Aotea College new Beard Trophy holders with win over Tawa College

• By Steven White

A new era of the Beard Trophy has started – at least until next week’s third match of four in the 2026 series when Mana College have their challenge.

Aotea College stopped Tawa College’s reign in their 10th defence since they had won it in the final challenge of 2023 with an emphatic 65-12 win in steady second half drizzle at Porirua College on Wednesday evening.

Challengers Aotea College were fast out of the blocks, scoring three early tries to effectively end Tawa College’s 1,092 day Beard Trophy reign there and then, in front of a boisterous crowd in the Jerry Collins Stand.

They would score another three tries before halftime to lead 32-0 at the break. None of their early tries were converted by starting first-five Mitchell Potton, but halfback Luke Van Son, who also scored their second try from a dart off a lineout, slotted a sideline conversion just before halftime.

Prop Lijerion Tapumanaia would score two tries, including the first of the match that set their win in motion:

Tawa College scored two second half tries – and both were memorable.

From Tawa’s second half kick-off, openside flanker Josh Kleyne soared high and won the kick-off and then ran through several players to score a terrific solo try. Due to inattention still browsing his phone and not concentrating on the referee’s re-start whistle, most of this try was not recorded by the Club Rugby cameraman, but their second try was, a long-range effort that typifies these Beard Trophy games and scored by centre Axel Reynolds. More in this clip below:

The match also doubled as the opening game of the sixth round of the Premier 2 Murray Jensen Cup. With this bonus point win, Aotea temporarily move into the joint lead with the St Pat’s Silverstream 2nd XV on 25 points.

Tawa College remain winless after their first six matches.

Beard Trophy Schedule 2026

• Game 1 – Tawa v Bishop Viard College – Wednesday 27th May Tawa College won 44-39.
• Game 2 – Tawa College v Aotea College – Wednesday 24th June Aotea College won 65-12.
• Game 3 – Holder v Mana – Wednesday 1st July
• Game 4 – Holder v Porirua – Wednesday 22nd July

Premiership resumes this Saturday

The sixth round of nine of the First XV Premiership is this coming Saturday, with a full round of five matches.

The draw is:

• Scots College v St Pat’s Silverstream, Scots 1, 1.00pm
• HIBS v Wairarapa College, NZCIS 3, 1.00pm
• St Bernard’s College v Rathkeale College, SBC 1, 1.00pm
• Rongotai College v St Pat’s Town, RC 1, 2.30pm
• Mana College v Wellington College, Mana 1, 2.30pm

The current Premiership points table is:

Wellington College 24, Silverstream 19, Rathkeale College 19, St Pat’s Town 19, Scots College 15, HIBS 15, St Bernard’s 12; Wai Coll 6, Rongotai 1, Mana 0.