Second round of Hurricanes First XV series this Saturday

Beaten 2015 national finalists Scots College and Wellington College are both looking for their first wins, while the two St. Patrick’s Colleges will be out to make it two from two when the Tranzit Coachlines First XV Festival resumes in Wellington on Saturday.

Scots College were well beaten by a gun Hastings Boys’ High Side in the series opener in Palmerston North last weekend, the Hawke’s Bay school well-drilled and possessing an impressive halfback-first five-eighth combination in swamping Scots College 53-12.

Similarly, Wellington College, who had an underwhelming 2015 season, missed out 35-13 to Palmerston North BHS in their opener. Defending Wellington champions St Pat’s Town battled to a narrow 14-12 win over Gisborne BHS, while St Pat’s Silverstream were 20-7 winners over Napier BHS.

Saturday’s second round sees three of the four matches played at the Petone Recreation Ground. St Pat’s Silverstream face Gisborne BHS in the 11.30 game, with Wellington College taking on Napier BHS (the two schools will also play a 2nd XV match) and Scots College against Palmerston North BHS at 1pm.

The fourth game is the 5pm curtain-raiser to the Hurricanes vs Reds clash at Westpac Stadium, between St Pat’s Town and Hastings BHS. As well as being a clash between two teams that won last week, this is a replay of last year’s Hurricanes region Secondary School semi-final, won 20-13 by St Pat’s Town. This game will be called live on Te Upoko radio on 1161AM in Wellington and on 765AM and 94.3FM in the Hawke’s Bay, with Gordon Noble-Campbell and WRFU Academy Manager Darren Larsen with the comments.

In the local qualifying series for the remaining Premiership places in Wellington all four incumbents recorded wins last weekend, while Aotea College was the only side that recorded a win against a higher-seeded opponent. Tomorrow’s round of matches are (home team first, 2.30pm kick-off unless noted):

Pool A: Rongotai vs Hutt Valley HS, Aotea vs Paraparaumu
Pool B: Porirua vs Wairarapa (1pm), Onslow vs Kapiti
Pool C: HIBS vs Upper Hutt, St Bernard’s vs Upper Hutt
Pool D: Wainuiomata vs Tawa, Bishop Viard vs Newlands

Last night Bishop Viard College and Porirua College met at a wet and windswept Porirua Park to conclude the first round of Coed Cup matches, a game which also doubled as Porirua’s challenge for the Beard Trophy. With the wind and rain at their backs Viard made use of the advantage, scoring three tries in the first 10 minutes and led 34-5 at half time. Porirua started the second half with a sustained period of attack but couldn’t cross, and Viard put the result beyond doubt when they scored first. Porirua would get a late consolation with the final score 41-12.

Meanwhile, some dates and matches to note for the upcoming season include:

• Wednesday 25 May: St Pat’s Town v St John’s College, Hastings
• Saturday 28 May: First day of the Premiership competition. Annual Club/College Day planned – details TBC.
• Wednesday 1 June: Wellington College v St Pat’s Town, at Wellington College
• Wednesday 8 June: St Pat’s Silverstream v Wellington College, at Silverstream
• Tuesday 14 June: Wellington College v Christchurch BHS, at Wellington College
• Wednesday 22 June: St Pat’s Silverstream v Rongotai College, at Silverstream
• First week of July: Wellington College in Christchurch for annual Quadrangular tournament (Nelson College defending champions)
• Wednesday 27 July: St Pat’s Town v St Pat’s Silverstream, at Evans Bay Park
• Sunday 7 August, Premier final, venue TBC.