Scots College create further rugby history, into National Top 4

The outstanding season continues.

In a game of two halves, Scots College have created further history by making the National Top 4 for the very first time. The first half was won by Palmerston North Boys' High, while Scots ran rampant in the second half to win convincingly in the end.

Playing with the wind in the first half at FMG Stadium, Palmerston North, the home side enjoyed a large amount of possession in the first 10 minutes.

However when Scots received the ball deep inside their 22, a pass was thrown into touch.

Boys High capitalised on this error and as a result, scored the first try of the afternoon to hard running No. 8 and captain Hayden Spencer. The conversion was kicked by Taare Ferris.

Moments later, Taare's brother Jackson would score Boys High's second try of the afternoon.

Left winger Burt Muller managed to free his right arm for an offload when his opposite, Scots right wing Malo Manuao attempted to tackle him into touch. The offload found Jackson Ferris and he sauntered in for an easy try.

Shortly after, Scots conceded a penalty for not rolling away at Ferris kicked a penalty.

Palmerston North Boys High were out to a commanding 17-0 lead but to Scots' credit, they didn't throw in the towel.

Scots lethal midfield combination of Thomas and Peter Umaga-Jensen began to find holes.

Towards the end of the first half, Scots were camped in the Boys High 22, and their patience in up the guts style of play was rewarded when the ball was spun wide to Thomas Umaga-Jensen. There was no stopping the 102kg second five as he fended off 2 defenders with aplomb, en route to scoring the first five pointer for Scots College.

Captain TJ Va'a, the hero two weeks ago would kick the conversion and Scots were 10 points adrift heading towards the halftime siren.

After Boys High kicked off, Scots turned the ball over and Va'a looked set to run. He passed the ball and was shoulder charged late by Jackson Ferris, which started a brawl that marred an entertaining first half.

There were two yellow cards given as a result. Ferris for the shoulder charge and Scots number eight Patrick Fenika for retaliating.

Still, Palmerston North Boys' High would have a 17-7 lead at the break.

At halftime, there was a call from the Scots coaching staff for the team to show more energy.

The message worked big time because the second half would belong to the Wellington champions.

Scots closed the gap to 4 points in the first five minutes of the second half with two Va'a penalties. Both penalties were for Boys High being offside and not rolling away at the breakdown.

The momentum was clearly with Scots as captain Va'a made a break deep inside his own 22.

He found the ever present Umaga-Jensen twins who were in support. Eventually Peter Umaga-Jensen would fire the pass out wide to Connor Garden-Bachop who dotted down for Scots second try.

Scots were up 20-17 and there was to be no stopping the multiple Umaga-Jensen freight trains as the crashed through the Boys High backline with ease.

It wasn't just the backs who stood up. The forwards were getting amongst the action with dynamic loose forward Michael Findlay making some big tackles and prop Alex Fidow running with the pace of a first five.

With 15 minutes to go, Scots were hot on attack once again and deep inside the Boys High 22, Va'a put in a magnificent grubber kick. The ball sat up for Peter Umaga-Jensen who scored.

The TJ Va'a show kept on going. He kicked two conversions and scored a try himself to complete his outstanding 19 point haul in the win.

Boys High tried in vain to score a try at the very end of the contest, but the Scots defence held them out.

Backslapping followed and newly crowned Hurricanes Region champions Scots College for the first time have made the National Top 4. For a school with only 5 rugby teams, this is a phenomenal achievement.

They outclassed Palmerston North Boys' High, a school that features in the Super 8 secondary schools competition and is a strong traditional rugby school.

And to win on their home turf makes the victory even more satisfying. Around 800 fans were in attendance at FMG Stadium - nicknamed the boneyard and the majority went home disappointed.

Scots captain TJ Va'a was man of the match. He kicked well, made linebreaks and was outstanding on defence.

He was pleased with the win, saying that "the boys had great defence and really worked for each other".

Scots will be joined in the top 4 by Christchurch Boys' High School who beat Otago Boys' High School 28 - 23 in a thriller, and Waikato powerhouse Hamilton Boys High who dismantled Rotorua Boys 34 to 8.

For the final top 4 spot, Westlake Boys will take on Auckland Grammar in the Blues final tomorrow afternoon.

Scots College 34 (Connor Garden-Bachop, Peter and Thomas Umaga-Jensen tries; TJ Va'a try, 4 cons, 2 pen) defeated Palmerston North Boys' High School ?17 (Hayden Spencer, Jackson Ferris trys, Taare Ferris 2 cons, pen). Crowd: 800.

?

?