Wellington College miss out to Christ’s College in Quad final

For the second successive year, Wellington College has lost narrowly to a South Island school in the final of the Quadrangular tournament.

Last year they lost 3-6 to Nelson College, this year they lost 19-24 to Christ’s College in today’s final at Christchurch.

For the first time since 2002 Christ's College are champions after defeating Wellington College in a gripping decider. Christ's, playing in their first final since 2003, achieved just their second victory against Wellington since 1985. The last time Wellington lost consecutive finals was in 1991.

The lead changed hands four times as both teams produced an entertaining and tough spectacle. The Christ's defence was non-existent in the opening minute. Wellington second-five Stone Warren-Robinson crashed through the midfield and created a try for fullback Josh Morgan-Ranui.

Christ's had a lot of success pilfering kick offs and a steal allowed Christ's to work themselves into a position for a kickable penalty which fullback Reilly Cormack duly slotted, 5-3.

Christ's sought territory and Wellington centre Reece Plumtree was forced to make a hurried clearance from his goal line. The ball was charged down by Christ's No.8 Kale Thatcher who won the scramble for possession. There was some doubt about the legitimacy of the try with Wellington staunchly protesting its rewarding. Cormack converted and it was 10-5 to the hosts.

Christ's centre and captain Ngane Punivai was a major influence on the match. He broke through the Wellington defence and looked certain to score until he was sliced down in a thrilling tackle by No.8 Junior Foaitua. Wellington was pinged four times for holding on at the ruck and lacked patience with ball in hand. Cormack kicked two more penalties and it was 16-5 at halftime.

Wellington attacked early in the second-half and Christ's were punished when a shallow clearance by Cormack was caught on the full by Morgan-Ranui. Morgan-Ranui linked with lock Naitoa Ah Kuoi who threw a 20-metre cut-out pass to Plumtree who sailed into a hole and put winger Ish Perkins over the line. Plumtree converted and it was 16-12.

Wellington took a 19-16 lead when first-five Toko Sopoaga dummied and dashed into a gap to create a converted try for Plumtree under the sticks.

Wellington fumbled the kick-off and the assured kicking of Cormack allowed Christ's to level.
Punivai is in his third year of First XV rugby and his second as Christ's captain. His leadership and class was obvious in the last ten minutes. With about five minutes left he made a 20-metre break and passed to blindside Kaveni Balenacagi on the wing for what proved to be the winning try.

In the last play of the game he tackled Plumtree around the bootlaces in a textbook tackle as the latter threatened to slip away. Thatcher, lock Ben Chamberlain and loose head Taine Hintz, whose duel with Qualen Asi was immense, were huge contributors for Christ's.

Wellington's players were distraught at fulltime. To a man they plummeted to their knees. The delirious Christ's supporters who invaded the field on the echo of the referee's whistle were forced to hurdle the spent warriors. Today Christ's jumped over a major hurdle.

Meanwhile Nelson College finished third defeating Wanganui Collegiate 29-17. Nelson led 17-0 at halftime before Wanganui pulled it back to 22-12. Nelson scored again, but a tenacious Wanganui had the last say. It was a scrappy match that never soared to great heights. Nelson's tries were scored by Sosefo Vaka (2), William Havili, Leicester Faingaanuku and Zane Archer.Wanganui's tries were scored Cody Hemi, Luke Foster and James Davis.

It’s back on the saddle for Wellington College this coming Saturday, where they will face Lower Hutt school St Bernard’s College in round seven of the WelTec Premiership.

They then have two weeks off over the upcoming school holidays before hosting St Bernard’s College on Tuesday 26 July in a catch-up seventh round match. The next day will see the annual Wellington Marist schools clash at Evans Bay Park between St Pat’s Town and St Pat’s Silverstream.

From there post season matches are contested, leading to the final on 14 August and then Hurricanes region knockout matches ahead of this year’s Top Four tournament.

WelTec Premiership Round 7:

• Wairarapa College v Bishop Viard College
• St Bernard’s College v Wellington College
• Rongotai College v Scots College
• St Pat’s Town v St Pat’s Silverstream (being played on Wednesday 27 July)