Nelson College top fourbound after narrow win
The Nelson College 1st XV have qualified for the national top four 1st XV rugby tournament by beating Highlanders region winners Otago Boys’ High School 28-26 in Dunedin on Saturday.
In a see-saw match where the lead changed hands five times, Nelson College withstood a late surge from the home team at Littlebourne Park to qualify for just their second top four finals appearance.
They will now travel to Palmerston North next week to meet Chiefs region winners Hamilton BHS, Blues region winners King’s College, and Hastings BHS from the Hurricanes region.
Otago opened the scoring to lead 5-0 early in the match, before Nelson flyhalf Niko Barton scored and then converted his own try to put the visitors ahead.
Both teams scored converted tries before halftime, with Barton scoring all of Nelson’s points to give them a 14-12 advantage.
Otago were the first to register points in the second half, a converted try giving them a 19-14 buffer. A crucial try in response from No 8 Taya Brown, converted by Barton, swung the match back in Nelson’s favour before a try to Hunter Griffiths pushed the advantage out to 28-19.
A late try to Otago closed the gap to two points with only minutes remaining. However, as with other recent results, Nelson were solid in defence to prevent any lastminute heartbreak.
An ecstatic Nelson College head coach Jono Phillips praised his team’s tenacity and composure, and said good ball retention and a focus on attacking the edges, which had worked during the UC Championship playoff matches, had been key factors in the win.
‘‘Otago are a very physical side, and as a group we fronted up.’’
On a day when hooker Jack McDonaldHill ran out for his 50th cap for Nelson, the pride in representing their school and wearing the blue-hooped jersey – as espoused by skipper Anton Segner during national media coverage this week – also galvanised the squad.
Phillips said preparations for the match had been helped by a large fundraising effort from parents and supporters, which enabled the team to raise $40,000 for a charter flight to Dunedin, avoiding a long bus journey after a tough few weeks with UC Championship semifinal and final matches against Christ’s College and Christchurch BHS.
Phillips credited the ‘‘phenomenal’’ support from the school community and the tireless work of team management as being as vital to the results on the paddock after a long season.