Defence anchors Stream victory
St Patrick’s College, Silverstream have won their first WelTec Premiership title since 2012 with a come-from-behind win over Wellington College.
Stream kept Wellington scoreless in the second half as they turned an 11-7 halftime deficit into a 17-11 win at Porirua Park on Sunday afternoon.
Right-wing Todd Svenson scored the match-winning try with 16 minutes to go, before resolute Stream defence - aided by a strong wind at their backs - helped them see out the win.
Man-of-the-match Kienan Higgins was one of many players overcome with emotion after the final whistle as they were swamped by an ecstatic mob of their school-mates.
‘‘I’m just lost for words. To actually do it, I’m speechless. We’ve been dreaming of this since year nine, it’s crazy,’’ Higgins said.
The first half set the tone for what was a tight and tense final. Stream’s vaunted backline showed signs of nerves as they dropped a number of passes early on.
A pair of Joshua Morgan Ranui penalties had Wellington up 6-0, before Stream finally got something to click in the 17th minute.
Playing into the wind, they opted for a scrum from a penalty inside the Wellington 22 - as they did throughout a first half in which they dominated possession. Livewire winger Chris Aumua - the brother of New Zealand under-20s star Asafo Aumua - was put into space from the scrum set move, before showing some neat footwork to step the Wellington fullback and go over near the posts.
But Wellington hit right back, No 8 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, crashing over with a pick-and-go.
Two key moments went against Wellington in the second half. First, Ranui was forced off with what appeared to be a concussion. Then, loose forward Mellenniumma-Gerrad Leota was sinbinned for a breakdown infringement in the 46th minute.
While he was off, Stream scored their two second-half tries.
The first saw Higgins beat a man on a scrum set piece, before putting in centre Albert Polu in the corner. That was Polu’s 15th try of the season.
Wellington put the kickoff out on the full when play resumed. From the resulting scrum firstfive and captain Harrison Boyle ghosted through the Wellington defence to almost score himself, before the ball was recycled to Svenson to carry three defenders across the line for the try.
It was a much-deserved win for Stream, who completed the WelTec Premiership undefeated.
Boyle said the final was crazy but always believed they would get there in the end.
He paid tribute to the work of Higgins and Polu outside him, while crediting the work of his forward pack.
Stream now have a Hurricanes regional semifinal at home to Palmerston North Boys’ High School next weekend.