Interest in college rugby might be at an all-time high. In 2012 the Rugby Channel’s Landrover First XV series televised 34 matches from Wakworth to Gore and no less than 12,000 spectators attended the 1A Auckland championship final at Eden Park.
Orewa College: 16 (Logan Green 1 try, 3 pen, 1 con) Mahurangi College: 5 (Scye Griffiths try)
When Mahurangi College tackles Orewa College, July 14, on the Rugby Channel a very special piece of silverware will be at stake. The Murray Jones Memorial Shield is a Ranfurly Shield type of competition for schools in the Warkworth area. It goes back a long time and means an awful lot for the schools involved.
Only twice in their history has Mahurangi College made the semi finals of the North Harbour 1A competition. Typically the goal each season is just to stay in 1A. A small roll, no second XV and a lack of resources, compared to the “traditional” schools, Westlake, Massey and Rosmini, means survival is a successful season