Hamilton clinch Condor Sevens double

Hamilton BHS and Hamilton GHS claimed victory in their respective competitions at the BNZ Condor Sevens in Auckland.

The boys beat Hastings BHS 24-0 in their final while the girls thrashed Southland GHS 35-0 to round off the 29th edition of the national secondary school championships.

Star player Terina Te Temaka, a title winner for the third year in a row, said Hamilton were tested throughout the competition.

"It was a very difficult final and credit to our girls for the efforts they put in especially the ‘babies’ who weren’t here last year," she said.

Tamaka, the sister of All Blacks Sevens winger Isaac, scored three tries in the final including a 60-metre solo effort but praised the whole team's efforts.

“It was the girls who set it up, not just me, and that’s all you can ask for in a team.

"Our coaches have passed on their amazing knowledge to us, we couldn’t be more thankful."

She and team-mate Tenika Willison were named as joint players of the tournament.

For Hamilton BHS, this was their first title since 2008 when Tawera Kerr-Barlow and brothers Declan and Kylem O'Donnell helped them beat Mt Albert Grammar School in extra time.

Captain Sevuloni Reece and Sam Toa were the players that stood out this year as they saw off first-time finalists Hastings in comprehensive fashion.

Toa, Charles Lawrence and Shaquille Sue Warra touched down with Reece also scoring to cap a fine tournament.

"It was a great final as we knew it would be a hard game," Reece, who was later named player of the tournament, said.

"We had a good build up and we know how each other plays so that helped us today. 

"It was a big motivation to end the season on a high note."

Reece is a Fijian who won a scholarship to the school in 2014 and for him, Hamilton is now his home.

“I’ll be in Hamilton next year hopefully playing for Waikato," he says.

Hamilton beat defending champions Rotorua BHS 42-14 in the semi-finals, having raced into a 28-0 half-time lead.

Xavier Roe scored twice with Sue Warra, Reece, Morgan Harper and Lawrence also dotting down.

"We knew coming into the tournament they would have some guns and that showed,” Rotorua coach Scott Mayhew said. 

"However, we will take a top four position in New Zealand and with six or seven of the boys returning next year we will certainly be back."

In the quarter-finals, Hamilton beat Kelston BHS 22-12, while Hastings reached the final by beating Feilding HS 22-5 after earlier defeating previous winners Mt Albert Grammar School 29-14 in the last eight.

Christchurch BHS beat St Bede's College 21-17 after the hooter sounded to win the Plate.

Nelson College won the Bowl while St Paul's Collegiate beat Tauranga Boys College 15-10 in the Shield.

In the girls section, Christchurch GHS held on to beat Motueka HS 17-10 in the Plate while St Mary's College beat Kaipara College to claim the Bowl.

New Plymouth beat St Hilda's 40-29 in an entertaining Shield final.