RUGBY
Wairarapa College came from 12 points down at half-time to stun Wellington College 29-26 in a thrilling Wellington premier secondary schools clash at Waicol on Saturday.
The visitors had the better of the first 40 minutes and took a 19-7 lead into the break, with home side’s only points coming from a try to winger John Paulo, converted by Cohen Scott.
Nippy halfback Le’Sharn Paku narrowed the gap to 19-12 soon after the resumption before Wellington College scored a converted try
for a 26-12 lead. However, the rest of the second spell belonged to the fired-up home side.
Tries to captain and hooker Conley Alexander and lock Murphy Henricksen, the latter converted by Scott, saw Waicol trail by only two points.
Centre Charlie Carroll sent the big home crowd wild when he crossed to give Waicol the lead for the first time in the match.
Then it was a nervous few minutes as Wellington College pushed hard to snatch a late victory only to be let down through poor execution with four consecutive lineouts ruled not straight.
The win has lifted Waicol to third in the premier championship race on 18 points, two behind the unbeaten Scots College and St Patricks Silverstream. Waicol next play Scots at home on June 24.
Rathkeale’s struggles in the Central North Island First XV competition continued with a 37-14 loss to Whanganui Collegiate. Without a win in five games, it doesn’t get any easier for Rathkeale, who host fifth-placed St Peter’s Cambridge on Saturday. HOCKEY
The Waicol boys and St Matthew’s girls stretched their unbeaten runs in their Manawatu intercity secondary schools premier championships with wins in the local derbies last Wednesday.
Waicol scored the only goal of a tense battle with Rathkeale and are the only unbeaten team in the boys’ premiership after four rounds, while Rathkeale are third.
Waicol meet Whanganui Collegiate in Palmerston North North tomorrow night, and Rathkeale’s next assignment is against traditional powerhouses Palmerston North Boys High School First XI tomorrow night.
St Matt’s continued their impressive start in the girls’ top division with a strong 3-0 defeat of Waicol and hold a three-point lead after four rounds.
The defending champions face possibly their strongest challenge of the first round away to second-placed Palmerston North Girls High School.
Waicol need a win over Whanganui Collegiate in Palmerston North to move into the top four.
Kuranui College scored their first win of boys’ premier two, convincingly beating the Feilding High School Second XI 4-0 to move into the top four. They can solidify that place when they host bottom-of-the-table Tararua College at the Trust House Wairarapa Hockey Complex tomorrow night.
FOOTBALL
Harrison Dudley scored a hat-trick as Rathkeale got their Wellington secondary schools premier campaign off to a perfect start with a 4-2 victory away to Rongotai College. James Wilkinson also got on the scoresheet in the vital win.
Rathkeale are warmly favoured to make it two from two on Saturday when they travel to Kapiti College, who were thumped 11-0 by Scots College.
Akif Shazad scored both goals for Waicol in their away 2-0 win over the Rongotai College Second XI in Wellington Division One. Waicol are at home to Newlands College in Saturday’s second round.
– CHRIS COGDALE
