Rugby: Collegiate slip into minor final

NO WAY THROUGH: Wanganui Collegiate winger Ruslan Casey meets a wall in Wellington College prop Will Lilburn and hooker Nick Cave. Photo/Stuart Munro

Classic running schoolboy rugby had to be shelved in the favour of cross-country mud wrestling yesterday as Wellington College took the first step towards another Quadrangular 1st XV tournament victory by seeing off Wanganui Collegiate 31-10 at the school grounds.

Playing second on the WCS pitch, which had already hosted Nelson College's 19-6 win over Christ's College, the rain and mud intensified throughout the match as the schoolboys from the Capital, having a height and mass advantage, were able to grind their plucky hosts down while pouncing on dropped ball or slipping defenders to score three of their five tries.

Yesterday's games mean tomorrow afternoon will be a repeat of the 2013 Quadrangular tournament playoffs.

Collegiate will meet Christ's in the minor final at 12.10pm, and Wellington College will take on Nelson College in the main event at 1.45pm in their attempt to win a 12th straight title.

Led by massive prop Tristan Fuli, Wellington's pack had to work hard yesterday to get traction in the mud, but they gave their team enough time inside their opposition's dangerzone for winger Connor Fuli and second-five Sharn Robinson to score first-half tries after taking advantage of Collegiate slipping while trying to defuse attacking kicks.

Collegiate fullback Todd Inness and winger Ruslan Casey had a tough time keeping the pill under control, while first-five Stephen Perofeta ran some promising plays he was offline with some of his clearances in the wind.

As always in a mudlark, it fell to the loose forwards to try to salvage opportunities and although they were getting a pounding on attack and defence, No8 Joe Edwards and captain flanker Albert Te Atuarere never quit trying.

Wellington got back on attack after halftime with centre Pepesana Patafilo cutting through the last defender to score after buildup from Collegiate fumbling the bomb kick.

Halfback Kemara Hauiti-Parapara then darted blindside from a 15m scrum and drew the last line to give reserve winger Franscois Swartz enough room to dive over.

Collegiate wouldn't lie down as Edwards strove forward from a series of tap kicks, which second-five Charlie McCartin followed up as he came close to slipping through the line.

Breaching Wellington's 10m zone, Collegiate got the momentum to give McCartin another crack and he forced his way over for 24-10.

That scoreline might have been a fairer reflection of the contest, but Wellington were not done as Fuli went on a barging run before his team spread to reserve back Donell Anae to slide over inside the final minute.

Wellington College 31 (C Fuli, S Robinson, P Patafilo, F Swartz, D Anae tries, Swartz 2 con, K Hauiti-Parapara con) beat Wanganui Collegiate 10 (C McCartin try, S Perofeta pen, con). HT: 12-3.