Wins for Wairarapa College and Mana College on Wednesday afternoon

Wairarapa College beat Tawa College 19-5 and Mana College beat Porirua College 24-0 in two First XV matches this afternoon.

Wairarapa College’s win was part of a sports exchange between the two schools and was their fifth round Premiership match brought forward a week and a half. More on this game below.

Mana College’s win at Ngati Toa Domain was their first Beard Trophy defence after winning it off Aotea College a fortnight ago. Mana College played into the dying southerly in the first half and led 7-0 at the break with a converted try out wide. Porirua had chances late in the first half to equalise but couldn’t take them.

Mana scored soon after the turnaround after a break up into the 22 and then scored twice more to lead 24-0 midway through the half in fading light. This match doubled as a Co-ed Cup semi-final as well.

Mana College defend the Beard Trophy against Tawa College in the last match of this year’s series. The match is scheduled for next Wednesday, but the two schools are down to meet this Saturday in the fourth round of the Premiership so confirmation of this match is forthcoming. Update: This will be played on Wednesday 28 June.

There were other games played today, including St Pat’s Silverstream’s Second XV beating Hato Paora College by a comfortable margin.

There were Premier 1 and Premier 2 girls matches today, plus a one-off fixture at William Jones Park between Sacred Heart College and Manawatu’s Manukura. The visitors won this 36-5.

Wairarapa College defeated Tawa College three tries to one on a heavy field in their rescheduled fifth round Wellington Premiership fixture. The underfoot conditions was the dominant theme of the match with both sides finding it hard going and needing to demonstrate patience on attack.

Visitors Wairarapa College led 12-5 at half time. Playing into the moderate southerly, centre Charlie Carroll scored tries in the 14^th and 28^th minutes. In reply, Tawa scored what proved to be their only try of the match in the 17^th minute, to captain and hooker Malachi Suniula following a penalty and lineout drive in the corner.

The visitors scored their winning try and the final points of the match early in the second half, building multiple phases with ball in hand in centre field and making a break up the blindside and feeding left wing Ethan Davidson the try.

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At this point, home side Tawa rallied for the best part of the next 20 minutes. They worked their way up into scoring positions three times, but on each occasion they were knocked back and had to start all over again down field.

Wairarapa College’s defence was also a feature of the second half, repeatedly stopping Tawa’s momentum. They closed the game out on attack themselves, but Tawa safely held them out and attempted to break out, but this proved tough going and Wairarapa College held on to take the win.

For home side Tawa, hooker Suniula, halfback Marco Ah Far, and No. 8 Anthony Hunt (the only year 13 in the team), played well, as did their ball-running props in the second half.

Wairarapa College had the benefit of a stronger scrum, while their blindside flanker Cyrus Wilson was strong with ball in hand, and No. 8 Mitchell Shields was ever-present around the ruck.