Silverstream account for Rongotai in the wet

www.collegerugby.co.nz | 13 June 2018 | Adam Julian & Steven White

St Patrick's College, Silverstream have preserved their unbeaten record in the capital, trouncing Rongotai College 67-0 in the latest annual traditional.

Silverstream's win is their second largest against Rongotai. The previous biggest win was 74-6 in 1988. The 1988 First XV is celebrating a reunion this weekend. All Black Simon Mannix who played in that team was present at the match.

Silverstream's complete dominance was best illustrated when 50-0 ahead midway through the second-half. After a period of lost concentration, clumsy errors and a senseless yellow card, Silverstream regrouped and scored two tires while undermanned

Silverstream led 45-0 at halftime and crossed the chalk 11 times as they blanked Rongotai for the second consecutive year.

Right wing Rocco Berry scored a hat-trick with his 70-metre dash down the embankment touchline a second-half highlight. Opposite Fritz Rayasi also crossed twice, opening the scoring and profiting from a clinical 8/9 scrum play.

Silverstream’s captain is Luke Mannix and the converted prop scored last in the first-half and first in the second-half which was rich reward for his industry. Openside Mitch Southall, Centre Scott Svenson (from past halfway) and second-five Maika Fifita also found their names on the scoresheet. Riley Forbes and Sam Clarke shared the goal-kicking duties. Clarke was instrumental in the creation of at least two tries, earning him the man of the match honours.

Rongotai’s young flankers Apostle Salanoa and John Samuleu aren’t without promise. The latter scored two tries against Scots and made his tackles count. Lock Bede Brown toiled bravely and Tara Tusa suggested he could challenge for a starting spot with some strong running late in proceedings.

Silverstream’s accuracy on the heavy surface was commendable, but it’s hard to recall a weaker Wellington competition with a series of big scores to start the season. Of particular concern is the sudden demise in the standard of the traditional powerhouses.

Silverstream have now won all four of their First XV Premiership fixtures with bonus points and have scored 224 points and conceded 29 in the competition thus far.

This was Rongotai's third straight loss, after beating Wairarapa College first up.

Silverstream’s next opponent should provide a much sterner challenge. On June 27, Silverstream travels to Palmerston North to tackle Boys’ High in the annual traditional. Palmerston North won all three matches in the Tranzit Festival and has accounted for Gisborne BHS and Tauranga BC in the Super 8.

Rongotai hosts Hutt International Boys’ School on June 23 in their next Premiership match.

This game today was refereed by John Lacey, who is this weekend's assistant referee in the All Blacks versus France test and the man in the middle next weekend in Dunedin.