Scots College make Rugby history

Above: Scots College first five-eighth TJ Va'a is hoisted aloft by his supporters at the end of the match. Va'a was the individual hero at the end, kicking a winning penalty the last play of the match to give Scots College a 21-18 victory. As top qualifier, St Pat's Silverstream would've taken home the trophy with a draw.

In perfect running rugby conditions, Scots College for the first time are the champions of the Wellington Premier 1 competition after withstanding a gallant challenge from St Patrick's Silverstream.

The first half was very tight. Silverstream dominated in the possession stakes and came very close to scoring a try in the first 40 but the committed Scots defence held them up.

Silverstream were to be rewarded with a Nick Mannix penalty from out in front early in the contest to put them ahead.

Mistakes hurt Silverstream, with a flurry of knock-ons throughout the first half happening because of the committed tackling from Scots College.

The atmosphere was electric, with plenty of chanting amongst both sets of college supporters.

However once Scots got the ball into the hands of the likes of Malo Tuitama and the lethal Umaga-Jensen twins, alarm bells began to ring in the Silverstream defence.

Towards the end of the first half, Scots captain TJ Va'a would kick a penalty over after repeated infringing from Silverstream centre Losi Filipo, who was yellow carded as a result.

Both teams were locked at 3-all at the break.

Scots came out all guns blazing in the early minutes of the second half. Their supporters were just sitting down when centre Malo Tuitama spotted a gaping hole in midfield. He swamped past Jarrod Adams and showed his class when passing the ball out wide to fullback Peter Umaga-Jensen who dotted down.

Even though Va'a missed the conversion, Scots supporters in the stand were on their feet, and rightfully so.

But Va'a would make up for the missed conversion with another penalty kick. This took Scots out to an 11-3 lead.

Moments later, the captain made a break through the Silverstream defence, after being set up from a textbook tackle made from Michael Findlay.

He found Malo and there was no stopping the freight train. The conversion was added by Va'a.

Scots were up 18-3 and it looked like Stream had no answers to the classy Scots College backline.

But to their credit, Silverstream lead by the hardworking Jack McCormack, fought back.

Midway through the second half, Scots were conceding penalties as St Pat's Silverstream were chugging up the middle, using big number 8 Joe Apikotoa to good effect.

Pacy winger Salesi Fayasi finally evaded the clutches of Connor Garden-Bachop down the left-hand touchline and he scored.

The Silverstream supporters started to believe, as they sung the famous shosholoza chant.

Then when fullback Nathan Moen crashed over to score Silverstream's second try, it was game on.

The reliable Nick Mannix would kick another penalty and Silverstream could sense a third premier 1 title with just a couple of minutes left in the match.

But Scots re-gathered the ball at the kickoff and held it. The likes of unsung heroes? Henry Mexted, Alex Fidow and Lotunu'u Haueia received a lot of ball as the forwards ground it up.

Suddenly Scots were rewarded a penalty as Joe Apikotoa dived over the ball illegally.

TJ Va'a would kick the winning penalty to secure their first ever win against Silverstream, but more importantly, the prestigious Premier Trophy would be heading for Strathmore.

What a kick!!! And the scenes of jubilation that followed were absolutely priceless as TJ Va'a hoisted the Premier trophy aloft. Plenty of hugging and backslapping occurred, a haka would shortly follow and this victory would be never forgotten amongst the Scots College faithful.

As one supporter quoted this win was "four years in the making" as Scots returned to Premier 1 in 2010.

Peter Umaga-Jensen was especially rapt. "It's a great feeling, and shot boys we made history today."

Silverstream, in their seventh consecutive final, know how to play finals football. They never gave up and led by Jack McCormack (who has captained the team since 2012), they were in the contest till the last penalty kick. Not forgetting however a draw would have secured them the title. Joe Apikotoa was outstanding with bone rattling hits and he will be missed in the blue and white hoops in 2015.

For Scots, Connor Garden-Bachop, following in the footsteps of his older brother Jackson, ran strongly all day, prop Alex Fidow's ball carrying was strong, providing Scots with good go forward, and Malo was all class again

Thomas Umaga Jensen was magnificent today, bumping off defenders, a plethora of fends and he provided excellent passing outwide to the rest of the backs. The lynchpin formed a devastating midfield combo. He was Man of the Match.

Scores:

Scots College 21 (Malo Tuitama, Peter Umaga-Jensen trys Va'a 1 con, 3 pens) beat St Patrick's College Silverstream 18 (Nick Mannix 2 pens 1 con, Salesi Fayasi, Nathan Moen tries) Ht: 3-3. Crowd: 3,300