Scots College to play St Pat’s Town in First XV final

Defending champions Scots College will play St Pat’s Town in the 2015 WelTec Premiership First XV final next Sunday afternoon at Porirua Park, after each winning their semi-finals today in the wet.

In contrasting semi-finals, St Pat’s Town came from behind to pip St Pat’s Silverstream 23-20 in a thriller, while Scots College blasted past Wellington College 41-13 to win the other.

St Pat’s Town v St Pat’s Silverstream

St. Pats Town 23 (Sefo Numia, Hannon Brighouse, Saia Paese, Willie Schutz) beat St. Pats Silverstream 20 (Albert Polu 2, Josh Brown, Losi Filipo tries). HT: 20-8. Yellow Cards: Josh Brown, Todd Svenson (both Silverstream).

St Pat’s Town have beaten St Pat’s Silverstream on their home ground for the first time since 1997 in today’s WelTec Premiership semi-final.

The final score was 23-20. St Pat’s Silverstream led 20-8 at halftime but rued the fact they missed 11 points in goal kicks including a sitter right out in front of the posts.

Silverstream exploited the blindside extremely well in the first half. They scored two tries from an 8 -9 scrum play. The first of these tries was scored by Albert Polu who dashed 20 metres down the right wing side, and then scored again later in the first half dashing 40 metres down the side.

Second five-eighth Losi Filipo scored a 30 metre try in the first half, and the other try for the home side was scored by No. 8 Josh Brown shortly before halftime when fullback Kenneth Tuffin leapt high and took the kick-off and set up a ruck before Brown secured the ball and fended off three players and sprinted 25 metres to score.

St Pat’s Town kicked a penalty through centre Billy Proctor and then they scored a try just before halftime as well, to No. 8 Hannon Brighouse after a rigorous set of pick and goes.

The second half started with St Pat’s Town asserting pressure inside the 22, and they scored a try from a lineout when the ball was thrown short to prop Sefo Numia and he crashed over to make it 20-13.

Controversy then followed when a fight erupted and a penalty which went the way of Silverstream was reversed in favour of Town. They applied pressure on the line and speedy fullback Saea Paese flew over to make it 20-18.

Silverstream reserve wing Todd Svenson was sin-binned for a head high tackle, putting more pressure on Silverstream who were camped on their own goal line and then Town right wing Willie Schutz scored to make it 23-20 in his side’s favour.

Losi Filipo made a desperate break, fending off two players and running 30 metres. He was tackled into touch. Town fed the lineout and won the game.

Players to stand out for Town included prop Numia for his immense scrummaging and big ball carries, Brighouse for his bustling running and lineout work and trick first five-eighth Zac Donaldson. Blindside flanker Kevin Fauatea was also strong.

For Silverstream, Filipo was fill of running, as was No. 8 Brown, while prop Ivan Pepuleai had some big runs and, made some strong hits and had a good game.

Scots College v Wellington College

Scots College 41 (Alex Fidow, Henry Mexted, Jarimar Schuster, Connor Garden-Bachop, Peter Umaga-Jensen tries; Malo Manuao 4 cons, 1 pen) beat Wellington College 13 (Callum Watts-Pointer, Ben Murphy tries; Kemara Huaiti-Parapara pen).HT: 17-8 Scots. Yellow card: George Jacobs (Scots substitute).

Defending WelTec Premiership champions Scots College have secured a place their second consecutive Wellington final cruising to a 41-13 victory over Wellington College.

A halftime deficit of nine gave Wellington hope, but that was quickly erased as a ruthless Scots put on a clinic in the second-half to score 24 points.

Scots began the game in top gear, notching up 10 points in the opening five minutes and when show-stopping prop Alex Fidow crossed the chalk shortly after from a lineout maul, Scots was 17-0 ahead.

The score could well have ballooned further if it wasn’t for Wellington's scrambling defence.

Second five-eighth Thomas Umaga-Jensen made a trademark break only to be taken to ground two-metres short of the line by Hauiti-Parapara, then the other Umaga-Jensen twin was denied agonisingly short.

Wellington finally got into the game moments before halftime. Hauitia-Parapara nudged over a penalty and then replacement Callum Watts-Pointer found his way over the line on the left flank.

Scots started the second-half briskly. Wing Connor Garden-Bachop scored a try after a break by centre Joe Boswell.

Next to score for Scots was lock Henry Mexted who burrowed his way over from close-range after replacement wing Jack Grey regathered a kick deep in Wellington's half.

Perhaps the standout try of the game followed. Peter Umaga-Jensen had no warrant to run down a tight blind, but did so anyway, and was rewarded for his will, beating five defenders en-route to a 50-metre try,

Wellington were able to score a consolation try when wing Jimmy Patrick broke the Scots line on halfway and substitute wing Ben Murphy finished.

Scots were clearly the better team and were willing to attack from anywhere on the field.
Almost all of Scots’ backline deserve an honourable mention but it was the Umaga-Jensen twins who were the real gems.

The Scots locking duo of Mexted and Schuster were outstanding in both the lineout and open-field play.

Wellington College’s blindside Naitoa Ah Kuoi ran with intent and captain Hauiti-Parapara was battled gamely.