Palmerston North Boys’ High School edge Wellington College in midweek First XV fixture

Wellington College halfback Bentley Faulkner makes a break for it early in the second half of a close First XV game. 

• By Adam Julian
• Photos by Steven White

Wellington College concluded a grueling fortnight of five fixtures with yet another heartbreaking defeat, pipped 24-22 by Super 8 leaders Palmerston North Boys’ High School in favourable conditions at Massey University this afternoon.

In an eerie resemblance to last Thursday’s Quadrangular Tournament final against Nelson College, Wellington College started sluggishly and failed to recover from an early 10-0 deficit.

Neither team was at full strength, which allowed regular starters like Palmerston North’s Cayden Pardey to shine even more.

With eight minutes remaining and his team ahead 17-15, centre Pardey slashed through the Black and Gold wall from a scrum at halfway, motoring towards the 22. Without changing gears, he stepped sharply off his left foot, leaving all in sundry grasping. The conversion, taken from under the sticks, stretched the lead to 24-15.

Stubborn Wellington College rallied when first five Archie Sims skipped his entire backline with a pinpoint pass that reached Julius Toimata on the wing. The prop bulldozed his way to the line, and Sims’ sideline conversion narrowed the gap to 24-22.

Earlier, a deft grubber from Sims had splintered the Palmerston North defence, engineering a try for fullback Navrin Campbell. Unfortunately for Wellington College, Sims missed two crucial kicks that could have swung the game in their favour.

Pardey signalled his early intent, setting up fullback Micah Steinmetz, son of All Black Paul Steinmetz, for the first try with a 50-metre break.

Right winger Charlie Robbie scored next following a break from his left-side colleague Cole Cullen.

Wellington College showed vulnerabilities on the edges, but their scrambling defence improved. Bentley Faulkner tackled Cullen, and Sims brought down Robbie with bootlace beauties. Campbell also averted multiple crises as Palmerston North’s frustration mounted.

Sims’ vision finally created an opening for Wellington, and a winding run by Tom Hughson was unorthodox but effective.

After the break, Wellington College successfully defused a series of rolling mauls and began to wrestle territory. Faulkner ran incisively, second five Lorenz-Markel Strickland-Rere thrust forward, and Z’Kdesus Schwalger and Toimata were tenacious.

Wellington has now lost four games by a converted try or less in 2025. A break will be welcome. Can they take the next step and break their decade-long Wellington Premiership drought? The break might feel longer with that headache looming next term.

No.8 Alex Palazzo is a fine skipper of Palmerston North, who host Rotorua and Napier Boys’ early next term, with a spot in the Super 8 final for the first time since 2014 at stake. Palmerston North haven’t lost since April.