Always Back Taika Cross

Taika and Arlo Cross with the Jim Ting Cup after their late win over Rongotai College on Wednesday.

• By Adam Julian

On May 10, beloved Avalon Rugby Club identity and bus driver John Cross encouraged his son, Stephen Cross, a police officer, respected player, referee and volunteer, to bet on a racehorse named after his grandson.

The horse, Taika, performed poorly in Race 7 at Arawa Park in Rotorua. A fortnight later, John encouraged Stephen to try again with Taika at Te Rapa. This time, Stephen didn’t listen, and Taika won the Jones Trucking Hurdles, earning over twenty thousand dollars.

Meanwhile, the human Taika faced a hurdle today while playing for St. Bernard’s College First XV in their Round Four Premiership clash away at Rongotai College. In fading light, pouring rain, and thick mud, Taika had a crucial conversion attempt to break a 22-22 tie. Successfully making this kick would secure the Lower Hutt Catholics their first competition win of 2025 and the Jim Ting Memorial Trophy.

With ice in his veins, and possibly his eyes from the cold weather, fullback Taika converted Peteru Leaupepe’s second try from near the sideline, 20 meters out, bringing the score to 24-22. A Rongotai counterattack was repelled, while John Cross lamented that he couldn’t place a bet on schoolboys.

Earlier, St. Bernard’s started strongly, dominating territory with measured kicking. The first try was scored by centre Orlando Sakalia, who held onto the ball and surged 20 metres for a solo special.

Rongotai rallied and soon took the lead, 15-5, capitalising on mistakes by the visitors. Tries were scored by captain and prop Levi Aukuso, lock Nick Rosenbrook, and No.8 Roman Fa’atoafe. St. Bernard’s wrestled back the initiative with patient, direct and combative foward play. Captain and prop TJ Fonoti scored a try, followed by Leaupepe adding another, allowing the visitors to jump ahead 17-15.

Rongotai regained momentum with a Samson Inualiki Kelemete try, converted by Jarrell Sagote-Mears, and nearly scored from a charged-down clearance kick, which would have been curtains for the blue and gold.

However, St. Bernard’s continued to battle, with veteran midfielder Lui Perez and No. 8 Kingston Wright playing prominent roles. Leaupepe’s second try secured St. Bernard’s a second consecutive traditional victory, following a 36-12 win over Hato Paora College the previous Wednesday. Furthermore, Taika and his brother Arlo earned their First XV caps, awarded at St. Bernard’s for playing five traditional or 25 First XV matches.

Meanwhile, Jim Ting attended Rongotai College, where he was a school prefect in 1952. He then studied science at Victoria University and worked in the oil industry. In 1958, he turned to teaching, instructing mathematics, general science, and chemistry at Rongotai, where he became the first old boy to serve as deputy principal in 1974.

In 1997, Ting joined the staff at Wellington College, where he remained until 2004. Seeking to avoid the commute from Lower Hutt, where he lived, he later took a job at St. Bernard’s, teaching the same subjects and coaching rugby.

A marriage celebrant, Justice of the Peace, and staunch member of the Tung Jung Association, Ting passed away from cancer in 2009. He had one daughter, Robyn, and three sons, Graeme, Malcolm, and Anthony, from his first marriage to Esther.

The Jim Ting Cup was first contested in 2011, with Rongotai winning 15-12, thanks to a last-minute try scored by future All Blacks captain and World Rugby Player of the Year, Ardie Savea.

Jim Ting Trophy Matches

2025: SB, 24-22

2024: RC, 36-14

2023: RC, 22-15

2022: SB, 19-12

2021: TBC

2020: RC, 23-19

2019: RC, 53-10

2018: SB, 10-5

2017: TBC

2016: RC, 69-5

2014: SB, 10-8

2012: SB, 25-20

2011: RC, 15-12