After cruising through the early pool matches, Nelson College had to go right down to the wire to win the U15 SISSRT rugby title in Dunedin.
The Nga Toki Colts didn’t concede a point in its first three games, beating Waitaki Boys’ High 83-0, Rangiora High School 57-0 and Southland Boys’ 10-0.
It then knocked over Shirley Boys’ 19-12 and Marlborough Boys’ College 22-12 to reach the final.
Once there, NC faced Timaru Boys’ High School, the favourites by virtue of going unbeaten for two seasons.
It was almost home advantage too, at Bathgate Park, for the South Canterbury school as it had been playing in the Otago competition this season.
The showdown was a replay of last year’s final which Timaru won.
This time Nelson led 8-7 at half-time but then conceded two second-half tries to trail 21-8 with just seven minutes to go.
However, inside back Jack Westwood reeled off two brilliant 50-20 kicks to gain great field position and they capitalised both times.
Firstly through a slick backline move finished off by hard running midfield back Viliami Holani and then loosehead prop Cooper Bruning drove across the line in the final minute.
That capped a great tournament for the prolific, try-scoring team captain. Jack kept his cool and nailed the match-winning conversion for the 22-21 triumph, setting off the celebrations.
“He is some talent but it was real team effort,” enthuses head coach Isaac Russell who was assisted by Nic Smith and Leith Bruning.
All three had sons in the side. The victory was just reward for the long haul. And how is this for an ironic twist, Isaac was in the Timaru Boys’ U15 team that won the tournament staged at Nelson College in 1993.
