Feilding High School beat Silverstream, St Mary’s win well, St Pat’s Town miss out to Australian visitors

St Pat’s Silverstream are held up over the line on of four occasions in their match with Feilding High School this afternoon. The visitors continued their strong start to the season by winning 26-17.

• By Adam Julian and Steven White

Feilding High School have continued their encouraging start to 2024 with a 26-17 victory over St Patrick’s College Silverstream at Maidstone Park this afternoon.

This was one of a handful of college games this afternoon in the Hutt Valley and Wellington, with St Mary’s College beating visitors Rotorua Girls’ High School by plenty in an entertaining match at the Petone Rec at the same time. St Mary’s piled on the points in their first hit-out of the year, but visitors Rotorua contributed to an end-t0-end game right to the end.

In later games, Hutt International Boys’ School met Hutt Valley High School, also at the Petone Rec (score to be confirmed), while the St Pat’s Town’s First and Second XVs hosted Queensland visitor Toowoomba Grammar School at Evans Bay and Kilbiirnie Parks later this afternoon. Toowoomba beat St Pat’s Town 17-12 in the First XV match.

Toowoomba have been on tour in New Zealand for the past week and beat St Andrew’s College and Christ’s College teams before working their way up the South Island and their top side beating Marlborough Boys’ College’s First XV 36-12 on Tuesday before meeting St Pat’s Town today.

In beating St Pat’s Silverstream today, Feilding High School have three wins this season with earlier successes over Wellington College (24-19) and New Plymouth BHS (41-7).

Silverstream auditioned 26 players in their first hit-out for a First XV that will be officially announced tomorrow but this tussle was otherwise played under orthodox conditions: Well, except the weather.

A temperamental wind which even Pierre Villepreux or Peter Burling would struggle to navigate wreaked havoc.

In the first half, Feilding twice kicked the ball dead and dispatched a re-start out on the full. Silverstream fumbled a tricky kick which provided the platform for a Feilding try in the second spell.

Ironically it was a kick that was the source of Silverstream’s first try. A pursuit to retrieve a cross-kick was won by halfback Preston Maraku. Aptly named for a halfback (remember All Black Jon Preston) Maraku cleared promptly and was willing to have a crack occasionally.

It was typical pre-season fare. Ample ambition, lots of promise, but the lack of polish was a stark contrast to the shiny new Maidstone grandstand.

Feilding captain and hooker Alani Fakava could, at times, easily be confused as New Zealand Under 20s hooker Vernon Bason.

The pair not only attended the same school but share similar attributes. Fakava was active and accurate and wouldn’t be denied with the last thrust of the first half. He scored again in the second spell as Feilding stretched out to a 26-5 advantage.

Silverstream made wholesale changes at the interval. Initially the result was exhilarating with a length of the field attack involving multiple players almost yielding a try.

Instead, an intercept saw one at the other end; Penia Havea with the timely snatch.

Feilding became increasingly clinical. The try from the aforementioned Stream stumble was a simple execution of an 8-9 from a scrum move. Nixo Foreman in midfield was sturdy and knocked over two sideline conversions that could have started in Te Maura and still gone over.

Silverstream was held up over the line four times. Their finish was hectic with tries to flanker Drew Berg-McLean and halfback Kian O’Connell showing a stronger connection between forwards that are well conditioned and backs on the lighter, nimble side. First Five Thomas Tukapua will cause headaches for the opposition in 2024. Noah Krijnen (prop) Sam Thompson (lock) are imposing and busy.

There was also a second XV and U15 fixture. Feilding won the U15 match 22-19 and the Second XV encounter was a 12-12 draw.

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 Nelson College Tour. Nelson College are in town next week over the first week of school holidays for two matches against New Plymouth Boys’ High School and St Patrick’s College Silverstream.

Nelson were runners up to Christchurch BHS last year in the Crusaders region Championship. Nelson toured the capital in 2022 and scored resounding victories over Silverstream and Rongotai College.

With 20 players returning and accomplished coach Jono Phillips presiding over the First XV for the last time before pursuing other opportunities, Nelson are expected to be strong. Under Phillps they’ve won three championships going on to become South Island winners in 2019 and 2021. The only other occasion Nelson had previously achieved that feat was in 2007. Additionally, Nelson has won their annual Quadrangular tournament four times and Ethan Blackadder, Mitchell Drummond, Leicester Fainga’anuku, and David Havili are Nelson All Blacks from the past decade.

With 125kg prop Samuela Takapu and burly American Oliver Kirk in the front row size won’t be an issue. Crusaders U18 reps Kobe Brownlee and Saumaki Saumaki provide backbone across a versatile and sizeable back row.

Halfback Oliver Gibbons star-turn in the final earned and skipper Harrison Inch (centre) are prominent backs in a well balanced squad.

The New Plymouth game, which is being played at neutral Hataitai Park next Thursday at 12.00pm, was arranged by Phillips and good mate and former Manawatū prop Sam Moore who’s now the headmaster of New Plymouth Boys’ following a long stint at Feilding.

The match against Silverstream at Silverstream is the following Saturday at 12pm.

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Wellington College are also in action next Thursday at the NZCIS grounds, facing a mystery opponent at 3.00pm that afternoon.

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The Beard Trophy starts up in May.

Tawa College are the holders, having beaten Mana College in the final match of the series last winter.

The Beard Trophy is a challenge series involving Tawa, Mana, Porirua, Aotea and Bishop Viard Colleges. Tawa will have to withstand all four challenges to remain as holders at the end of 2024.  All matches will be played at Lyndhurst Park as 4.00pm kick-offs.

The 2024 Beard Trophy draw is:

• Wednesday 8th May: Tawa College v Porirua College
• Wednesday 29th May: Holders v Mana College
• Wednesday 26th June: Holders v Bishop Viard College
• Wednesday 24th July: Holders v Aotea College

As an aside, the first of the ‘traditonals’ amongst boys schools in Wellington is on Wednesday 22 May when Wellington College hosts St Pat’s Town in their 140th playing of this match.