Boys' High backs too classy for St Pat's Silverstream

When the Palmerston North Boys' High School 1st XV backs cut loose, the strong Wellington side from St Pat's Silverstream had no answer on a soft field at Boys' High yesterday.

Coach Trevor Will was delighted with the play of the Boys' High backs – despite the presence of two classy players in the Silverstream backline – and the 35-16 win.

"Our backs got enough ball, counter-attacked well and carved them up," Will said.

Players to stand out were halfback Jamie Booth, first-five Jason Emery, wing Paddy Hausman, young second-five Fautua Peti and centre Ngani Laumape, who offloaded superbly and set up nice tries.

Stars in the forwards were prop Nick Grogan and New Zealand Schools prospect at flanker and No8, Jackson Hemopo.

The forwards scrummed strongly against a big pack and won plenty of turnovers around the field. But the lineout remains a problem despite no lack of height.

Boys' High defended sternly as St Pat's attacked in the second half.

Boys' High thus won the Wallace Cup for the ninth year in a row. Before that Silverstream had won it four times.

Boys' High have had six wins and six losses this season.

They play New Plymouth Boys' High School in the first round of the national knockout championships in Palmerston North next month.

The Boys' High 2nd XV beat St Pat's 22-7 yesterday.

Meanwhile, home side Feilding High School suffered only their second loss of the season, going down, 8-5, to New Plymouth's Francis Douglas Memorial College yesterday.

Francis Douglas got the win when a penalty kick rebounded off an upright and over the crossbar in the final act of the match.

It was an average game by Feilding, who underestimated a Taranaki team which never let up, especially at the breakdowns. Feilding's only other loss this season was to the strong Rotorua Boys' High School 1st XV.

Feilding were missing first-five Hamish Northcott, but few of the older players excelled. The best were younger boys, subs Caleb O'Fee, Jake Anderson and Ben Whale.

With the game scoreless at halftime, Francis Douglas scored a try soon after, but Feilding came back with a try to second-five Jamie Perigo midway through the spell.

Feilding next play a Manawatu premier 1 quarterfinal against Waiopehu College on Saturday before opening their national co-ed knockout campaign against Wanganui Collegiate School's 1st XV at Feilding on August 21.

PNBHS 35 (Ngani Laumape 2, Patrick Hausman 2, tries; Jade Te Rure 3 con, 3 pen) St Pat's Silverstream 16 (2 tries, 2 pen) HT 13-8.

Francis Douglas Memorial College 8 (try, pen) Feilding HS 5 (Jamie Perigo try) HT 0-all.

Football: PNBHS 1st XI lost, 4-3, to St Pat's; PNBHS junior XI won, 4-2.

- © Fairfax NZ News