Nelson College are through to another schoolboy rugby final but they were made to work for it by a spirited Marlborough Boys’ College team.
Nelson’s 32-10 win on the school’s front field this afternoon means it will host Christchurch Boys High School at the same venue next Saturday to see which side will be crowned Miles Toyota 1st XV Rugby Premiership winners.
The win also means Nelson remain undefeated in 2024 but coach Jono Phillips said at full time his side were pushed hard by a young Marlborough team.
“I’m proud of our guys for how we defended at the end but credit must go to them as well, they put us under a lot of pressure and have given us a lot to work on.”
Nelson started the better of the two teams scoring four first half tries, two either side of Marlborough’s try to lead 22-5 at half time. Nelson’s ability to pin Marlborough inside its own 22 for long periods meant when the visitors did get their hands on the ball it was often booted into touch or to Nelson’s back field, allowing another wave of attack.
And when Marlborough lost its talented captain Ben Gibbons to a head knock in the first half it seemed the hosts had an opportunity to run away with the game.
But Marlborough turned the tables on their more experienced opponents, starving Nelson of possession and territory in the second half. Marlborough weren’t able to take advantage of their hard work, a misfiring line-out let Nelson off the hook deep inside its own 22 on four different occasions.
A try midway through the second half from Nelson captain Harry Inch cancelled out an earlier try to Marlborough’s Luke Zillwood from a rolling maul before Nelson substitute Zyon Ford scored late to push the final score to 32-10.
The game threw up plenty of questions for Nelson though, three second half yellow cards for infringements while defending their try line showed the pressure the visitors put them under.
Jono says there is plenty to work on. “They starved us of the ball in the second half and took away our set piece and in frustration we gave away penalties so we just didn’t get any momentum. We’ve got to look at that and make it better."
Marlborough’s players were devastated at full time, many in tears that their season is now over. Coach Tonga Taumoefolau says his players came to Nelson with the firm belief they could win the game.
“We couldn't, but the next best thing was the performance, and we did what we wanted to do. We stopped them having territory, and once we sorted that out in the second half, we spent majority in the time at their end of the field.”
He says Nelson are an “outstanding team”, so he was immensely proud of his players.
“Right now it’s about acknowledging that Nelson are a great side and we wish them all the best for next weekend but we are a young side, our whole forward pack will be back next year.”
For Nelson, it will now prepare for its biggest game of the year. Last season it lost a home final after going unbeaten during the regular season so Jono says there are plenty of players who will be hungry to ensure that doesn’t happen again.
“The players deserve to be here [in the final]. They work hard so hopefully we get a big crowd and weather like this.”
Scores:
Nelson 32 (tries; Kaelan Grafton, Samuela Takapu, Jimmy West, Kobe Brownlee, Harry Inch, Zyon Ford. Cons; Inch 1 from 6)
Marlborough Boys’ College 10 (tries; Mason Nicklin, Luke Zillwood. Cons; Leo Marfell 0 from 2).
