Jeremy Osborne on the charge for the Rathkeale College 1st XV. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
By Jake Beleski
Rathkeale College enjoyed a successful round of sporting results last weekend, with teams pushing for places in Wellington’s premier divisions.
On Friday night the 1st XI hockey team recorded their second win of the season with a 3-0 win over Onslow College.
Will McMaster was the hero with two goals, while the final flourish was added by Daniel O’Boyle.
A win this Friday against Scot’s College will secure premier 1 status for the side.
Four games of rugby and four games of football saw the touchlines of the school fields full on Saturday.
The school’s rugby teams enjoyed a clean sweep of wins, with the 1st XV beating their Te Aute counterparts 39-0 in the first round of the Central North Island competition.
Jeremiah Mapusua made an imposing impression on the outcome in the forwards while Jeremy Osborne controlled the game from No 12 to keep the Rathkeale side moving forward.
The 1st XI football side suffered their first loss of the season at the hands of Wellington College.
A slow start and lack of concentration cost the team and they soon found themselves 2-0 down with an uphill battle in front of them.
First XI coach Steve Coleman said as the game wore on Rathkeale worked their way back into the match, and the Wellington College keeper was called on to make some vital interventions to keep the score blank.
“A sustained period of pressure at the start of the second half brought a couple more saves and a missed penalty before the third Wellington College goal killed the game off.
“Despite some desperate attempts to wrestle our way back in the visitors stood firm and opened up the race for the premier division once again.”
Rathkeale need just one more point to secure a premier division spot for the first time.
Even without that point, results will have to go seriously against them to alter the team’s chances after a strong start to the grading rounds.
As a school Rathkeale looks forward to more sport this Queen’s Birthday weekend.
The 1st XI hockey team entertain Scot’s College on Friday night before the 1st XI football travel to Onslow College on Saturday morning.
The 1st XV rugby side has Saturday off, before meeting Christ’s College in an annual traditional fixture on Monday.
