Harry McKay in action for the Rathkeale College First XV when they played Wesley College. PHOTO/JADE CVETKOV
RUGBY
JAKE BELESKI
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The Rathkeale College First XV’s hopes of reaching the Central North Island Championship semifinals were crushed by St Peter’s School on Sunday.
Rathkeale came into the match knowing they would most likely need to win their last three matches to have a chance of sneaking into the top four.
Even home ground advantage made little difference on Sunday as St Peter’s cruised to a remarkable 74-0 win at Rathkeale.
The loss means Rathkeale are now in eighth place with two matches left to play, 11 points outside the top four.
Their matches to come are against fifth-placed Lindisfarne College and sixth-placed Francis Douglas Memorial College, two teams still vying for semifinal spots.
Rathkeale have beaten the three teams below them on the table this season, but a few close losses to some of the better teams in the competition ultimately came back to haunt them.
Feilding High School are setting the pace with seven wins from their eight matches to date, while St Paul’s Collegiate School have also only lost one match but have only played six.
Rathkeale co-captain Thomas Ralls received his cap for playing his 30th match for the team on Sunday.
