Late dropped goal wins traditional for Silverstream over Wellington College  

• By Adam Julian & Steven White
• Photos by Andy McArthur

There were four First XV matches that went ahead in the Wellington region today, headlined by the blockbuster St Pat’s Silverstream – Wellington College fixture that was won by St Pat’s Silverstream 16-15.  More on this match under the sub-heading below.

That Silverstream – Wellington College was one of two contests to start the fourth round of the Premiership. The other at Rongotai College saw the home team host St Bernard’s College for the Jim Ting Cup. St Bernard’s won the game 24-22 with a late try, with both sides scoring four tries apiece.

One more Premiership fixture today was to conclude the third round, with home team Wairarapa College beating Tawa College 26-15.

In a catch-up Co-ed Cup match from last week, Porirua College defeated Aotea College 70-10 this afternoon at home.

Two other Co-ed Cup matches failed to go ahead, with Mana College beating Upper Hutt College by default and Naenae College beating Wainuiomata High School by default.

Girls U15 competition matches scheduled for this afternoon were also cancelled.

Silverstream edge Wellington College in traditional

In relentless rain, whistling wind and fast- deteriorating conditions, St Pat’s Silverstream retained the Ken Gray Memorial Cup with an attritional and epic 16-15 victory over Wellington College.

A wobbly dropped goal in front of the posts from 35 metres out kicked by year 11 first five Fletcher Cooper ultimately won Silverstream a game which had four lead changes.

In the first half Silverstream played with the wind and dictated possession and territory. The first try was scored by Ashton Steere, grandson of All Black Dick Steere, when he retrieved a deft kick by openside Elijah Solomona.

Silverstream’s captain Solomona was immense with a number of brutal tackles and thrustful runs.

Wellington College regrouped and took the lead with a converted try to industrious lock wearing the cherry red headgear, Laifone Kamoto. First five Archie Sims kicked the sideline conversion and it was 7-5 to the home team.

Silverstream took the lead 8-7 with a penalty to Cooper.

A controversial incident occurred just before halftime when Wellington College hooker Seb Hopkins was red carded for a boot to the head on one of the Silverstream players. In the treacherous conditions it appeared Hopkins went to kick the ball forward and unfortunately brushed a prone Silverstream player. An attack to the head deliberate or accidental is a certain dismissal. Wellington sorely missed their busy, bustling and prolific scoring rake in the second spell.

With a one-man advantage, Silverstream capitalised on an overlap and scored a try in the same left side driveway corner as their first try to hooker Riley Brown, rushing to the line like Asafo Aumua would have back in the day.

In theory the red card should have advantaged Silverstream but it galvanised Wellington College. Like the traditional last year where Silverstream lost a player and suddenly scored 17 points in a row, Wellington College rallied and scored a try through blindside flanker Dru Faletolu. It was set up by No. 8 Z’kdeus Schwalger who showed initiative from a quick tap.

The conversion by Sims from a handy position hit the uprights, which ultimately proved costly as Silverstream held a slender 13-12 lead at this point.

For Wellington College, Schwalger was immense on the jackel throughout and made a number of muscular rushes. Jack Robinson was simallry tigerish. Openside Lazarus Webster could be referred to as the peroxide punisher – brutal and blonde.

Silverstream first five Cooper showed an ability to kick off both feet and a clearance punched deep inside the Wellington College 22 led to an astray lineout and then some assertive pick and goes and then his winning dropped goal which wobbled over to the astonishment of the terraces crowd braving the rain. Cooper actually retreated a step to avoid bouncing the ball in a bubble and provide himself more time – see clip below.

 

Wellington College attacked dutifully to the end, but they couldn’t breach the robust Silverstream defence.

No. 8 Osaiasi Manu is the cousin of All Black Peter Lakai, Enough said. Flanker Zac McGurran and lock Ryder Thomson never shirked. Little got past centre Abraham Smith and there was a resilient display by halfback Axel Dakin. Fullback William Davis was more secure than a Reserve Bank safe.

Silverstream has now won the Ken Gray Cup 53 times, to Wellington College’s 34, with seven draws. 47 of the 94 games have been decided by seven points or less.

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