Collegiate save face as Sir Ted watches on

TED'S HEAD: One of New Zealand's most recognisable heads appeared in the Wanganui Collegiate 1st XV's changing room when Sir Graham Henry arrived to provide aftermatch solace on Saturday. PHOTO/SUPPLIED 090615WCSUPLSIR-GRAHAM

Wanganui Collegiate School's 1st XV was able to save some face in front of a legend when going down 25-7 at home to Lindisfarne on Saturday.

Former All Blacks coach Sir Graham Henry was on hand to witness Lindisfarne put 25 unanswered points on the board in the first half of the Central North Islands First XV match.

To their credit, WCS showed good fight and composure to manage to hold the visitors to 25-7 at the fulltime whistle after scoring a converted try.

WCS director of sport and special character Barry Touzel said Sir Graham had spent the day at the school visiting various facilities and watching the 1st XV rugby clash. He was also guest speaker at the Big School Dinner Club function on Saturday night.

Sir Graham also visited the team in their dressing room after the game, no doubt with some sage words that will stand the lads in good stead at their next match.

Meanwhile, the Wanganui High School 1st XV carried on its merry winning ways with a 35-19 victory over Old Boys Marist in the Manawatu Club Rugby Colts competition last weekend.

WHS is in the top four of the competition and, after already playing most of the top teams in away games, they are ready to host a series of home games with teams down the ladder starting with Dannevirke on Saturday week.

In the Ashhurst Engineering Manawatu Secondary School competition, Wanganui City College 1st XV lost 21-12 to FAHS 2nd XV, while Cullinane College's clash with PNBHS 2nd XV in Wanganui on Tuesday produced a horror result for the hosts. PNBHS 2nds thrashed Cullinane 41-3.

In the Under-15 grades, City College U15 signalled their intention for a good season after hammering Taihape Area School at home 60-0 on Saturday. The teams play in AEC Under-15 (Pool B) of the Manawatu competition. City scored 10 tries, with big forward Paki Ngaira crashing over for five.

Coach Todd Sollitt said they also beat WHS U15 45-15 the week before.

"They're working well, and doing what they're told. They've progressed now."