Auckland School Teams Post Decisive Wins, Narrow Defeats in Winter Codes

The Mount Albert Grammar Under-16 rugby side beat Sacred Heart College 31-19 at Eden Park on Saturday afternoon in the top Auckland secondary school fixture of the week.

Winter competition rounds resumed after the school holidays with full schedules in rugby, football and netball drawing hundreds of players each weekend. Auckland secondary schools have recorded a 12 percent rise in registered youth participants since the same period last year, according to Auckland Rugby Union figures released on 8 July. The increase comes as families seek structured outdoor activity before the spring term starts.

Rugby and football action on local grounds

Mount Albert Grammar scored three tries in the second half at Eden Park to pull away after trailing 12-14 at halftime. Sacred Heart replied with a late penalty but could not close the gap. On the same day at Victoria Park, the Auckland Football Federation Under-14 boys competition saw Ellerslie AFC defeat Three Kings United 4-2, with goals from substitutes in the final 15 minutes. Both matches formed part of the weekly club and school fixtures run by the Auckland Rugby Union and the Auckland Football Federation.

Netball results from Friday evening at the ASB Stadium showed the Waitakere College Year 10 team defeating Epsom Girls Grammar 28-22 in the premier grade. The game featured strong defensive play in the final quarter that limited Epsom to just four goals after the break. Entry fees for these weekly youth fixtures remain at $12 per player for the season, unchanged since 2024.

Next fixtures and registration details

Teams return to the field on 18 July with Auckland Rugby Union quarter-final matches scheduled at Eden Park and several club grounds in Newmarket. Parents can check updated draws on the Auckland Football Federation website or register new players through the Auckland Rugby Union portal before the 15 July cutoff for the second half of the winter season.