Wins for Makoura, Tawa, Silverstream, Francis Douglas and Manukura in Wednesday school matches

Above: Action from the Taita College v Makoura College fixture for the Fuller Cup. Photo: Peter McDonald. 

• By Adam Julian & Steven White

A round-up of some college rugby matches played involving Wellington schools on Wednesday.

Makoura College account for Taita College

Taita College were soundly beaten this afternoon by Makoura College in overcast conditions in Taita.

Makoura used their slick backs to good effect, taking a 17-5 lead at halftime.

The second half was punctuated by lots of errors by Taita, not helped by a big injury count. Makoura were well deserved winners coming out 36-12 winners and securing the Fuller Cup. Try scorers for Taita were Ksam Kereti and Lolesio Favale, and one conversion by Alex Falesua.

St Pat’s Silverstream defeat New Plymouth Boys’ High School

Silverstream beat New Plymouth Boys’ High School 31-26  away at the Gully. Silverstream have won the last three games in a row and 34 of the 94 fixtures in total.

It was a game of two halves match, with Silverstream dominating the first half but New Plymouth fighting back in the second. Try scorers for Silverstream were Fletcher Cooper (2), Axel Daken, Heath Tuifao,  and Elijah Solomona. Fletcher Cooper kicked three conversions.

HIBS miss out to Francis Douglas

The Hutt International Boys’ School bus also headed to New Plymouth today, with their First XV going down 27-7 to Francis Douglas Memorial College

Both teams played well in wet muddy conditions, with HIBS giving First XV debut caps off the bench to a group of Second XV players. Players to play well were captain and centre Tom Prichard, No. 8 Mylo Guthrie-Thiel, openside flanker Finn Johnstone and first-five Carter Birmingham. HIBS’  try scorer was blindside flanker Henry Martin.

Tawa College secure Beard Trophy in second defence

Tawa College defended their second Beard Trophy challenge of the year at Jerry Collins Stadium on Wednesday evening.

In steady rain, Tawa College scored five tries and won 31-0.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Club Rugby (@clubrugby)

Both teams brought passion and commitment from the opening hakas to the fulltime whistle, but Tawa were just that much more clinical in all areas. They scored two first half tries and led 10-0 at halftime and then when they scored their try about 10 minutes into the second spell through busy No. 8 Ryder Sao off a 5-metre scrum with the moderate breeze and rain in their favour it was all over.

Tawa’s second try to second-five and co-captain Malachai Osman was the try of the match, running on to a short pass by first five Jonathan Afamasaga after a lineout near halfway and punching through on a 50m run to the line.

Following Sao’s try early in the second spell, they scored twice more through their replacement halfback after a tap penalty and then through centre Lucas Jones after a strong buildup that was reminiscent of their first try of the match to right wing Tui Okeeffe. Bishop Viard also lost a player to the sin-bin during the second half, while much of the second half was played with uncontested scrums with several injury stoppages and mostly for Bishop Viard players.

Tawa’s next Beard Trophy defence against Porirua College on 25 June, ahead of the last match in the series between the holder and Mana College on 23 July.

Manukura beat St Mary’s in Feature Schoolgirls clash

Kia ora e te whānau, plush facilities, wide-eyed wonder, condensation breath, cheerful selfies, broken song. St Mary’s College is off the bus.

Pōwhiri, parents retreating politely to the back, waiata, hongi, feed, Six60 humming in the background. There is still an hour until kickoff.

When National Secondary Schools champions Manukura hosts, it’s a momentous occasion. The stakes are even higher when their fiercest Wellington rivals are in town.

The welcome proved so overwhelming that the visitors started like startled ferrets. The hole Manukura first five-eighth Gabby Wright ghosted through for the first try was larger than that in the ozone layer.

The restart from the hosts collapsed like a shot pigeon. St Mary’s were combative and courageous with their carries and Ofeira Hunt, daughter of former All Blacks Sevens representative and Tawa stalwart Nigel Hunt, muscled over.

A contrast in styles became quickly evident. St Mary’s scrum and maul ploughed ahead like a John Deere tractor. No.8 Lynda Rabeni-Vatuloka (‘Mini Bindi’) soared in the lineouts. Manukura were whippets out wide, exposing them on the edges several times.

Tied a dozen each, the game was swinging on a tightrope until St Mary’s made two exasperating kicks that each time led to tries to Selica Winiata-lookalike Keighley-Rein Araia. The diminutive fullback had defenders grasping at fresh air as she gleefully returned gift-wrapped clearances with speed and swerve. Rein Araia is only 14 years old.

Down 24-12, St Mary’s loosehead Casey Sio was a powerhouse and barreled over for a second try to slice the deficit to five.

Manukura regained control and gradually wore down St Mary’s at the breakdown. Hitting the flanks, tries were scored by Ngakahu Mathieson-Julian, younger sister of the Manukura captain Te Waikaukau Mathieson-Julian, and Elley-May Taylor to make it 34-19.

Hunt had the last say just before the end with a searing 40m break. “Special G,” an awe-struck St Mary’s player acclaimed afterward. This was a high-quality, entertaining spectacle. The fixture would carry even greater gravitas with a trophy. How about the Kaipo Olsen-Baker (Manukura) – Dhys Faleafaga (St Mary’s) Cup?

The game was officiated by Manawatū Cyclones and Hurricanes Poua lock Kahurangi Sturmey.