Collegiate 1st XV extend their lead before Wellington trip
Whanganui Collegiate’s 1st XV have the breathing space they needed on top of the points table as they now take a break from their Central North Island campaign after Wednesday’s 46-26 disposal of Lindisfarne at the school grounds.
Having played seven of their nine round robin matches, Collegiate have a 6-1 record and are 11 points clear in first place, although they have played 2-3 games more than the rest of the teams.
The team will now focus on the Quadrangular Tournament in
Wellington, before the annual match with Whanganui High School 1st XV and then returning to the CNI in late July.
Coach Steve Simpson said after poor starts in the last two games, they had spoken about being patient and applying early pressure.
Having the field position on a Lindisfarne lineout, blindside flanker
Sam Sherriff intercepted the ball and scored after 120 seconds of play.
Hooker Ben Strang, who took over the captaincy for the injured Henry
Kilmister, followed up with the second try off a good pick-and-go run from prop Tawhiwhi Karaitiana.
Lindisfarne finally swung onto attack, but Collegiate withstood the pressure and second five Te Atawhai Mason intercepted in the 22m to set up a try for first five Harry Godfrey.
The visitors regrouped and forced their way over for a converted try. However, Collegiate swooped again with lock Hunter Morrison getting the intercept and feeding fullback Beau Hourigan to run 70m for the bonus point try.
Collegiate led 22-7 at the break, but Lindisfarne started well scoring another converted try to narrow the gap to eight points. However, centre Sione Osamu stepped up to score two converted tries, getting a double for the second straight match to put his team out of reach. Lindisfarne didn’t quit trying, getting two more tries including an intercept of their own through hard-working second five Charlie Dods.
But at 36-26, Collegiate finished the match off as Strang went over for his second try from a very good lineout drive, also earning a double in consecutive matches, and then openside flanker Tom Pease finished off sustained pressure in the forwards for the team’s seventh try.
Collegiate’s first game of the Quadrangular will be against home team Wellington College on Monday, July 1, with a 1.30pm kickoff, and depending on results they will either play Christ’s College or Nelson College on Wednesday, July 3.