St Pat’s Town, Silverstream and St Mary’s Colleges primed for Condors this weekend

Three Wellington schools will this weekend make their attempt to win titles that have so far eluded the region at the Condor Sevens at Auckland’s Sacred Heart College. Boys winners St Pats Town and runners-up St Pats Silverstream will be amongst 32 starters in their field (up from 24 last year), while Girls winners St Mary’s will be amongst the favourites in their 20-team field.

Town successfully defended the Wellington title they won last year on Labour Day, easing through pool play before beating Bishop Viard 26-0 in their semi-final and then Silverstream 19-7 in the decider. They have been drawn in Pool E, where they will start their campaign against relative minnows Thames High School before facing Auckland’s St Paul's College and closing out Day 1 with what could be a pivotal clash against Christchurch Boys' High School for top spot and a place in the Cup draw the next day.

Coach Galu Letiu has been able to name a squad with an even split of first-year players and those who were part of last year’s campaign. The latter group includes Saia Paese – who will captain the squad – and NZ Schools midfielder Billy Proctor with both likely to be key to their side's chances. The newcomers include NZ U18 Tag representative Dominic Sipa and lanky ex-Aotea College back Boston Hunt, while brothers Keelan and Grayson Whitman are both included.

The big loss for them is Proctor’s fellow NZ Schools selectee Xavier Numia who will be absent after undergoing surgery for a knee injury that’s hampered him all season which denies Town their biggest physical presence, while Gerard Ah Nau will be at the Athletic National champs that are also on this weekend.

Silverstream likewise breezed through pool play in the Wellington qualifier but faced a sterner test in their semi-final and only prevailed over Scots College in extra-time, and perhaps those extra exertions hampered them in the local final. However having been regulars at the nationals they will know what to expect even if it’s a fairly young squad that will take part this year, with only three Year 13s in the side.

One of those, Jack Wright, will captain the side while another, the diminutive Cullen Dexter who’s size belies his the amount of heart he plays with, will be counted on for his finishing skills. Todd Svenson will likely be looked on to be the organiser and big Albert Polu likewise for the power game. Nick Apikatoa, Fritz Rayasi, and Chris Aumua (who scored five tries in Stream’s rout of Town in their Traditional) all have older brothers who have played at this tournament and now part of the Wellington senior representative 15’s side.

Silverstream are drawn in Pool C and get underway against North Harbour school Westlake Boys' High School before facing Auckland’s De La Salle and lastly powerhouse Rotorua Boys' High School.

Wellington’s best chance of success might rest in the Girl’s section with St Mary’s College, who since being the somewhat surprise winners of last year’s Wellington qualifier have won the Bowl title at last years Condor’s, followed this year by taking the Wellington and then Hurricanes region 15’s crown, being runners-up at the Top Four, and after comfortably retaining their Wellington title (beating Aotea 42-5 in the final) took the WRFU’s Women’s 7’s crown as well for good measure. Their campaign gets underway against Dunedin’s St Hilda’s Collegiate before closing out their pool matches against Mount Roskill Grammar and Tauranga Girls College.

Their sole Year 13 player, Wellington Pride representative Monica Tagoai, will captain the side and her combination with talented playmaker Cheyne Copeland will be key to their chances. Sisters Dhys and Lyric Faleafaga and Renee Savai’inaea will also fill important roles for the side which will again be mentored by Wellington mens squad member Tuga Mativa and possibly assisted by All Black Ardie Savea.

Tagaoi is positive about her sides chances, and the benefit of having played in the tournament last year, “The team and I are looking forward to this year’s competition because last year we had no idea what it was going to be like. This year we're going with some experience and focus. There is an expectation from people to do well and that's what we're hoping to do. Of course it's not going to be easy because there are many other teams with the same focus and goal as us. It's going to be fun, hard and a crazy weekend for us but we're looking forward to playing the best schools in New Zealand.”

Teams:

St Mary’s: Monica Tagoai (c), Cheyne Copeland, Renee Savai’inaea, Dhys Faleafaga, Lyric Faleafaga, Lomia Fa’amausili, Ana Puleiata, Janaya Lau-Young, Laina Semu, Egypt Moeke, Katalina Tai, Ivana Samani

St Patricks Town: Saia Paese (c), Billy Proctor, Sam Bayliss, Grayson Whitman, Keelan Whitman, Xavier English, Elnino Peniamina, Boston Hunt, Mafutaga Tau, Ricky Manulaiatea, Dominic Sipa, Jasper Stone

St Patricks Silverstream: Jack Wright (c), Nick Apikatoa, Mitchell Bull-Elvines, Aisea Mafileo, Fredrick Sunia, Scott Svenson, Todd Svenson, Cullen Dexter, Connor McGeough, Albert Polu, Fritz Rayasi, Chris Aumua