Led by Stanlee Blakely, with strong contributions from Mateo Afoa, Sonny Wi, and Aaron Te’o, they have made significant strides.

Our 3 U15 teams have had a term of development, with some players playing basketball for the first time, and others leading the way and building on years of experience. 

The U15 Maroon Team fought in a very tough grade against some powerhouse schools, learning to battle and hold their own. This team has had some tough losses but some valuable lessons. Standout players Naea Williams, Preston Stanely and AJ Hughes have been great players for the team providing, scoring, and willing the team to compete at the highest level they can. Both Jackson Leavai and AJ Hughes, who are new to the school this year as Year 9 students have been great additions to the team.

The U15 Blue Team led by Augustino Peterson, Ebeneezer Asnake and Ignatius Veukiso this team has shown growth in development, competitiveness, and basketball IQ. New additions Jordan Manase and Tuakore Talauta-Riki have been great additions to the program and have promising futures. 

Our U15 Yellow Team has been the fan favourite, this team of seven players includes three intermediate students developing for the future. Point guards Seron Stanley and Ayden Figota, both Year 7s, have led in scoring and leadership, while Anthony Fransham, a Year 8, has grown in IQ and confidence, which will be beneficial for the AIMS games in September. This team finished second in their pool, a fantastic achievement.

A massive thank you to all the staff involved with the teams this term, especially Mr Hamish Meads and Mr Matt Toua for their support and hard work. A special thanks to Tui Cocker, our assistant coach, whose support, knowledge, and time have been crucial in the growth and success of our program.

Rugby League 1st XIII

On Wednesday 3 July our 1st XIII Rugby League team played their grand final on the Go Media Stadium Field 1, in a physical game where our opponents, De La Salle fielded a solid forward pack. The St Paul's forwards stood strong and were heroic in their defence and carries with any ruck speed or line breaks that were made by De La Salle quickly covered with committed defence.

Unfortunately, St Paul's conceded 2 tries off errors in the first 10 minutes, the score being 12-0 very quickly. Filipe Fakauho (Year 12), replied with a powerful carry to make the score 12-4. Noah Hetutu-Davis (Year 13) made an equally strong carry, scoring close to the goalposts, however the referee found a penalty in the play of the ball and the try was overturned. The halftime score 12-4 to De La Salle. 

St Paul's picked up where they left off with committed defence and an attack which at times struggled to find its rhythm. Coach Sefo Fuimaono used his bench as best as he could, and those who came on the field also tried their best with prop Albert Balchin (year 12) being a stand-out on attack and defence. Justice Pua (year 12) made an immediate impact, beating several defenders to score in the corner, taking the score to 12-8, unfortunately, the try was not converted, and this would remain the final score with De La Salle winning the game and the Auckland Secondary School's title. Our college rugby league 1st XIII team has had a challenging preparation in 2024, with byes, defaults, draw changes and more to adapt to. There's an old saying in sport - we win or we learn, and I'm very confident that our young men will learn a lot from this tough lesson. Regardless of the result, we are very proud of this team. There is one more rugby league tournament to go,  the National Secondary Schools Title, which has eluded St Paul's College for over a decade. There is still plenty to look forward to for rugby league, with a National rugby tournament team being selected in mid-August.

Thank you to our ever-supportive families, coaching staff and volunteers. You have represented the college with high standards on and off the field throughout the season. We are grateful for your unwavering support and role model behaviour on the sidelines when representing St Paul's College in the wider community. 

Photos courtesy of Scott Coles, full galleries here: www.facebook.com/SCSportsPhotos/photos

Rugby League U15

U15 Blue Rugby League Team Triumphs in Auckland Championship Grand Finals

The U15 Blue Rugby League team secured a resounding victory in the Auckland Championship Grand Finals, defeating Manurewa High School with a commanding score of 20-0. The match, held on Wednesday 3 July, showcased an exemplary display of skill, strategy, and teamwork from the U15 Blue team.

Throughout the game, the team demonstrated outstanding effort and executed their game plan with precision. Their meticulous training regimen clearly paid dividends, evident in their cohesive gameplay and disciplined approach on the field.

Key to their success was their patience and teamwork, which enabled them to maintain control of the game from start to finish. The players' commitment to their roles and mutual support for each other was instrumental in overcoming the challenges posed by their opponents Manurewa High School.

Coaches Maryn Murray-Tiava’asu’e and Junior Fiu deserve commendation for their leadership and guidance, shaping the team into a cohesive unit capable of achieving such an impressive victory. Their strategic planning and effective training program undoubtedly contributed to the team's triumph in the championship finals.

Overall, the U15 Blue Rugby League team's victory in the Auckland Championship Grand Finals stands as a testament to their dedication, skill, and teamwork. It marks a significant achievement for the team and brings well-deserved recognition to their efforts throughout the season.

Congratulations to the U15 Blue Rugby League team on their outstanding performance and this memorable win in the Auckland Championship Grand Finals.

Mrs FIU (Manager/TIC)

Rugby Union

1st XV continued their season at home against Mt Albert Grammar and Liston over the last two weeks. In a battle of the central Auckland schools, Mt Albert started really strong, with St Paul's having no answer to the speed of their attack. Errors which plagued the team's performance, featured again in the first half made it difficult for the teams to get any momentum. Going into the break 12-0 down, the second half saw St Paul’s score two tries to get some points on the board, and despite MAGS having a player sent off for foul play, they went on to win the match 34-12.

The following week, the team faced Liston College at home. A number of injuries to the squad meant a couple of students Izaiah Finau (Year 12) and La'auli Sipia (Year 12) would make their 1st XV debut as well as a number of players having to make positional changes as illness and injuries tested the depth of the squad. With up to 6 starting players out with injuries, it was an opportunity to give fringe players a chance to get game time at the next level. The team battled throughout the afternoon, creating a number of opportunities, however were not able to convert them into points. Strong performances from La'auli Sipia (Year 12) at first five, who kicked well and allowed for the attack to play with much-needed width. 

Troy Fuimaono (Year 11) and Meki Sosefo (Year 13) were standout forwards, industrious throughout the game, but Liston was better on the day, executing their opportunities, and unfortunately, St Paul’s were not able to score a try for the first time this season, going down 32-3. A tough loss to take, but the boys will look to bounce back against King's College before the term holidays. 

Thanks to all our volunteer coaches, families, and sponsors for their ongoing support.