A controlled display of traditional rugby skills earned Wanganui High School a well deserved 15-7 victory over arch rivals and hosts for the day Wanganui Collegiate yesterday.
In the minds of many, the local secondary schools derby was Collegiate's to win after a run of victories against strong teams both sides of the Tasman.
WHS coach Darryl Malcolm, however, had other ideas and held the faith in his first XV.
A large crowd of students, parents and supporters were treated to an awesome display of passionate rugby and the half time score of 7-7 was a fair indication of how the spell went.
For the first 15 or 20 minutes of the first half the play was all within the Collegiate half of the field with WHS applying pressure. That pressure, though, was well handled by the Collegiate lads and eventually when play made its way into Wanganui High's half the hosts applied pressure of their own with No8 Joe Edwards dotting down for a try, which was converted.
WHS' first try came late in the first spell. With just minutes to go first-five Sam Malcolm carved through a gap after receiving quality lineout ball to score under the posts. He converted to make it 7-7 at the break.
WHS captain and openside flanker Scott Bowater was subbed off after receiving two blows to the head during the first half. While he did look a tad woozy, being replaced was more of a precautionary measure. Late in the same spell WHS was a player down when centre Jesse Taupa'u-Rogan was yellow-carded for a high tackle.
In the second half WHS hit its straps and dominated, taking the lead through a penalty from Malcolm and then a try from replacement winger Vilimoni Koroi. The try was a classic with Koroi kicking and chasing, recapturing his own ball and dotting down.
Coach Malcolm had nothing but praise for his team.
"The plan was to play controlled, traditional rugby and take the opportunities when they presented and they did just that," Malcolm said.
"It's about a team as a collective and it's been in the making for three years. Fitness, winning the sevens competition earlier in the year and definitely the growing numbers playing rugby back at the school. The new and enthusiastic coaches at the school has made a huge difference - and just look at the support of the crowd today."
Meanwhile, Collegiate coach Guy Lennox had no excuses and plenty of praise for the victors.
"That was a well deserved win. It was their grand final of sorts and they wanted it more than our guys did on the day. We have been used to going out as underdogs this season and today we were probably regarded as favourites - maybe our guys thought it would just come. Our boys will bounce back - they're a good team with talent."