Rugby: Collegiate emerge victorious

First-five eighth Stephen Perofeta dots down the first of Collegiate's tries against Rathkeale yesterday. Photo/Bevan Conley

For the second year on end the annual 1st XV rugby clash between Wanganui Collegiate and Rathkeale College came down to the wire yesterday.

With the advantage of home turf Collegiate emerged victorious winning 19-15 against the Wairarapa-based school and claimed four valuable points toward the Tane Randall Cup in the Central North Island Secondary Schools competition. Last year Collegiate held Rathkeale to just two points.

Playing in a strong cross wind both sides grappled to retain the ball in a stop-start affair, although much of the first spell was played in the visitor's half.

If there was a star of the match it would have to have been Collegiate first-five Stephen Perofeta who scored two first half tries for the home side, converting just one.

Rathkeale kept within reach scoring out wide just before the half-time whistle after a series of penalties in Collegiate's half. One of the penalties resulted in Collegiate flanker Nick Cave being sin-binned for a late charge.

The 12-5 half-time score and the time Collegiate had spent in Rathkeale's half suggested the home side might run away with the match in the second spell. Rathkeale, however, had other ideas.

Collegiate coach Dennis Edwards praised an early second half try set up by the Rathkeale forwards. "The entire match was a stop-start game with players looking for the ball and I think our guys thought they might run away with the game after the first half," Edwards said yesterday. "They scored a good forward try early in the second half and it was a very good try and then we got another when Te Aturere Albert scored. I had him play No8 in the first half, then moved him back to his normal spot on the side of the scrum in the second. I thought Stephen (Perofeta) had a good game scoring two tries and kicking a couple of conversions, but the cross wind did pose problems.

"We are currently sitting fourth of eight, although we are a game ahead of the rest and have some tough games coming up."

The match was arguably the main event on the programme yesterday during the annual clash of colleges.

Each year Wanganui Collegiate, Rathkeale and St Matthew's College (a Wairarapa-based girls' school) contest rugby, hockey, football and netball.