St Pat's Town hoping for American Ambassador's and Condors 7s success

Above: Members of the St Pat’s Town celebrating beating Scots College in their recent Secondary Schools Condor 7s semi-final. On Saturday they and St Pat’s Silverstream line up in the Colts grade of the Wellington Ambassador’s 7s at Trentham Memorial Park.

St. Patrick’s College, Wellington wasn’t expected to win the Wellington Sevens title. Then again they weren’t expected to win the First XV crown either. However the Town boys are riding a crest of a wave.

They captured Premier One honours for the first time since 1995 and on Labour Day added the Christian Cullen trophy to their collection of silverware.

Scots College were the favourites to win the Wellington Sevens, especially given their runners up status at the Condor Sevens for the past two years.

However a hungry Town made an aggressive start and eliminated Scots in the semi-finals. Early tries to Keelan Whitman, Willie Schutz and Xavier Numia proved to be damaging.

In the final Town burst to a 15-0 lead against St. Patrick’s College, Silverstream and never lost their advantage, eventually winning 34-19. Fierce defence, Stream ill-discipline, including two yellow cards, and pace on the flanks was the catalyst for Town’s success.

Siosaia Paese, Thomas Noble-Campbell and Billy Proctor scored the early tries. The Whitman brothers (Keelan and Grayson) each crossed in the second-half.  New Zealand Schools hooker Asafo Aumua was rampant and scored a consolation hat-trick for Silverstream, but his efforts alone weren’t sufficient to blunt Town.

Interestingly St. Patrick’s College, Wellington has a long and proud history in sevens. The Wellington Rugby Union first introduced Seven-A-Side Tournaments, as the official opening of each annual rugby season, in 1909. St. Patrick’s College was one of the original 12 teams which entered the tournament for 20 consecutive years from 1909 until 1928, when the Wellington Secondary Schools competition was introduced. Over that period, Town won the title a total of six times.

Can Town win the Condor Sevens?

That will be a tall order however they have a compelling team.

The side is captained by Thomas Noble-Campbell. The head prefect had little involvement in the 15-aside season, but is the brother of Wellington Under-19 rep and McEvedy Shield winning captain Alecs. He brings pace and maturity.

The Whitman brothers are very much the engine room. Both have a great work ethic and were standouts in the Wellington Sevens with their defensive hustle and ability to draw in defenders with ball in hand.

New Zealand Schools prop Xavier Numia proved to be a handful. The Year 12 former sprinter is 101kg and has an exceptional turn of pace for a tight forward. Additionally swift footwork, good balls skills and big defence makes him a key player.

On the subject of sprinting, Billy Procter and Siosaia Paese are the speed merchants. The former is the son of ex Wellington representative Phil and younger brother of Hurricane Matt. Billy scored two tries in the Premier One final and was a standout in the Wellington Under-16′s Hurricanes regional winning team.

Paese was a mainstay of the First XV for three years. His searing pace resulted in Town’s first try against Silverstream on Labour Day. A good footballer who was under- utilised in the fifteens, despite Town claiming honours in the capital.

Town was hammered by Hastings Boys’ High School in the final of the Hurricanes Sevens. They recovered swiftly from that setback to capture the Wellington title. Like their fifteen-aside fortunate’s rapid improvement has been a theme for Town this season. Underestimate Town at your peril.

Town are coached by Galu Letiu and Pio Savali.

The draw for this weekend's American Ambassador's 7s is pending.