A plucky fightback but conclusive 55-26 win in the Christchurch Boys’ v Christ’s College clash
Tuesday, 2 June 2026
At Christchurch Boys’ High School: CBHS 55 (Lennox Limu-Franklin 2, Phoenix Smith 2, Dougal Grant, Max Carr, Freddy Davis, William Brown, Harry Staunton tries; Brown 4con, Davis con) Christ’s College 26 (Jackson Grace 2, James Hunter, Henry Botherway tries; Grace 3con) HT: 38-12.
For a brief patch, Christchurch Boys’ High School might have been eyeing a record scoreline in the annual interschool.
CBHS made it five straight wins against Christ’s College in the traditional interschool at Straven Road on Tuesday, triumphing 55-26 in a high-scoring duel.
The hosts outscored College nine tries to four with wing Lennox Limu-Franklin, a member of the Warriors’ rugby league Harold Matthews Cup (under-17) squad earlier this year, and No 8 Phoenix Smith both scoring doubles.
CBHS looked like they might pile on a record scoreline in the annual battle which goes back to 1892, after scoring six unanswered tries during the first half. They led 38-5 late in the first half and some in the Boys’ High crowd, would have been thinking about surpassing the record 80 points they scored against their fierce rival in 2015 – a game future All Black and Crusader Will Jordan scored four tries in.
There was some initial conversations about potentially playing this year’s interschool in Christchurch’s glitzy new One NZ Stadium, but the decision was made to keep it at Boys’ High. The venue alternates with Christ’s College each year.
The “We can’t hear you” chants were bellowing out from the Boys’ High supporters, who were soaking up their team’s first half dominance.
College, chasing their first win in the match since 2021, refused to surrender, responding with three straight tries of their own – two scored by talented first five Jackson Grace, to send some jitters through the vocal home crowd.
Grace’s second, which he converted, trimmed Boys’ High’s lead to 38-26, setting up an intriguing last half hour, and some nervous Boys’ High fans.
CBHS headed into the contest as hot favourites, having won four of their five games this season with a 29-29 draw mixed in against St Andrew’s College in the Miles Toyota Premiership on Saturday.
Christ’s made quite the start, opening the scoring through loose forward James Hunter, but from then on it was all Boys’ High.
Four tries within a 13-minute span changed the complexion of the game with Boys’ High shooting out to a 26-5 advantage.
Their midfield combination of Dougal Grant, a member of the Warriors’ title-winning Harold Matthews Cup side last year, and vice captain William Brown, were at the heart of it, proving tough to contain every time they touched the ball.
Boys’ High took a commanding 38-12 lead into halftime, punishing any College mistakes and proving ruthless when they entered the 22.
One of the few blemishes off the first half for the dominant Boys’ High side was an injury to standout lock Liam Newfield, who hobbled off after half an hour. Newfield had been one of the best players on the field, impressing with his work-rate and carrying ability. Prop Frano Chaplin also departed with a head knock early in the second half.
Down 38-5 just before halftime, Christ’s College could have easily thrown in the towel, but did anything but.
When Grace dotted down for his second, there were some anxious looks among the Boys’ High supporters with their big lead whittled down to 12 points (38-26).
A try from Boys’ High replacement Freddy Davis, set up by a charging run from captain Jonty Leary, and some crisp passing from another reserve, Sonny-Bill McAndrew, quashed College’s plucky comeback.
Centre Brown went over for Boys’ High’s eighth try of the afternoon to guarantee a fifth wins in as many years in the annual interschool. Blindside flanker Leary then had a hand in another try, putting away halfback Harry Staunton to blow out the final scoreline.