Waimea Combined shook off a tough pre-season to open their Miles Toyota First XV Rugby Championship campaign with a gritty 24-21 away win over St Bede’s Second XV in Christchurch.
After losing all three warm-up matches against Marlborough Boys’ College and Nelson College, Waimea Combined knew they faced a stern first-round test on the road.
Aided by a pair of break-out tries, the visitors settled quickly and raced to a commanding 24-0 halftime lead, silencing any nerves about playing away from home.
The big forward pack laid a strong platform, dominating at scrum and lineout time. Lock Jacob Gough was outstanding and earned man of the match honours, while Blake Judge impressed in the number seven jersey. In the backs, centre Jordan Moriarty produced a composed debut and first five Riley Weir controlled proceedings with confidence as Waimea Combined found their rhythm.
Tries to halfback and captain Teru Green, forwards Peter Amiatu and vice-captain Finn Price, plus a try of his own, all converted by Riley, who also added a penalty, capped a near-perfect first half in ideal running rugby conditions.
The contest turned after the break. St Bede’s responded with two converted tries to cut the margin to 10 points, feeding off an increasingly vocal home crowd. Momentum swung sharply as Waimea Combined spent much of the second half defending and struggled to secure sustained possession.
With five minutes remaining, St Bede’s crossed under the posts to narrow the gap to just three points at 24-21. Under intense pressure, and with ball turnover a constant challenge, Waimea Combined showed real character to repel repeated attacks.
The decisive moment came in the final play when a strong covering tackle from Jordan forced an error, sealing a hard-earned victory for the visitors.
For 11 members of the 22-strong travelling squad making their Waimea Combined debut, the ability to hold on in a high-paced contest underlined the team culture required across the combined schools First XV programme.
At the after-match function, two Golden Bay High School players were presented with their 20-match caps. Teru and lock Liam Egan are part of a small group of dedicated Golden Bay-based players who make the journey over the Takaka Hill twice a week to train in Richmond.
Waimea Combined are back on the road this week, returning to Christchurch to face St Thomas’ Second XV.
