Plumb kick Plumtree – Wellington College win WelTec Premiership

Wellington College: 12 (Reece Plumtree 4 pen) St. Pats Town: 9 (Luke Georgeson 3 pen)

The curse of the top qualifier has at last been broken in Wellington. After six years of the top qualifier in the round robin losing the WelTec Premiership decider, Wellington College has edged St. Pat’s Town 12-9 in a tight and torrid climax at Jerry Collins Stadium.

In the 68th minute scores were tied at 9-9 when Wellington College had a lineout on halfway. Centre Stone Warren-Robinson broke dramatically to the Town 22 before being tackled by halfback Luke Georgeson. Town centre Sosaia Paese was penalised and yellow carded for slowing the ball down. Wellington knowing a draw would win them the championship opted to take a tap from straight in front 10-metres out. Wellington fumbled presenting Town with one last chance.

Town won a penalty and advanced to the 22 before Wellington openside Gus McPherson tackled Town Captain Tom Horan and won a turnover. Wellington chose to kick for goal on fulltime and fullback Reece Plumtree duly converted to win Wellington their 13th Premier One championship.

It was a match perhaps unworthy of such a pulsating finish. Dropped ball, messy lineouts and frequent penalties were the order of the day as two even teams effectively cancelled each other out. 

The defence at times was bone-jarring. Plumtree took a hit from Town second-five El Nino Peniamina early in the second half, which is bound to make The Crowd Goes Wild.

Town had the assistance of a deceptively strong breeze in the first-half and managed to earn two-thirds of territory kicking towards the Southern corners. A clear edge at scrum time further enhanced their cause, but a 6-3 halftime lead was all they had to show for their endeavour.

Georgeson kicked two penalties, but missed an easy one from 25-metres out. Crucially Plumtree opened Wellington's account while his side was down to 14 players. Second-five La’au Finau was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle.

Wellington levelled the scores two minutes into the second-half after concerted attack, but Georgeson propelled Town ahead with his third success from five attempts.

In the 62nd minute Plumtree atoned for an easy miss by nailing his third penalty to make it 9-9.  For the next two minutes Town attacked without reward in the Wellington 22. In the 64th minute first-five Toko Sopoaga won a turnover about 30-metres out which set in motion the crazy events for Wellington to eventually prevail.

Plumtree was named man of the match for his winning kicks and secure play, but McPherson who’s built like a garden gnome was immense. His ability to scavenge turnovers against bigger bodies was vital as was his lineout throwing. Wellington aborted conventional tactics in a desperate purist for some lineout pill. No.8 Junior Foaitua grew in stature as the game went on, blindside Callum Watts-Pointer toiled gamely and Connor Fuli had some lively moments on the wing.

For Town, NZ Schools prop Xavier Numia is back to his bullying best. Hooker Meinrad Fitisemanu was explosive despite his wayward throwing, Year 11 lock Keelan Whitman is a good prospect. He showed plenty of industry in the tight exchanges and Georgeson exhibited moments of maturity.

Wellington College will host Napier BHS while St. Pats Town will travel to Hastings BHS in the Hurricanes semi-finals next Saturday.