The showdown between midfield rugby backs and emerging league players Vili Holani and Hemi Togia was a feature of Nelson College’s 27-all draw with St Thomas of Canterbury on Saturday.
Hemi cracked the NC defence, close to the line, to score the second try as St Thomas went 10-0 up but Vili wasn’t about to be upstaged and produced a searing a kick return run which led to his side’s first try to winger Joseph Schwenke.
Vili also made the break to put his returning captain Rei Pouri-Lane away for the fourth try which levelled the scores at 27-all.
“It was great to have Rei back. He lifts all of us and makes us better,” declares the Year 10 student, who has been a standout all season.
Vili and Hemi got together after the match and were complementary of each other.
“He’s big,” says Vili, of his Year 12 counterpart who signed a three-year contract with the One New Zealand Warriors earlier this year and will play in the SG Ball competition next season.
Hemi is looking forward to Vili joining him at the club.
“He will go good when he goes up to Auckland,” insists the bruising midfielder.
Vili confirms he will travel to Auckland in November for the Warriors age grade pre-season and hopes to play in the U16 Harold Matthews Cup next year.
“It’s pretty exciting. I think I can stay down here and fly up to Auckland for games,” says the Wakefield teenager who only recently turned 15.
With his starring role for Nelson College this season, the utility back didn’t get much opportunity to play league as well.
He moved between the midfield and wing during the Miles Toyota 1st XV premiership.
“I prefer second five because you can get your hands on the ball more.”
He’s following in his father Sione’s footsteps.
Dad came out from Tonga when he was 13, went to Nayland College and then switched to Nelson College where he played in the 1st XV as a second five as well.
Sione went on to represent Nelson Bays and was an original Tasman Mako.
“He’s been a big influence on me,” confirms Vili who is the oldest of four siblings.
“Vili trains pretty hard and I am really proud with what he has achieved so far,” says Sione.
“But he’s not as fast as I was,” laughs Dad who played one rugby league match while at Nelson College.
As for Saturday’s 27-all draw, Vili admits it was frustrating.
“We made too many errors.”
And a big one right at the end of the match almost consigned Nelson College to a shock defeat.
Awarded a penalty on its own 22m line, Nelson packed down a scrum only to be penalised.
The resulting St Thomas penalty goal attempt hit the upright, bounced away and Blenheim referee Cody Golding whistled full time.
NC finished fifth in the standings and faces a road trip for the play-offs this weekend while the three points ensured St Thomas would qualify for the top six too.
The visitors, a proud rugby league nursery, were happy with that as they have 17 Year 12 students in their rugby ranks.
