The curse of the Top Qualifier

Above: Last year’s Premiership First XV champions St Pat’s Silverstream, with St Pat’s Town (2015) and Wellington College (2013) inset. Photos: Andy McArthur/Mike Lewis.

• By Steven White & Adam Julian

Forget the favourites tag – the second-placed or lower qualifier in the Wellington First XV Premiership has won the final eight times since 2010.

Already recognised as ‘the curse of the top qualifier’, last year’s result continued the pattern with St Pat’s Silverstream (2) beating Wellington College (1) to claim the title.

This coming Sunday, the two schools meet again, but this time the roles are reversed, with St Pat’s Silverstream entering the final as the unbeaten top qualifier and Wellington College finishing the round-robin in third (actually second before being stripped of points midweek before their semi-final against St Pat’s Town).

Will Wellington College prevail and add another chapter to this streak, to what would be nine in 16 years?

Maybe. But consider this: Since 2017, St Pat’s Silverstream has had a 12-2 advantage over Wellington College in all matches. Wellington’s only victories occurred during the 2021 and 2024 Ken Gray Memorial Cup games. They have won 17 consecutive games since that 27-24 defeat against Wellington College on June 12, 2024.

In the meantime, see below for a closer look at the instances since 2010 when the top qualifier hasn’t prevailed in the final.

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2010: St Pat’s Silverstream (21) v St Pat’s Town (13)

St Pat’s Silverstream won the title for the first time since 2000 – winning just one of their six traditionals and coming from fourth place to beat St Pat’s Town in the final.

In one of the great upsets, Silverstream knocked over Wellington College 12-10 in their semi-final. They had lost to Wellington 22-14 earlier that season.

In the final, the 2002, 2004, and 2009 runners-up beat St Pat’s Town, who had beaten them twice previously, in 2010. It was 3-3 under lights at Porirua Park, before Silverstream busted the game open early in the second half with two tries to No.8 Elekana Laupola and Timoti Nicholls to lead 15-3 and go on and win 21-13 with a drop goal and 11 points for Aviata Silago

Several players went on to achieve greater success in club and representative rugby, led by captain and NZ Schools midfielder Ope Peleseuma and Tomasi Alosio, who both represented Samoa. Aviata Silago enjoyed a long professional career in France. Hayden Schrijvers captained Upper Hutt, Dion Lealofi and Jared Woodward were centurions for Upper Hutt and Wainuiomata, respectively.

The most notable player in the game was solitary test All Black Matt Proctor, who scored 17 tries for Town in a season they won 18 out of 21 games.

St Pat’s Silverstream winners in 2010. 

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2011: Wellington College (20) v St Pat’s Silverstream (18)

Defending champions St Pat’s Silverstream were the top qualifier after Aviata Silago kicked a 45-metre penalty on full-time to topple Wellington College 24-21 in the Ken Gray Cup fixture. Silverstream was 21-3 down.

The final was played as the curtain-raiser to the Wellington Jubilee Cup club rugby final at the Petone Recreation Ground, a club final remembered for its weather, with a vicious front moving in about halftime. But the First XV decider was played in fine conditions.

Unbeaten Silverstream had twice beaten Wellington College during the season, but at 8-8 at halftime, it was anyone’s game. Silverstream upped the ante in the second half and led 18-15 with tries to James Perkinson, Anthony Knight and Jack Talapa, before the biggest moment of the game saw Wellington College wing TeDee Sami score in the corner, which proved the match-winner. There was a long consultation between the officials before the contentious try was awarded.

Each side scored three tries each, but cruelly, Aviata Silago missed all three conversions. Wellington hooker Josh Nicho played a blinder and was rewarded with a try. Silverstream’s coach was future Olympic Sevens gold medalist and Black Ferns Director of Rugby Alan Bunting. Chris Wells, whose son Andrew Wells kicked five points, coached Wellington College.

Wellington College winners in 2011. 

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2012: St Pat’s Silverstream (6) v Wellington College (3)

Wellington College beat St Pat’s Silverstream during the season and were unbeaten and top qualifiers, but St Pat’s Silverstream emerged on top of the lowest-scoring final ever.

The final proved to be a try-less arm wrestle in the wet. Silverstream dug deep and led 6-3 at halftime via two Josh Robertson-Weepu penalties and then held on throughout a scoreless slog in the second half to win at the Hutt Rec.

Again, this Silverstream side had a number of players who would make their mark on Wellington club rugby in the years ahead, such as Lui Luamanu, Joe Apikotoa, Lester Maulolo, Losi Filipo, Josh Robertson-Weepu, Jarrod Adams, Chase Tiatia, Joel Hintz, Aidan Woodward, Dylan Hayes, and Vincent Sosefo.

Wellington College were captained by hooker Zeke Sopoaga, and the pack included players such as James Blackwell, Nelson Asafo-Solomona (year 12) and Luke Taualupe (year 11). They would bounce back the following year.

Wellington halfback Luke Campbell, who played for Bay of Plenty, Manawatu, North Harbour and the Hurricanes, rued several missed shots at goal.

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2013: Wellington College (25) beat St Pat’s Silverstream (22)

One of the more memorable finals. Silverstream went into the decider with several big victories under their belt already, such as pre-season wins over both Napier and Hastings BHS’s and Wellington competition traditional wins over Rongotai, St Pat’s Town, and Wellington College.

In a knife-edge final in front of a packed and raucous grandstand, Wellington College first five-eighth Pakai Turia was the hero of the day, landing his sixth straight penalty with about 10 minutes to go to give his side victory. He also added the conversion of his side’s only try of the match, to No. 8 Nelson Asofa-Solomona, which was scored in the first half. Turia’s 20-point haul earned him the Player of the Match award.

Tragically, Turia passed away in Brisbane this year. He played 10 games for the Wellington Lions and scored 901 points in 136 matches with Pōneke and Hutt Old Boys Marist, achieving 78 wins.

Josh Roberston-Weepu, who played three games for North Otago in 2022, kicked 17 points for Silverstream.

Asofa-Solomona went on to become a Kiwis international and has won two NRL Premierships with the Melbourne Storm.

Pakai Turia – Player of the Final 2013.

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2014: Scots College (21) v St Pat’s Silverstream (18)

Enter a new champion, Scots College.

Defending champions Silverstream had beaten Scots College 28-26 in the round-robin with future Fijian international Salesi Rayasi scoring four tries, but, borrowing a previous slogan from the Hurricanes, it was a case of ‘expect the unexpected’ from Scots.

Scots College won their first title after withstanding a gallant challenge from top qualifiers Silverstream. It was 3-3 at halftime, but Scots came out and scored two tries, including one to wing Malo Tuitama (Japan international) running off the shoulder of Player of the Match and first five TJ Va’a to go 18-3 up. Silverstream then roared back to level 18-18, and it took a last-play Va’a penalty to win the game.

The Rugby Channel selected Thomas Umaga-Jensen as their player of the match, but Va’a later won the Player of the Year Award after Scots College shared national honours in 2014 with Rotorua Boys’ High School.

Porirua Park Final scene 2014.

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2015: St Pat’s Town (19) v Scots College (8)

This time it was Scots College’s turn to feel the pain of the top qualifiers’ curse, which remarkably extended for a sixth straight year!

Their nemesis was St Pat’s Town, who were hunting their first title since 1995. Scots College were the top qualifier and very warm favourites to win this one at Porirua Park.

Feverish defence was the key ingredient for Town. Scots enjoyed at least two-thirds of possession, but except for a Peter Umaga-Jensen (1 All Blacks Test, 2020) try in the 58th minute from a 20-metre Malo Manuao pass, Scots could not inflict scoreboard damage.

Billy Proctor scored two tries for Town, the now All Blacks centre bringing the house down as Town honoured recently fallen former captain Jerry Collins, who passed away in a car crash in June.

For Scots, it was their first defeat in 14 Premier One games and just their second loss in the last 32 games.

The St Pat’s Town pre-game haka in the 2015 final. 

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2020: Scots College (24) v St Pat’s Silverstream (21)

A disruptive year off the field with Covid Shutting the country down for much of 2020, and a disruptive year on it as after the top qualifier and favourite won again between 2016-19, the curse resumed.

Unlike most past ‘curse’ years, Silverstream beat Scots in round-robin, winning 7-5 a fortnight earlier. Scots were nevertheless seeded one for the straight final (no semi-finals).

It was the Scots supporters who were chanting the loudest at Jerry Collins Stadium midway through the first half after Scots had scored twice to go 14-0 up, playing into the wind.

Silverstream eventually settled and rallied back into the game with two consecutive penalties to Riley Higgins to trail 6-14.

A Higgins break almost led to a try to fullback Kobe Joe-Vulu, but he put a foot in touch. No. 8 Peter Lakai (All Black) wasn’t to be denied, however, and his try cut the halftime score to 14-13.

Silverstream then sensationally hit the lead early in the second half when Higgins laid on a one-handed assist to Joe-Vulu, who made a beeline for the far corner and scored their second try.

Silverstream scored first in the second spell to go up 18-14, but Scots wing Sione Halalilo scored in the corner from a scrum to make it 19-18. Silverstream re-took the lead with a Higgins penalty, but Scots quickly hit back with their second try of the second half and the match-winner from the very next kick-off.

For Scots, the decision to move Halalilo from flanker to wing to aim up at a smaller opposite proved to be a masterstroke. Locks Maea Tema-Schmitt and Dominic Ropeti (2023 Ories Jubilee Cup winner) were immense in this final, while prop Jonty Bird and hooker Hanz Leota played well. For Silverstream, Higgins and Lakai were ably assisted by Toby ‘Protein’ Crosby and openside Mitch Southall and lock Emmanuel Solomona.

Trytime for Scots College 2020.

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2024: St Pat’s Silverstream (31) v Wellington College (12)

The curse returned last year, with Wellington College seeded first and Silverstream second. In reality, there was little between the sides. Wellington College had won their traditional 27-24 when they met in June.

Wellington College was nevertheless unbeaten heading into the decider but was subdued by a dogged and disciplined Silverstream pack in the final at Porirua Park.

The margin of victory in Silverstream’s eighth Premiership title was the largest in a final since Wellington College belted Silverstream 45-9 in 2009. Silverstream’s previous biggest win in a final was 28-14 against St Pats Town in 2022.

Played in soggy conditions, Wellington College started brightly but couldn’t capitalise. Instead, Silverstream settled and went to a 14-5 halftime lead. When they extended the lead to 24-5 midway through the second half, it was all over.

Silverstream standouts included captain and flanker Drew Berg-McLean, hooker Jericho Wharewhinga, props Noah Krijnem (Hutt Old Boys Marist Jubilee Cup winner 2025) and Heath Tuifao, locks Preston Moananu and Sam Thomson and first-five Thompson Tukapua, who went on to be College Sport Wellington’s Player of the Year.

Silverstream celebrating in the rain last year. Photo: Andy McArthur.

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