St Pat’s Town win 2015 Wellington First XV title

The curse of the top qualifier continues.

St. Pat’s Town have won the WelTec Premiership title for the first time since 1995 upsetting top of the table Scots College, 19-8 in the final at Porirua Park this afternoon.

Watch some video highlights here 

Remarkably the top ranked school in the round-robin hasn't won the Wellington Championship since 2009.

For Scots it was their first defeat in 14 Premier One games and just their second loss in the last 32 games.

Feverish defence was the key ingredient for Town. Scots enjoyed at least two thirds of possession, but except for a Peter Umaga-Jensen try in the 58th minute from a 20-metre Malo Manuao pass, Scots could not inflict scoreboard damage.

Manuao opened the scoring in the first minute by kicking a 40-metre penalty after Town No.8 Hannon Brighouse was isolated and failed to realise the ball.

Town's forwards were full of bustle and a barging 20-metre run by loose head Xavier Nuima created the first try. Openside Jack Nelson-Murray dived over from the quick ruck ball that followed.

Town employed a rush defence and rattled Scots into mistakes. Two loose passes led to two tries by centre Billy Procter. The first pass hit the ground and Procter collected and ran 20-metres. The second was a clean intercept and he rushed 60-metres to score.

Town led 19-3 at halftime and turned with the wind. They tried to keep Scots caged in their half by kicking the ball. Procter missed two penalty kicks, but Scots made most of the play, blowing several chances to score.

Flanker Harry Saker dropped the ball with the goal line wide open after a break by Thomas Umaga-Jensen. Thomas made three clean breaks in the first 15 minutes after halftime that yielded no profit.   

In the 51st minute Peter Umaga-Jensen broke 50-metres from fullback, but the last pass went astray. Alex Fidow and Peter Umaga-Jensen combined to breach the Town defence, but again it held firm. There was no way through the blue wall.

In the final ten minutes Scots wing Connor Garden-Bachop was tackled into the corner flag by Nelson-Murray and Paese. Harry Saker was toppled by Procter while stretching to score. Pasese ran down wing Alex Cannons and Henry Mexted was penalised for offside having thought he scored from a charge down.

For Town this was a stirring team effort, but Nuima, Brighouse, blindside Kevin Fauatea, lock John Tuia and first-five Zac Donaldson were especially influential.

The Umaga-Jensen twins must be certain selections for the New Zealand Schools', Fidow was his usual bustling self, but outside of these three players Scots today lacked genuine threats.

Both schools can still make the National Top Four. Scots will have to play Wanganui High School and Gisborne Boys' High School at the Rectory to qualify for the Hurricanes final. Town will play Hastings Boys’ High School.