St Kentigern College: 11 (Jonathan Faauli try, Broc Hooper 2 pen) Sacred Heart College: 3 (Solomone Kata 1 penalty) HT: 8-3

The Report

St Kentigern College remain unbeaten for the season after a tough 11-3 victory over Sacred Heart College. In an often dour struggle, the score line flattered Sacred Heart who offered little in attack until the last ten minutes. St Kent’s used their big pack to starve Sacred Heart of the ball and employed a smart kicking game to keep them camped in their own half.

The first half was dominated by kicking, as both sides attempted to play force-back. St Kent’s, despite a wobbly lineout, were the more effective at this. When the ball did find hand instead of land, St Kent’s centre Jonathan Faauli bounced over the line for the game’s only try in the 27^th minute, after some well worked phase play.

The second half started with St Kent’s fullback Broc Hooper kicking a crucial penalty to push St Kent’s lead out to eight points. Their lead could have been far greater had halfback Sam Nock and winger Suliasi Vunivalu not been denied tries by the stoic Sacred Heart defence.

Sacred Heart rallied in the last ten minutes. Bullocking centre Solomone Kata was unlucky to be pulled back, when in the clear, after the referee deemed he had received a forward pass.  Sacred Heart, despite plenty of passion and strong games from prop Tom McHugh and centre Kata, never looked that likely.

St Kent’s best were flanker, Blake Gibson, First-five William Raea and the enterprising Sootala Fa’aso’o.