The Kiss of Barry – Wellington Stops Silverstream Win Streak

Wellington College players and travelling supporters celebrate winning their traditional and ending Silverstream’s 21-game Premiership competition winning streak. 

• By Adam Julian
• Photos by Andy McArthur

The 21-game winning streak of St Patrick’s College, Silverstream, in the Premiership ended, out-thought by a gutsy Wellington College 26-17 in the 95th annual Ken Grey Cup match in Upper Hutt this afternoon.

With four minutes remaining, Wellington led 23-17, a tenuous advantage with openside Connar “Notorious” Gregor and winger Liam Phelps in the sin-bin for tackle infractions.

However, Wellington earned a penalty right beside the corner flag on the 22. First-five Joe Barry sent a right-foot missile in the direction of the left post that kissed the timber three-quarters of the way up, and tumbled in a favourable direction for the Year 13 player who wasn’t a starter at the beginning of the season. Barry joins Stanley Solomon (2021) and Archie Sims (2024) with dramatic moments to settle a Silverstream scrap.

It was fitting that Barry’s boot determined the outcome. His variety of contestable, cunning, courageous chips and punts baited a restless Silverstream into a tangle of inaccuracy. The Catholics were caged in their half too often by a defence more smothering than anything they’ve faced in 2026.

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Wellington second-five Taysian Davey-Tiotio was a tackling titan, with more turnovers than Tavatavanawai. Blindside Lafone Kaimote and lock Ike McGuinness were resolute. In a display of poise, passion, and precision, livewire captain Z’kdeus (Fitz) Schwalger scored the opening try from sustained pressure.

Silverstream’s first venture into Wellington territory was a stunning runaway try by winger Troy Waldrom, outpacing three chasers with minimal space when the ball found “hand instead of land” on the edge. First-five Fletcher Cooper nailed a sideline conversion and then did it again from the other side, between a Barry penalty and a slick lineout drive finished by hooker Jahvahn Hunt.

Schwalger and Kaimote have brains to go with their brawn. Schwalger’s sleight of hand in midfield 40 meters out set Kaimote free and winger Tom Hughson clear. Barry’s conversion made it 15-14 to Wellington at halftime.

A Cooper penalty was the hosts’ only points after the interval. A tense tussle ensued, marked by penalties, fumbles, and crunching collisions. It would take something “Notorious” to break the stalemate. With 15 minutes remaining, Wellington forced a Silverstream spillage in their 22. Prop Julius “Caesar” Toimata made inroads, and Wellington stretched to the right. An errant pass from halfback Ben Willocks was deflected by Schwalger to Gregor.

Silverstream have made every Premiership final since 2017, winning 91 of 102 games. Their previous longest winning streak was 28 between 2017 and 2018. Captain Ryder Thompson was the best of their forwards in an unfocused display that must improve if they are to win a third consecutive title.

Wellington has beaten Silverstream only three times in the last 16 games in all competitions. They won the Ken Gray Trophy, named after the great 60s All Black, for the 35th time. Silverstream has 53 wins and seven draws.

The referee was Charlie Harris.

Meanwhile, the scheduled traditional ‘friendly’ clash today between host school Tawa College (Premier 2) and Wairarapa College (Premiership) as part of their sports exhange was cancelled.

Tawa College next defend the Beard Trophy in a fortnight (24 June) at Porirua Park.

The fourth round of the Premiership continues this Saturday, games being:

• Wairarapa College v Rathkeale College, WC 1, 12.00pm
• Hutt International Boys’ School v Scots College, NZCIS, 2.30pm
• St Bernard’s College v Rongotai College, SBC, 2.30pm
• St Pat’s Town v Mana College, Evans Bay Park, 2.30pm