PATRICK SMITH
Waimea Combined Schools (WCS) First XV produced a remarkable comeback to beat previously unbeaten Mid Canterbury Combined (MCC) 29–26 at Sports Park Motueka on Saturday, in the Miles Toyota 1st XV Championship.
The hosts were braced for a physical contest and MCC struck early, crossing soon after kick-off and then repelling a series of WCS attacks on their goal line. With their powerful forwards gaining momentum, the visitors surged to two tries before WCS got on the board through hooker Finn Price after the ball was moved wide.
MCC added another before the break as missed tackles hurt the hosts, taking a commanding 21–5 lead into halftime. When MCC scored again within five minutes of the restart to extend their lead to 26–5, the game looked all but over.
A stern halftime message from forwards coach Kendall Riley began to take effect as WCS lifted their intensity, coincidentally attacking towards the new Huia clubrooms under construction.
Replacement hooker Regan Thomson sparked the revival, scoring as WCS again shifted the ball wide. First five Riley Weir converted to close the gap to 26–12.
Second five Harry Stilwell then showed sharp vision, exploiting space on the right after sustained pressure through multiple phases. With MCC outnumbered, Harry crossed to bring it back to 26–17.
With momentum building, WCS found their rhythm as both forwards and backs combined to create line breaks while the visitors began to tire and concede penalties. Sustained pressure on the MCC line paid off when Riley darted over from a pick-and-go, cutting the deficit to 26–22 with 15 minutes remaining.
The hosts began to dominate the set piece, particularly at scrum time, and disrupted MCC ball at lineout. Man of the Match Finn Price and prop Peter Amiatu caused constant problems with strong carries and acceleration.
With less than 10 minutes to play, WCS earned a penalty and kicked for the corner. From the ensuing lineout, a well-executed driving maul forced repeated infringements, resulting in a penalty try that gave the hosts the lead for the first time at 29–26.
WCS held their nerve in the closing stages, showing composure to secure a memorable win in front of a delighted home crowd.
In the forwards, Liam Egan and Jacob Gough consistently got over the gain line, while Preston Tuala impressed out of position at centre, having shifted from the forwards to cover unavailability, contributing with strong defence and running.
The result also highlighted the strength of country rugby, with 11 of the starting 15 coming from Golden Bay High School and Motueka High School, alongside teammates from Murchison Area School, Garin College and Waimea College.
Waimea Combined next host unbeaten Rangiora High School at Garin College this Saturday as the tight 11-team competition continues, with WCS sitting fifth and looking for another strong performance before their bye.
