A powerful forward pack, especially at scrum time, coupled with strong defence, laid the foundation for Waitaki Boys High School's first XV defeating St Kevin's College 19-8 at Whitestone Contracting Stadium in Oamaru yesterday.
It was the first win for the Waitaki Boys' High School side in the derby game since 2012.
Led by dogged front rowers Peter Armstrong, Kafa Katoa and George Campbell, Waitaki Boys' had the edge at scrum time,an edge that a very capable halfback in Kieran McClea made the most of with some subtle variations of play.
The Waitaki loose forwards, especially big No8 Maka Mafileo and openside flanker Sailosi Vea, stood out with a powerful defence, which negated much of St Kevin's tactic of one-off runners.
In the backs, apart from McClea, first five-eighth Daniel Halalolo was astute while centre Funaki Lavemai made some crashing tackles. Bryden Skinner was capable on defence but was not allowed to utilise his undoubted attacking abilities.
St Kevin's No8 Will Sunderland was the crux of the eight.
Korey Patrick and Mitch Moran took good lineout ball while prop Kelipi Funaki and Paea Palaa, who came on later in the game, were used as powerful ball carriers.
In the backs, Levi Emery showed his class, especially in the first half with accurate kicking and probing on defence, while Simon Lilicama, probably the danger man in the College backline, was given too few opportunities in space to show his talents.
Fullback Ben McCarthy gave indications of real talent but was too often in defensive mode.
St Kevin's opened the scoring in impressive fashion when in the fourth minute, 10m inside the Waitaki Boys half, a shattering tackle on Lavemai saw the ball jolted free and Lilicama was on to it in a flash to toe ahead and a perfect bounce put him across in the corner.
Eight minutes later, from a scrum a penalty inside the St Kevin's 22, Waitaki opted to scrum again and No8 Mafileo surged off the back to score and Mason Kinzett converted.
Five minutes from halftime, with Waitaki Boys' exerting real pressure, McClea skipped away on the side and reverse-passed to hooker Katoa, who dived over.
Waitaki Boys had to wait until 16 minutes from fulltime to next breach the St Kevin's defence, when a defensive clearing kick under the posts was charged down and Lavemai was on hand to score. Kinzett's conversion took the side out to a 19-5 lead.
Three minutes later, Emery kicked a penalty for St Kevin's. St Kevin's tried to press in the dying stages but was kept out.
- Terry O'Neill
WBHS v St Kevin's
The scores
Waitaki Boys 19
Maka Mafileo, Kafa Katoa, Funaki Lavemai tries; Mason Kinzett 2 con
St Kevin's College 8
Simon Lilicama try, Levi Emery penHalftime: 12-5
