Wellington College Beat Nelson College in 150th Anniversary Clash

Wellington College: 43 (Tries: Julius Toimata (2), Z’kdeus Schwalger, Liam Phelps, Ben Willocks, Harry Baddington, Kace Fata Tolai; Conversions: Cooper Werkhoven 4)

Nelson College: 5 (Try: Lochie Bates)

HT: 31-0

Wellington College marked the 150th anniversary of the first interprovincial First XV secondary school fixture in New Zealand, as they did on July 20, 1876, defeating Nelson College. However, the 43-5 scoreline, compared to the 2-0 margin in the 19th century, was quite different.

In 2024, Nelson defeated Wellington 47-0 and had not lost to the hosts in seven meetings since 2014. Wellington’s only bigger triumph against Nelson was a 47-0 whitewash in 1990. That year, Gary Whetton was the All Blacks' captain, Nelson Mandela was released from prison, and Phil Collins’ Another Day in Paradise was a hit on the Billboard charts.

Gusting 90 km/h northerlies and sweeping rain were the opposite of paradise, but Wellington struck Nirvana in the first half, soaring to a 31-0 lead. Prop Julius Toimata started as imperiously as Caesar, snaffling a jackal turnover and then scoring a try in the corner with hands that resembled David Boon’s catch on Shane Warne’s hat-trick ball.

Wellington was feverish but disciplined, overwhelming Nelson in the rucks and kicking with precision. Loose forwards and third-year players Laifone Kamoto and Z’kdeus Schwalger were damaging.

Wellington College celebrate a 43-5 win over Nelson College Photo: @Fmmcreative

Twice, first five-eighth Cooper Werkhoven thumped a 50/22, enabling Wellington to launch plough-truck lineout drives. After two earlier misses, Werkhoven converted Wellington’s third try with a drop kick after the ball fell off the tee twice. The kick had better swerve than Rory McIlroy’s iron play in his Monday Masters win.

It was one of those days when everything went right for Wellington. Halfback Ben Willocks snipped as All Black Joey Sadler did in this clash in 1931. Centre Liam Phelps slid over the line gleefully, his symmetry with second-five Ben Faitala as natural as one can get in April.

Predictably, Wellington lacked the verve and intensity of their first-half masterpiece. Nelson managed a try by substitute hooker Lochie Bates. Captain Reiahumanaru Pouri-Lane, the younger brother of Black Ferns Sevens captain and Olympic gold medallist Risi Pouri-Lane, toiled gamely at openside. Fullback Liam Soper was the only visiting back to breach the Black and Gold wall.

“We knew they were a physical side. They hit us hard early, and we didn’t react well. Full credit to Wellington College,” Pouri-Lane said.

“We wanted to put on a performance that made our parents and old boys proud,” Kamoto said. “We had extra training this week and worked hard to improve our connections from earlier games. I always knew we had the potential to play like that, but to actually do it today was awesome. It’s special.”

The game broadcast on Sky TV was refereed by Nathan Pinder, Ollie Michie and Jack Cottrell.

Otto Rasch, a former Wellington College First XV prop (1997-1999) and coach, donated a special taonga through his business, Straight Forward Building Solutions, for this fixture. It was carved by the family of former All Black and current Wellington First XV coach Piri Weepu. The taonga is a tribute to J.P. Firth, a Nelson master who played in the first game in 1876 and was headmaster of Wellington College from 1892 to 1920, playing an influential role in the growth of rugby in both the captain and New Zealand.