Pre-seasons underway for traditional leading First XV contenders

Members of the St Patrick’s College, Silverstream and touring Marlborough Boys’ College First XVs after their match at NZCIS on Thursday afternoon. 

• By Adam Julian

The seasons of the top four schools from the 2024 Wellington First XV Premiership are all underway in earnest in 2025. Squads are named, pre-season fixtures have commenced and the future in April can only be bright, right?

Marlborough Boys’ College Complete An Unbeaten Wellington Tour 

Marlborough Boys’ College completed a short tour of the capital with an unblemished record. On Monday, Marlborough accounted for St Bernard’s College 30-7 in Lower Hutt. Today at a grey and wind-swept NZCIS, Marlborough blunted Premiership champions, St Patrick’s College, Silverstream 17-7.

Marlborough were semi-finalists in the Crusaders region First XV compeition last year, a result not achieved in that competition since 2014. April indicates that a similar outcome is achievable.

Marlborough’s scrum is bolstered by burly and mobile props Jordyn Gardner and Mason Nicklin, whose brother Rico Nicklin is a tireless and combative captain. Centre Anru Erasmus was described by one spectator as ‘Snakey,’ surely a reference to Conard Smith. With more possession, Vilikesa Nawaqa will raise alarm bells.

With the ball squirting about like a deflated balloon, advancing anywhere at NZCIS proved a significant challenge in an error-strewn opening.

The locals adapted quickest and scored the first try through the graft and grunt of lock Ryder Thompson.

Calculated risk rather than brazen optimism was a better fare. When Silverstream overplayed its hand, Marlborough anchored inside the 22 and eventually breached the defense when Erasmus stepped off his left foot twice quicker than a Rassie retort.

Down 7-5 at halftime, Marlborough was denied an early strike when Nawaqa received a forward pass.

Keep it simple. Keep it tight. Sustained continuity by Marlborough saw Silverstream infringe once too often and the Catholics were temporarily reduced to 14 players.

The Nicklin brothers thrived in the close quarter exchanges and both were rewarded for their industry with crash over tries.

The most lively moment of the match was spoiled by another forward pass. Erasmus made a searing break down the right touchline from 22 to 22. Regrettably, the inward transfer was bobbled by one player to another.

Except for sporadic breaks by first-five William Davis and No.8 Elijah Solomona, Silverstream didn’t look like scoring in the second half. Marlborough openside Tom Robinson was tigersh and Toti Prescott snaffled a couple of turnovers.

Silverstream played its first game of the season on Saturday. They surrendered a 24-12 lead to Feilding High School and lost 38-24. Rupeni Raviyawa, who scored 21 tries and earned New Zealand Barbarians selection in 2024, scored two of Feilding’s six tries. Silverstream’s three tries were scored by Kingston Hill, Cooper Fletcher, and Shaye Taitua. Fletcher and William Davis kicked three conversions and a penalty between them.

Neither short on size nor athleticism, Silverstream plays its first traditional fixture next Saturday at home against St Bede’s College, Christchurch.

St Pats Town Names 2025 First XV

The late Willie Leota’s assistant, Mike Tolova’a, has stepped into the head coach role at Town with support from old boys Julius To’o and Charlie Gubb.

A young side will be anchored by explosive Year 13 prop Ioanne Aukisitino, with livewire openside Ethan Lepou and midfielder Dom Mettrick other key seniors.

The loss of flanker Nelsson Tiumalu is a blow, but first five Decodah Silvia and outside backs Charlie Carter and Zack Kimmins are likely to provide a spark.

Town has five senior teams: First XV, Second XV, Third XV, Under-16A, and Premier Four champions – The Dooleys.

The First XV’s first match is against visiting Christ’s College at Evans Bay Park at 12:30 pm on April 26.

Christ’s celebrates its 175th Anniversary in 2025. In 2024, they were a top-four Crusaders region Premiership side. Jubilee Cup-winning fullback Sam Chamberlain (Old Boys University) coaches alongside two former All Blacks, Reuben Thorne and Sam Broomhall.

The St Pat’s Town squad:

Scots succumb to record-breaking Lindisfarne

There was little surprise when St Kentigern College defeated St Andrew’s College 39-12 in the final of the Presbyterian Schools Quadrangular. The Pakuranga powerhouse has won the event on ten consecutive occasions and 23 times since its inception in 1989.

Those who attended the third-place playoff, though, would have been gobsmacked by the outcome of that fixture. Tournament hosts, Lindisfarne College, embarrassed their longest and fiercest rivals, Scots College, 98-19. Lindisfarne opened in 1953 and has jousted vigorously with Scots in various sporting codes since.

Since 2014, Scots have won the Wellington Premiership five times, and were semi-finalists in 2024. Comparatively, Lindisfarne has struggled, only making the semi-finals of the Central North Island series twice since 2016.

In the unprecedented rout, Lindisfarne scored 14 tries, with Noah Rogers scoring two tries and kicking nine conversions for an individual haul of 28 points. That beats the 24 points future Rugby World Cup-winning fullback Israel Dagg scored in Lindisfarne’s 24-0 whitewash of Scots in 2005.

Te Awarangi Puketapu Pene (3), Fletcher McKay (2), and Charlie East (2) were also multiple try scorers for Lindisfarne, who have beaten Super 8 sides Gisborne BHS (27-26) and Palmerston North BHS (34-15) in pre-season.

Ironically, Lidisisfarne is coached by Andre Bell, who guided Scots to the 2023 Wellington Premiership and a 61-26 thumping of Lindisfarne that season.

A further dive into the history books reveals that Bell attended Lindisfarne. In 1988, he captained a First XV that beat Scots 40-9 and Taradale High School 113-0. In that game, Bell scored 57 points (7 tries, 13 conversions, penalty) in an era when tries were only worth four points.

What to make of Scots? Former All Black Dominic Bird is Director of Rugby with support from Hurricanes Poua head coach Fusi Feaunati. Scots lost by a combined five points to the 2024 Premiership finalists, but depth proved to be an issue and remains a challenge with a Second XV that has been in Premier Four. Brandon Lo and Joseph Sailo are reputable loose forwards. Outside backs Owen Cosgrove and James Favel from the Wellington Under 16s can be threatening and have to step up.

Quad Summary

• Day One: St Kentigern College: 43 v Lindisfarne College: 7
• Day One: St Andrew’s College: 69 v Scots College: 17
• Third: Lindisfarne College: 98 v Scots College: 19
• Final: St Kentigern College: 39 v St Andrew’s College: 12

Previous Quad Winners

1989-1990: St. Andrew’s College

1991-1993: St Kentigern College

1994: Lindisfarne College/St. Andrew’s College

1995: St. Kentigern College

1996-1997: Lindisfarne College

1998-2001: St. Kentigern College

2002-2003: St. Andrew’s College

2004: St. Kentigern College

2005: St. Andrew’s College

2006: St. Kentigern College

2007: St. Andrew’s College

2008-2009: St. Kentigern College

2010: St. Andrew’s College

2011: Lindisfarne College

2012-2013: Scots College

2014: St. Kentigern College

2015: Lindisfarne College

2016-2025: St. Kentigern College

Tauranga Boys’ College On Tour

Super 8 and Condor Sevens champions Tauranga Boys’ College visit Wellington College at 11.00am on Saturday. In addition to their First XV that beat National champions Hamilton Boys’ High School twice in 2024, Tauranga’s second XV won the Super 8, and their Under-15s won the long-standing national invitation tournament. Wellington was beaten in their first interschool pre-season hitout 31-10 by Feilding High School.

Below Watch this week’s Huddy Hui, with special guest Wellington College First XV coach Piri Weepu:

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Club of Origin returns on Easter Monday:

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St Pat’s Silverstream Second XV and Aotea College win Hope Cup tournament.