MSP and Petone meeting in Colts Division 1 decider this Saturday

• By Steven White

A week after Marist St Pat’s beat Petone 17-13 the MSP and Petone Colts team do it all again this Saturday in the season decider, only this time in MSP territory at Evans Bay Park by virtue of that win.

The standings heading into this straight final saw MSP finish on 20 points, and Petone and HOBM both on 19, but Petone have gone through ahead of the Junior Eagles on points differential, which was +45 and +40 respectively.

Petone were runners-up in the first round Paris Memorial Trophy to HOBM with a 7/1 winning record while MSP were third with a 5/3 record. Petone won their first round affair 38-29 back in mid-May, so their meetings this year have been split one apiece.

The two captains are Junior Tupou (Petone) and Wade Kafatolu (MSP), and both see the final as coming down to discipline, cool heads and commitment for the full match.

Loosehead prop Tupou, originally from Tonga, said that it’s been a mixture of results within the last few games for his Petone side –  with a win, a draw and and a loss of the past few weeks. “But it has been a huge learning opportunity for us as a team to prepare us for the final,” he said. “Saturday’s game will come down to our discipline, an 80-minute performance from the whole team but most importantly for the boys to enjoy playing finals.

MSP captain and No. 8 Wade Kafatolu said that the keys for victory will be executing the basics and core roles well and staying focused throughout.

“Our last few games have really tested our team’s ability to stay switched on and perform consistently for the full 80 minutes, rather than allowing opposition teams back into the game during the second half,” said Kafatolu.

“Challenging conditions have also tested our ability to adapt, remain disciplined, and commit to our game plan regardless of the circumstances.”

“When our team has been at its best this season, it has been because our forwards have been able to build sustained pressure through multiple phases and consistently get over the advantage line. That has given our backs quality front-foot ball to attack from and allowed us to play the style of rugby we want.”

It’s been a team effort for MSP up to the final, but individually, two players to look out for in MSP’s team are Solomona Vaka in the forwards and Zack Young-Holdsworth in the backs. Said Kafatolu on both these players:

“Solomona Vaka has been a dominant physical presence on both sides of the ball, regularly getting over the gain line, carrying strongly, and laying the platform for the rest of the team. In the backs, Zack Young-Holdsworth has also been key for us. His reliability off the tee has been crucial in building scoreboard pressure, while his all-round consistency has helped keep the scoreboard ticking over throughout the season.”

Petone captain Kafatolu said: “We’ve always relied on our forward pack the whole season, but in all honesty our strength lies in our teamwork, on and off the field. Whoever we pick for Saturday is a key player; each and every one has a role to execute. From starters to impact players, we will give it our all for one another.”

Playing at home for the final, the support of the MSP faithful will be a big factor.

“Our supporters always give us a huge boost whenever we take the field, especially in our home games. We’ve been fortunate to have great support throughout the season, and playing at our home ground, Evans Bay, for the first time this year will make this weekend even more special. Hopefully we can put in a performance that our supporters can be proud of and repay them for the backing they’ve shown us all season.”

“This Saturday will also be the last game our international players play before returning to their respective countries, so there’s a good chance it will be the final time this group gets to take the field together. That gives us even more motivation to put in a performance we can all be proud of and send them off on a high.”

Said Kafatolu: “The support from the club’s supporters has given us the belief that we can make it this far this season, and we have. It will mean a lot to us as a team if they show up on Saturday and get behind the boys. The club made history last weekend and Saturday is our chance to add to that.”

If Petone win that will be four championship titles for the club in a fortnight, following their Premier, Premier 2 and Women’s wins this past Saturday.

Adding to the expected intensity of Saturday’s final is the weather forecast -which is not looking good. An 8 degree southerly with a strong crosswind from the south should spice things up further.

Both teams will be fielding a handful of players who have played Premier rugby this year, but all have played Colts this year.

Both line-ups will be named on each club’s social media pages – look out for these.

About the John E Kelly Cup

The John E Kelly Memorial Cup was donated to the WRFU by the Wellington Football Club for play in the Under 21 Division 1 Competition in 1985. The trophy is in memory of Wellington’s late Club Captain, John E Kelly, who died of cancer. John played and administrated rugby with the Wellington Club for many years and had the privilege of playing alongside his young son.

The University club won the first John E Kelly Cup in 1986 and Porirua won the second in 1987. In total, OBU (including University and WCOB) have won this 11 times and Norths (including Porirua) have won four titles.

The past 10 winners:

2016: OBU Green
2017: Petone
2018: OBU Green
2019: OBU Green
2020: OBU Green
2021: OBU Green
2022: Petone
2023: Oriental-Rongotai
2024: Hutt Old Boys Marist
2025: Upper Hutt Rams

• Petone were winners in 2007, 2017 and 2022
• MSP were winners in 1988, 1991 (shared with Wests), 1996, 1998, 2000 (shared with HOBM), 2002 and 2011.

Match details

• What: John E Kelly Cup Colts Division 1 Final
• Where: Evans Bay Park
• Who: Marist St Pat’s and Petone
• When: Saturday 1 August 1.00pm
• The Division 2 final for the Vic Calcinai Cup is being contested between Pōneke and Old Boys Marist across the road at Kilbirnie Park, also at 1.00pm.
• AI’s prediction: “Expect a tight, attritional game again—possibly decided by goal-kicking, one big defensive stand, or a late try. Home advantage could tilt it MSP’s way.”
• Our prediction: What AI said (above).

Squad Lists

The two teams that will contest the final will be selected and finalised from the following players (with their former schools in brackets):

Marist St Pat’s

Ioane Aukusitino (St Pat’s Town)

William Thurston (St Pats Silverstream)

Noah Kalolo (St Pat’s Town)

Angus Houghton (Sacred Heart Auckland)

Harvey Goodwin (USA

Gage Curry (USA)

Jeremy Kelly-Perez (St Pat’s Town)

Bentley Faulkner (Wellington College)

Nate James (England)

Pietro Rapposelli (Italy)

Dylan Johansen-Sua (Rongotai College)

Dominic Mettrick (St Pat’s Town)

Alexis  Fleuret (France)

Navrin Campbell (Wellington College)

Connor Maxwell (St Pat’s Town)

Ethan  Brocklehurst  (Inglewood High School)

Vinnie Barber (St Pat’s Town)

Will Abercrombie (England

Wade  Kafatolu (St Pat’s Town)

Petonio  Foaese (St Pat’s Town

Kieran Birnie  (Bishop Viard College)

Ben Grader (England)

Peppe Iaccarino (St Pats Town)

Jack Sua (St Pats Town)

Troy Gray (St Pats Town)

Izan Heres (Spain)

Corey  So’oa   (St Pat’s Town)

Zack Young Holdsworth (Wellington College)

Jeremy Kelly-Perez (St Pat’s Town)

Solomona Vaka (St Pat’s Town)

Alfonso Trapote (Spain)

Iteni Helu (Sacred Heart Auckland)

Ceza Taupau (St Pat’s Town)

Troy Gray (St Pats Town)

Dara Twomey (Ireland)

Petone

Adam Jansen van Vuuren (Paraparaumu College)

Aiden Saxon (Hamilton Boys High School)

Anitelea Sagato (St Bernard’s College)

Archie Schrader (Rathkeale College)

Atunaisa Pese (Hutt Valley High School)

Axel Daken (St Patrick’s College, Silverstream)

Cairo Fa’aete’ete-Masina (Nelson College)

David Pese (Hutt Valley High School)

Deacon Afoa (St Bernard’s College)

Deziah Sau (St Bernard’s College)

Eligh Phillips (Hutt Valley High School)

Elijah Unasa (Wesley College)

Etuale Perez (St Patrick’s College, Wellington)

Faenza Snowden (Hutt Valley High School)

Giovanni Tukapua (St Patrick’s College, Silverstream)

Harvey O’Rourke (Napier Boys High School)

Isaiah Tamafuta (St Bernard’s College)

Jacob Gibbs (Hutt Valley High School)

JG Madern (Paraparaumu College)

John Fitzgerald ( Westlake Boys High School/Hutt Valley High School)

Junior Tupou © (Tupou College, Toloa [Tonga])

Kaan Austin-Aschebrock (Hutt Valley High School)

Kingston Hill (St Patricks College, Silverstream)

Kitiona Talaepa (St Patrick’s College, Silverstream)

Leo van Krimpen (Hutt Valley High School)

Lui Perez (St Patrick’s College, Wellington)

Madoc Gregor (Hutt Valley High School)

Marcus Alexopoulos (Hutt Valley High School)

Matt Fisher (St Bernard’s College)

Max Parlakchief (Hutt Valley High School)

Peighton Tuifao-Fa’amausili (St Bernard’s College)

Remy Friberg (St Patrick’s College, Silverstream)

Rome Katene (Hutt Valley High School)

Ropeti Fa’atagi (Hutt Valley High School)

Taylor Moananu (St Patrick’s College, Silverstream)

Thompson Tukapua (St Patrick’s College, Silverstream)

Troy Savelio (St Bernard’s College)

Wesley Faitele (Taita College)