School rugby continued around the district in the month of June with a number of teams beginning to make strides.

In Manawatu Premier 1, Whanganui High School remains undefeated, starting the month with a derby win over Cullinane College 1 st XV 34-10, and followed up with a 52-22 victory over Waiopehu College, while Cullinane went to a 10-10 stalemate with Horowhenua Boys 1 st XV.

It has not been an easy Central North Island season for Whanganui Collegiate 1 st XV, as a 20-14 defeat to Francis Douglas Memorial College was followed by losses to Lindisfarne College (38-29), Wesley College (24-14), and Rathkeale College (38-31).

The side then headed to Nelson for the 95 th Quadrangular Tournament last week – beaten by Christ’s College 31-10 on Tuesday.

They then went into the playoff for third with Wellington College on Thursday, and lost narrowly 28-21.

In MRU Premier 2, the Collegiate 2 nd XV had a 19-17 win over Dannevirke High School, while Ruapehu College 1 st XV lost to Feilding High Colts 25-24.

Ruapehu rebounded by beating Collegiate 46-5, and both schools moved forward – Ruapehu toppling Dannevirke High 22-17, while Collegiate defeated Palmerston North Boys High Colts 17-10.

In MRU Premier 3, WHS Under 16’s went down to PNBHS 4 th XV 46-19 and Queen Elizabeth College Senior Boys 45-20.

The MRU Youth 1 saw Cullinane Year 9-10 have a tough start to the month with a 63-19 loss to Waiopehu College Youth, but they showed character to draw 10-10 with Horowhenua Youth, while Collegiate Black had victories over PNBHS Colts B (29-18) and Horowhenua Youth (27-19), before a narrow 24-22 defeat to Feilding High Under 14A.

In Youth 2, WHS Under 15’s lost to PNBHS Junior 5 by 66-17, then Feilding High Mustangs 27-17, but rebounded with a 47-32 win over Queen Elizabeth College Junior Boys.

Youth 3 sees Collegiate Blue looking strong after big wins over Feilding High Under 14B (49-5) and PNBHS Junior White (68-33).

The MRU Secondary School Girls competition sees Cullinane Juniors likewise looking good after beating Palmerston North Girls High 49-17, Queen Elizabeth-Freyberg 87-0, and then Feilding High Red 96-10.

By Jared Smith