Wellington College account for St Pat's Town

Wellington College: 43 (Cameron Robinson, Josh Morgan-Ranui, Thomas Bramley, Geordie Bean, Oliver Paotonu, Elijah Tuigamala tries; Morgan-Ranui 3 pen 2 con) St. Pats Town: 17 (Josh Oloapu-Atoni 2, Jeremiah Tuiatua; Ricki Manu Laiatea 1 con)

In a replay of last year's WelTec Premiership Grand Final, Wellington College have comfortably accounted for St. Pats Town 43-17 at Evans Bay Park this afternoon.

In the 132nd annual traditional, Wellington scored their 80th win and biggest since a 56-17 triumph in 2012.

The game started at a breakneck pace when National Javelin champion Cameron Robinson crossed on the wing for Wellington following a break by fullback Josh Morgan-Ranui and slick passing from the next ruck to capitalise on the overlap.

Town pilfered the kick-off and after half a dozen phases almost replied when flanker Andre Hart drove over in the corner, but stepped into touch.

Town played with plenty of endeavour, but a lack of polish was the story of the hosts efforts.
Despite two thirds of possession in the first spell, Town missed two kickable penalties and slumped to a 20-0 deficit.

Morgan-Ranui kicked a penalty from in front 30m out to make it 8-0 before receiving an offload in traffic from second-five Connor Fitzsimons to scamper away for the visitors second try.

Wellington wing Elijah Tuigamala was lively with the little ball he received. A swerving run down the right touchline and an accurate in-pass to supporting halfback Thomas Bramley created the try of the game after roughly 30 minutes.

Town's Josh Oloapu-Atoni carried bravely and effectively throughout. The tighthead muscled over just before halftime and the contentious conversion to Ricki Manu Laiatea made it 20-7 at the interval. The ball appeared to miss the target, after a moment of hesitation between the assistant referees it was ruled a successful kick, despite protest from the Wellington College coaching staff.

Any prospect of a Town resurgence was quickly snuffed out when reserve hooker Geordie Bean rumbled over from a lineout drive to make it 25-7. The Wellington lineout was a source of strength with Town rarely winning their own throw.

Morgan-Ranui added a second penalty to extend the margin to 28-7.

Oloapu-Atoni ploughed over for a second try cut the lead to 28-12, but Town's case of the fumbles hampered consistent resistance.

First-five Oliver Paotonu and Tuigamala sailed over for soft tries in the last ten minutes as the score line slightly flattered Wellington.

Town have lost six of their past seven matches, but can take plenty of heart from the stoic displays of Oloapu-Atoni Hart, No.8 Keelan Whitman, and openside Xavier English.

Wellington achieved only their second win of the season, but extended their unbeaten run to 10 matches in the WelTec Premiership. Lock Naitoa Ah Kuoi led his side impressively, bossing the lineouts and making his presence felt around the field. Morgan-Ranui was often threatening with his insertions into the backline and openside Fergus Murray won three clean turnovers and punched well above his weight.

St Pat's Town's next assignment is on Saturday against Porirua College, while Wellington College play St Pat's Silverstream next Wednesday in their next match.