PNBHS beat Wellington College in the mud in traditional

Lineout action in today’s traditional between Wellington College and Palmerston North Boys’ High School. The visitors won 14-5.

• By Steven White

Update: Match Highlights below:

Palmerston North Boys’ High School beat Wellington College 14-5 in a mudheap at Wellington College on Wednesday afternoon in their First XV traditional.

The two teams were playing for the 143 Shield, which was ‘presented in 2017 by parents of the 143^rd First XV in celebration of 150 years of rugby at Wellington College.’

PNBHS had won all of these before today, so this win gave them a 10-peat of 143 Shield wins.

Wellington College had several changes to their regular top starting XV, including neither usual captain and No. 8 Z’Kedus Schwalger and blindside Laifone Kamoto stripped to play at all, and others such as outside back Liam Phelps who rode the bench.

Both Schwalger and Kamoto, individually or together, could have made a difference in this match, which quickly became a dogged battle as the wet field cut up early.

It was PNBH’s No. 8 and captain Oliver Reed who produced a big performance and with openside flanker Jack Greaves amongst others to excel in the conditions. Reed and Greaves were PNBHS’s try scorers, while Reed in particular was a leading figure in their lineout, both on his own ball and disrupting the home team’s to the point where they lost several on their own throw during in the first half. This was also after starting lock Josh Stevens departed early with a shoulder injury.

PNBHS’s scrum was also rock-solid, and in the conditions these were telling areas in the game.

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The match started in sunshine, but the skies quickly grew darker, although the rain held off. Wellington College had the moderate wind at their backs in the first half and made much of the running during the first half, winning a number of penalties in general play but unable to turn territory and possession into points. Their best two scoring chances came midway through the first half in quick succession, a penalty and lineout in the corner and then a 50-22 into the same corner by first-five Joe Barry. Both were lost through aerial turnovers.

PNBHS got a couple of forward drives from their own lineouts going later in the first half that they went close to scoring off. Both were kept out by Wellington College. But the home team couldn’t prevent them from scoring just before halftime when openside flanker Greaves broke from a lineout in the terraces corner and scored. Fullback Rudolph Manaia kicked the conversion to make it 7-0 at halftime.

PNBHS were quickly on to attack from the second half kick-off, and unlike Wellington College earlier, they took their next chance. After almost 90 seconds in possession close to the line, No. 8 Reed came up with their second try. Manaia’s conversion doubled the score to 14-0.

In these underfoot conditions, this was a decent lead, as the home team worked hard to get back in the game. Their set-piece was better but the handling of both teams meant much of the next 25 minutes was played between the 22s.

Both sides made openings to score again but missed out and it was evident that the game was in the bag for PNBHS with about 10 minutes to play. Wellington College held the ball in a series of pick and goes for close to two minutes before scoring a consolation try as referee Michie blew his whistle for fulltime after the kick attempt.

Meanwhile, there were three other matches between the two schools played today.

The u85kg match for the Jimmy Lawler Trophy ended in unfortunate circumstances. With PNBHS up 19-12 there was a melee and the match finished early. PNBHS also won the Colts and Second XV matches convincingly.