Wins for Silverstream and Porirua College, Wellington College humbled again

In three First XV matches played today involving Premiership Wellington First XV schools, St Pat’s Silverstream defeated Palmerston North Boys’ High School, Porirua College beat Wainuiomata High Schol and Wellington College lost to Nelson College. Short round-ups of these matches follow below.

Silverstream (25) v Palmerston North Boys' High School (7)

St Pat’s Silverstream made it four wins from four matches in their annual traditional fixtures, defeating Palmerston North Boys’ High School 25-7 in the Manawatu this afternoon.

Silverstream achieved their first victory in Palmerston North since 2012 and their biggest in Palmy since 1988 with a dominant, albeit inaccurate, forwards display.

Silverstream started in emphatic fashion, scoring two tries in the opening 10 minutes. Prop Luke Chisholm busted at the 10-metre mark Palmerston North territory and rumbled up inside the 22 before recycling promptly. Further forward assaults led to a try to halfback Cullen Goldsmith. Riley Forbes converted and it was 7-0.

Silverstream second five-eighth Maika Fifita was a dominant presence on the carry and he made a bust that led to a break down the left side and a try in the corner to fullback Sam Clarke.

The visitors fumbled the kick-off and Palmerston North from the turnover scored via first five-eighth Stewart Cruden. Cruden crawled on his knees through a crowd of defenders and then rose to his feet and galloped clear. He converted his own try to make it 12-7.

Palmerston North left wing Korie Winters was lucky to stay on the field after a tackle in the air on his opposite Rocco Berry. Forbes made a poor clearance from the 22 and the Palmerston North blindside flanker Bryn Gordon broke down the sideline. Only an ankle tap by Silverstream lock Ollie Rigby saved the day.

On the stroke of halftime, the third try was scored with Fritz Rayasi dashing over in the right corner following a break by Forbes. The score at the oranges was 17-7.

Silverstream scored the only points of the second half, a try at the end to prop Chris Hemi who steamrolled the fullback after a short side bust by Iona Apineru.

The story of the second half was missed chances for Silverstream. Palmerston North lived off scraps, their best players being flankers Gordon, Ethan Johanson and lock Tom Finlay. Silverstream’s lineout misfired, allowing the home side to stay in it.

This was the 83rd meeting between these two schools. Palmerston North has had 50 wins, Silverstream 29 with four games drawn.

Silverstream plays HIBS this Saturday and looks to extend their unbeaten run to six games in Wellington. Palmerston North drop to 10-4 in 2018. Their next match is a traditional fixture against King’s College Auckland im the school holidays.

Nelson College (45) v Wellington College (0)

Wellington College’s season of woe continued at Wanganui Collegiate this week, finishing fourth at the 92nd Quadrangular tournament, a tournament they have dominated in past seasons.

After losing to Christ’s College 19-49 on Monday, they were soundly beaten 0-45 by Nelson College today.

Wellington College were totally out-played in all facets, conceding three first half tries and trailing 0-19 at halftime. Nelson laid on four more tries in the second half in the seven-try romp.

Nelson’s continuity on attack and interchanging between backs and forwards proved too much for Wellington College. Nelson broke the deadlock in the 14th minute, with Nelson’s German captain and flanker Anton Segner scoring first. Their hooker Daniel Dixon crashed through soon after to make it 12-0.

Player of the Match and No. 8 Malaulau barged over in the corner for the next try and only scrambling defence kept Nelson out again before halftime.

A relentless build-up to start the second half was reward for Nelson with blindside flanker Connor Rhind crossing to make it 26-0. Malaulau scored his second try and fullback Levi Carew sprinted 40 metres for the next. Replacement prop Luka Inch was the last to score, as Wellington College fought to the end to limit the damage.

First five-eighth Liam Collett played well for Wellington College, while prop Geordie Bean toiled hard and No. 8 Flynn Crampton and halfback Ish Perkins had their moments.

This coming Saturday, Wellington College plays host to Wairarapa College in the Wellington Premiership competition.

Porirua College (24) v Wainuiomata High School (22)

Porirua College held on to beat Wainuiomata High School 24-22 in a closely fought Co-ed Cup semi-final at Jerry Collins Stadium, as the scoreline suggests.

This was a match between a Premiership school in Porirua and the defending Wellington region Co-ed Cup champions and a Premier 3 side, Wainuiomata High School. But it was much closer than their respective rankings.

Porirua started brightly enough, scoring a try from an early raid up into Wainuiomata’s territory. But Wainuiomata replied with a terrific try to the impressive fullback, running off the shoulder of the second five-eighth. This was followed by a penalty to their aforementioned left-footed fullback and they went ahead 10-5.

Porirua tapped and went from a penalty, as is their style, and scored their second try to even it up to 10-10, but Wainuiomata replied with a second well-taken try when the fullback came into the line at first phase off an attacking scrum and kicked ahead and regathered to score.

Porirua’s centre made a big run up the grandstand touchline, which led to their third try right on halftime and a 17-15 lead at the turnaround.

Porirua made all the early running in the second spell but were denied points on at least three occasions by Wainuiomata’s scrambling defence and their own impatience. They finally score again, to extend their lead to 24-15 and which proved to be the match-winner.

Both teams were contesting everything in a generally even contest for the next 20 minutes. Wainuiomata finally scored at the death to close the gap to two points.

The second Co-ed Cup semi-final is this Saturday between Aotea and Onslow Colleges, which is being played as their previously scheduled Premier 2 encounter.  Porirua College meet Rongotai College on Saturday.

Watch: Porirua College v Wainuiomata High School highlights here