
Thompson Tukapua crosses for a second half try in today’s traditional for St Pat’s Silverstream over St Pat’s Town. Photo: Andy McArthur.
- By Adam Julian
Stream Steamroll Town
St Patrick’s College, Silverstream: 50 (Drew Berg-McLean 4, Preston Moananu, Thompson Tukapua, Elijah Solomona tries; Tukapua 4 con, Liam Slight 2 con, pen) St Patrick’s College, Wellington: 5 (Nelsson Tuimalu try) HT: 22-0
St Patrick’s College, Silverstream accounted for St Patrick’s College Town by a record score of 50-5 in their Old Boys Cup/Premiership traditional fixture at Evans Bay Park this afternoon.
The margin of Silverstream’s victory is their largest against Town in 86 games stretching back to 1931. Silverstream won by 52-10 at Evans Bay Park in 2018.
Remarkably Silverstream didn’t score for 15 minutes, struggled to secure lineout possession, and finished the contest with 13 players after the increasingly irritable habit of conceding a raft of penalties resurfaced.
Still, this was an enormously satisfying triumph for Silverstream, especially co-captains Drew Breg-McLean and Thompson Tukapua,
Berg-McLean scored four tries, one short of the record in this fixture achieved by Chris Aumua in Stream’s 42-10 win in 2016.

Anticipation and support are two primary roles of an openside flanker and the pesky, robust seven produced a masterclass in this assignment.
Fellow forwards Heath Tuifao, Noah Krijnen, Samuel Thompson, Preston Moananu, Elijah Solomona and Junior Tupou were successful in flattening Town’s defensive wall with unsubtle, destructive carries.
First-five Tukapua was selected in the Hurricanes Under 18 reps as a Year 12. Sometimes the humble talisman has played within himself this season.
Not today!
Tukapua ran amok and with several breaks, two of which were classic and done after a faultless right dummy. Tukapua sprinted 40m for his try.
A moment of silence was observed before kick-off for former St Pats Town coach Willie Leota who passed away during the school holidays, Norm Hewitt, a former All Black who assisted Hutt International Boys’ School and St Patrick’s College, Silverstream and Maria Lenoard “a vibrant presence within the Hutt Valley High School and Petone rugby community.”
Town wore the name and number of Leota on their jerseys. Understandably Willie’s loss is still keenly felt and in part explains why Town lacked the focus and vigour of their opposition. Town fought hard in the last dozen minutes as they sought a second try, about the only solace they can take from the battering.

The referee was firefighter Matt Perry.
Silverstream leads the annual rivalry in Old Boys Cup games 62-19. Silverstream won 11 in a row from 2010 to 2021 and 12 in a row from 1998 to 2009.
Town might be advised to recite Psalm 73:26 which says:
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Their head-to-head record in this fixture is now 63-19.
Taita College defeat Kapiti College in traditional
Taita College had too much size and pace for a gallant and tenacious Kapiti team, winning 53-14 in their traditional on Tuesday afternoon.
Played in perfect conditions at Kapiti College, Taita were up 22-14 at halftime. Kapiti struggled to maintain the much larger Taita boys. The second half was all one way traffic, Taita dominated with some great interplay between backs and forwards.
Taita scored nine tries, of these only four were converted. Kapiti scored two converted tries.
With this win Taita secured the Hylton Burt Cup. Burt was a former principal at Taita College and also taught at Kapiti College.
The cup was first contested in 2010, the cup went into a six-year hiatus from 2017 with another two years where no game were played. With Taita’s win today the overall tally stands at four wins apiece for both schools.

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St Bernard’s beat Hutt Valley High School
St Bernard’s College overpowered Hutt Valley High School (HVHS) 33-7 in their annual Lower Hutt traditional fixture on Tuesday.
HVHS made a fiery beginning and took a 7-0 lead after a penalty try. St Bernard’s regrouped and hooker Jack Brosnahan tied the scores.
Brosnahan was a major personality in the game. He scored another try but unfortunately held up proceedings for half an hour when he was cautiously removed after suffering a head injury.
St Bernard’s scored 19 unanswered points in the second half with individual standouts including Brosnahan, Jahrome Orupe, TJ Tanoai, Carlos Taage Anae and captain Issac McGuinness. Ropeti Ogo Fa’atagi, Leo Van Krimpen, Naisa Pese and Kees Laulau thrived for HVHS.
Below the eighth round First XV Premiership draw: