School rivalry comes to fore

ATTRACTING ATTENTION: Collegiate First XV flanker Reuben Kellow has to deal with three Te Aute College defenders in their game on the No 1 ground. PHOTO/STUART MUNRO

IT WAS a double shot for the Wanganui Collegiate sports teams as they hosted both Hawke's Bay's Te Aute College and New Plymouth Girls' High School for a sports exchange on Wednesday.

The girls' sports were played against the Taranaki visitors on the netball, football and hockey fields, while the boy's games were the rugby fixtures against Te Aute, the rivalry for the First XV fixture going back over 100 years.

In the netball, the WCS Senior A team were beaten by five goals.

Barry Touzel, WCS director of extra-curricular, said the game was in the balance until late in the fixture when the NPGHS shooting made the difference.

The Junior A side was outplayed by a strong NPGHS outfit, who won comfortably by 20 goals.

WCS First XI managed a well-deserved 3-2 win, with the goal scorers being Ella Goddard, Mackenzie Doyle and Sophie Ensor.

It was an identical score in the hockey, where WCS won 3-2 after making all the play in the first half, before the visitors hit back in the second stanza in a well-contested game.

On the rugby field, the WCS Under-15's got the ball rolling with a close 33-29 victory.

Touzel said the home side dominated the first half, before the momentum went the other way after halftime with Te Aute running strongly in the midfield.

"The deciding try [was] scored by WCS fullback late in the second half after some individual opportunism," said Touzel.

"A very entertaining match enjoyed by all and played in a wonderful spirit."

Then the main match got underway and the WCS First XV proved too strong, running out 55-3 winners.

A big shower of rain early in the first half threatened to put a damper on the match, but the weather cleared and both teams continued trying to run the ball at every opportunity

Touzel said the Te Aute backline had a crack but were well defended by WCS, who in turn attacked out wide to score tries.

"Both teams excelled in trying and slippery conditions, with WCS's control, good tight defence and ability to breach the Te Aute defence ... was the difference."

Wanganui High School have their own home sports exchange with Hawera High School next Thursday.