13 August, 2025

Westlake tops schools rugby ladder ahead of semis

Chalking another one up… Westlake beat Rosmini last Saturday for the second time this season to reaffirming their favouritism for the North Harbour secondary schools rugby championship

Westlake Boys High School – the dominant side in North Harbour secondary schools rugby in recent years – haven’t had things all their own way in 2025, but a 31-11 win over Rosmini last Saturday signalled they are still the team to beat when finals begin this weekend.
Westlake topped the Harbour ladder with 11 wins, a draw and a loss from 13 matches.
Rosmini was third, winning 10 matches, but crucially lost two matches to Westlake, last Saturday at home and 34-20 in June, along with one of their games against Whangarei Boys High School.
The season has been one of the closest ever, with second-placed Whangarei Boys and fourth-placed Rangitoto College having an epic battle last weekend before Whangarei won 19-18.
Whangarei ended the season with 10 wins, one draw and two losses.
Rangitoto, meanwhile, had eight wins – including a prized Westlake scalp on 12 June – and five losses.
On Saturday, Rosmini was up 11-5 at halftime, but as in the previous match between the schools, Westlake showed a clean pair of heels in the second half.
Coach Robin Mildenhall said they played “some exceptional rugby”.
He singled out two try-scoring Year 11 players – winger Yisrael Tukania, who touched down twice, and centre Matt Fleming – for special mention.
The addition of former All Black and Westlake old boy Luke McAlister as backs coach this year had proved a major coup, Mildenhall said.
“He is a tangible hero for the boys, and a great mentor.”
Mildenhall hoped for a big crowd at Westlake for their semi-final against Rangitoto. “It will be a great semi-final against quality opposition.”
Rosmini travels to Whangarei Boys for its semifinal on Saturday.
• The North Harbour secondary schools final will be played at North Harbour Stadium on 16 August at noon.

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