1st V Basketball

The 1st V took on the BBNZ Northern Cup tournament at Trust Arena during tournament week.

The team played brilliantly, topping the pool by beating Ormiston, Howick, Whangaparāoa, and Birkenhead. Standout leadership from Leaam Kelemete and Solomon Nash helped push the team ahead in each game. Drew and Cruz Scott pushed the ball and created havoc, causing teams to turn the ball over, which allowed St Paul’s to build huge leads. Joseph Samuels and AJ Glen were in full shooting form, adding valuable points from the bench and off rebounds.

Larenz Pua, a Year 11 student, stepped in with elite defending, helping to turn stops into points while taking on older, bigger, and stronger players.

As the team progressed to the semi-final against One Tree Hill, they won by a margin of 75-71. Their three-point shooting and ability to attack the basket were on full display.

The team then faced Kristin in the final, leading the game for three quarters until Kristin's strong defense and tough finishes caused them to fall behind. They ultimately lost 88-77 but proved that they are a fantastic team, capable of shooting, defending, and winning as a cohesive unit.

A massive thank you to Mr Hamish Meads, Tui Cocker, and Luke Kelemete for their help in running the team throughout the tournament.

Rugby 7s at AIMS Games 2024

In the 2024 AIMS Rugby 7s tournament, St Paul's fielded a notably young team, with only four Year 8 players and the rest from Year 7. Despite being one of the youngest teams in the competition, their determination and effort were evident throughout the week.

The tournament kicked off against brother school Liston College, a team they had previously faced in a close preseason match. Motivated to perform, St Paul’s played an expansive game characterised by offloads and strong support play. They started strong, with Dylan Keereweer (Year 7) creating numerous scoring opportunities for teammates Lebron Loia (Year 8) and Israel McGlynn (Year 8). The team secured a solid 27-14 victory, setting a positive tone for the tournament.

In their second match against Rotorua Intermediate, St Paul’s faced challenges. After conceding an early try, they struggled to gain possession and had to play two minutes with a player down due to a yellow card issued to Lebron Loia. Rotorua capitalised on this advantage, taking a commanding 21-5 lead at halftime. However, after some stern words at halftime and the return of Lebron Loia, St Paul’s mounted a comeback, scoring three tries. Unfortunately, a missed conversion due to the 30-second shot clock meant they narrowly lost 21-20. Despite the loss, the team showed great resilience and character to fight back. 

The team rebounded spectacularly in their final pool match against TKKM O Nga Uri a Maui, winning 64-0. On day 2, they played two more matches: a 19-19 draw against Kamo Intermediate followed by a dominant 41-0 victory over Aquinas College, led by standout players Alex Ma'afu (Year 7) and Jerome Crichton (Year 7). This performance allowed them to advance to the top 16 on points difference from a very competitive pool.

Day 3 marked the beginning of crossover matches against top qualifiers. The team faced previously unbeaten Northcross Intermediate and Tauranga Intermediate, winning both matches convincingly with scores of 27-10 and 20-7. Strong performances from players like Israel McGlynn (Year 8), Martallis Vaihu (Year 7), Dylan Keereweer (Year 7), and Tino Leaoa (Year 7) propelled the team forward. They capped off the day with a 29-0 victory against Te Awamutu, securing a spot in the top 8, where they were set to face St Peter's College in the quarterfinals.

Despite a successful first three days, the team fell short in the playoff against St Peter's, losing 24-0. Overall, finishing 8th out of 45 schools across the country was a remarkable achievement for such a young team, indicating great potential for the future. Player of the week for being a good St Paul's man both on and off the field went to Giovanni Singh (Year 7). 

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our coaches, JP Faamausili and Roman Gabriel, for their dedication, and to the parents for their unwavering support throughout the tournament.

Individual Sports at AIMS Games 2024

This year at the AIMS Games, St Paul's College proudly saw five of our athletes compete in individual sports.

Orienteering Debut
We were thrilled to participate in the debut of Orienteering at the AIMS Games, with Zejm Holo and Conrad Mason-Schmidt (Year 8) representing our school in both the individual sprints and the team rogaine events. Orienteering requires athletes to navigate through unfamiliar terrain using only a map and compass, testing them physically and mentally.

Both athletes competed brilliantly and as the first-ever orienteers from St Paul's to participate in the AIMS Games, Zejm and Conrad made history for the College.

Indoor Bowls Success
Our Indoor Bowls team, Orlando McKillop, David Ngahe (Year 8) and Qhasalle Banse (Year 7), competed in a focused and calm environment, unlike the intensity often seen in other sports. The stadium lounge offered a quiet setting, allowing players to demonstrate concentration and precision. In preparation for the competition, our boys received coaching from the President of the Tauranga Bowls Club during a special session at the Tauranga Citizens Club. Their efforts paid off as they competed really well, becoming favourites among the spectators.

As well as enjoying their own sports, the individual athletes were on the sidelines for many of the other St Paul’s games, ensuring that our Basketball, Futsal and Rugby 7s teams were well supported throughout the tournament.