This Saturday’s Auckland 1A First XV semifinals will feature three of the schools that featured in the 2016 final four.

Top of the round-robin standings are St Kentigern, who defeated King’s 30-23 away from home to emerge as top qualifier and remain on track for a fifth championship in the last seven seasons.

King’s, who were fighting hard for the upset and a ticket into the semifinals, led 13-10 at the break, partially thanks to a superb try by lock Junior Ratuva. But errors and pressure from St Kentigern compounded and the favourites finished strongly.

St Kentigern will thus host Auckland Grammar in the 1 v 4 semifinal, just weeks after their 28-17 victory at the latter’s home base in Newmarket.

Auckland Grammar, who missed the semifinals in 2016, defeated Aorere 27-7, while Sacred Heart secured second billing with a solid 65-5 win over Tamaki. Sacred Heart will host Catholic rivals St Peter’s, 26-10 victors over Liston. The latter finished 10th but have ensured 1A survival in their first outing at this level in more than two decades.

De La Salle and 2016 champions MAGS fought to a 12-all stalemate.

Kelston BHS leapfrogged early competition leaders Dilworth, their 14-12 win raising the westerners to eighth place.

Aorere and Tamaki will contest the promotion-relegation with the yet-to-be determined 1B finalists in April 2018.

The 1B semifinals on Saturday will pit top qualifiers Botany Downs against fourth-placed Mt Roskill Grammar, while second-placed Tangaroa, a relatively recent 1A participant, will host One Tree Hill.

First XV 1A round 11

St Peter's 26 Liston 10

De La Salle 12 MAGS 12

Auckland Grammar 27 Aorere 7

Kelston BHS 14 Dilworth 12

Sacred Heart 65 Tamaki 5

St Kentigern 30 King’s 23

Final points: St Kentigern 44, Sacred Heart 42, St Peter's 40, Auckland Grammar 39, King's 35, MAGS 30, De La Salle 26, Kelston BHS 21, Dilworth 19, Liston 9, Aorere 8, Tamaki 0

First XV 1B final Championship round

Botany Downs 10 One Tree Hill 3

Mt Roskill Grammar 13 Onehunga 5

Pakuranga 39 Macleans 10

Tangaroa 39 Papatoetoe 11

Final points: Botany Downs 33, Tangaroa 31, One Tree Hill 23, Mt Roskill Grammar 18, Pakuranga 17, Macleans 12, Papatoetoe 5, Onehunga 1