NEW Zealand Schools have kicked off their Tri Nations Series at Knox Grammar in Sydney on Thursday with a 54-7 win over Fiji Schools. The young Kiwis led 23-7 at halftime and dominated the contest throughout the 80 minutes in scoring nine tries. Leicester Faingaanuku from Nelson College, was on the end of some solid team work to secure a hat-trick of tries and also added a penalty and conversion to his personal tally. A sound defensive effort laid the platform for the schools’ team, Naitoa Ah Kuoi (Wellington College) and captain Quinn Tupaea (Hamilton Boys’ High School) each scored twice. Sam Cooper (St Paul’s Collegiate) and Abraham Pole (Otago Boys’ High School) also crossed for tries. St Kentigern College’s Rivez Reihana added two conversions. SCORES: New Zealand Schools 54 Tries: Faingaanuku 3, Ah Kuoi 2, Tupaea 2, Cooper, Pole Pens: Faingaanuku 1 Cons: Reihana 2, Faingaanuku 1 Fiji Schools 7