‘By George,’ Young Archie Wins Quad for Wellington College

• By Adam Julian
• Photos by Andy McArthur

Wellington College has won the annual quadrangular tournament for the first time since 2014 with a pulsating 32-31 victory over Whanganui Collegiate in postcard conditions at Wellington College this afternoon.

In a gargantuan struggle of thrilling tries, jolting tackles, and feverish crowd support, the face of Wellington coach Neemia Tialata said it all on fulltime.

The heaviest All Black in history was reduced to tears of relief and joy – the emotion of an improbable victory too overwhelming to suppress. After Saturday’s stumble to St Bernard’s College, a Col victory at Quad seemed as likely as a Putin ceasefire.

The winning moment for Wellington occurred three minutes from full-time when Whanganui’s composure vanished. Ahead 31-29 a kick-off following a Wellington try failed to find the 10m mark, there was a nostril hair in it.

At the halfway scrum a Whanganui defender obstructed a Wellington attacker presenting first-five Archie Sims with a penalty shot, 15m in from touch 35m out from goal.

Aided by ‘faith fingers,’ and confidence previously absent in 2023, Sims crunched the ball like a missile, and it gracefully sailed down the middle of the posts. Wellington 32, Whanganui 31.

Abandoning orthodox convention Wellington boldly attacked, dispatching Whanganui towards their goal line. A penalty left the door ajar for Whanganui. The last salvo traversed both sidelines, mouths wide open, as the desperate speed, muscle, handling, and bravery of Whanganui propelled them deep into the hosts’ 22. Fittingly the game ended in a pile-up of crumbled bodies right in front of the euphoric Wellington terraces.

Suggestions this would be a unique tussle were immediate. Wellington started the match like a freight train with two tries in 10 minutes to wing Jacob Kennedy. His first was opportunist tapping swiftly from a penalty and exposing slack markers. A second was scored by collecting a spillage from a Garryowen kick and dashing 40m.

Gradually Whanganui settled and started to dictate territory. Their attack was built around the size and offloading of second-five Tali Ioasa and the height of locks Ratunui Latus and Oscar Mabin who bossed the lineouts.

At times Mabin resembled Sam Strachan, the legendary old boy who became a longtime partner of Pinetree in the All Blacks.  A 40m burst was the catalyst for an opening try and then Mabin powered over himself to tie the scores.

Sims punished a Whanganui transgression to make it 15-12 but soon Whanganui assumed complete control with fullback Pita Manamanaivalu elusive and Johnston a perpetual headache. Two tries to blindside Jimmy Peacock had Whanganui ahead 26-15 at halftime.

A ‘Kurtley Beale’ style conversion by Noah Ioasa was one of many fine moments for the Whanganui first-five.

Both teams appeared somewhat directionless in the opening 15 minutes of the second half but Whanganui enjoyed superior territory and might have sealed it had they not fumbled possession over the try line.

In 1987 Kiwi artist Shona Laing had a smash hit with (Glad I’m) Not a Kennedy. At Wellington College, everybody wants to be Jacob Kennedy. His 70m intercept was a showcase of flawless anticipation and searing pace. The contest was reinvigorated at 26-22.

Inexplicably Ioasa was left unmarked on the blindside from a lineout. Still, how did he go 40m? Three chasers were left behind like startled ferrets.

Like Tuesday, Wellington’s bench again provided late impact. Openside Ben Corlett in tandem with captain and No.8 Jack Riley were immense. Fullback Carisma Faitala was a stoic last wall and Kennedy, now at second-five, didn’t falter as Wellington achieved a meritorious triumph.

Whanganui last won the Quad when they beat Wellington College 13-6 in the 1991 final. In 1991 Garry Whetton was All Blacks captain, Bryan Adams was top of the Billboard Charts and Chas Poynter was local mayor.

On Tuesday they had their first win over Nelson College since a 14-8 success in 2003.  They’ve had 13 wins since 1991, winless between 2007 and 2017. This event is bloody tough to win.

In the playoff for third Nelson College rallied from 21-5 behind to beat Christ’s College 38-31.

A flurry of 33 unanswered points early in the second half won Nelson the game. They committed greater numbers to avoid isolation and ill-discipline at the breakdown and found profit with a fierce lineout drive.

Blindside Saumaki Saumaki was a standout for Nelson and scored a try. Christ’s centre PJ Paiamo scored a double for his side. Other standouts were Sione Mafi (Nelson, 3), wings Kaelan Grafton and Callum Roberston who both scored tries and Christ’s openside Frankie Meates who bagged a try. Loosehead Ethan Jones is a strong prospect.

The match doubled as a Round 7 Miles Toyota Championship fixture and the result ensures Nelson remains unblemished with an 8-0 record. If the defending champions win their final match against St Thomas of Canterbury College on July 22, they will guarantee first place for the semifinals.

Christ’s secured two bonus points by scoring four tries and losing by seven. Christ’s are two points adrift of fourth with two games remaining.