Wednesday, July 5, 2017 ❚ dompost.co.nz B10

College Sport in association with the Massey University Journalism School Scots maintain pace with Silverstream

LIAM HYSLOP duction to the top job as he watched his side get upset 7-3 by Wairarapa College at the Scots College are undefeated in the quarterfinal stage of the premier- WelTec Premiership and could be ship. about to get even better. It was a mighty fall for a team They trail St Patrick’s College, which made back-to-back national Silverstream by one bonus point top four finals in 2014-15, winning after six games, having rolled the title in 2014. powerhouses St Patrick’s College, ‘‘Obviously losing to Wairarapa Town (48-34), College last year was a sore point and not a (14-13) and Rongotai College (29-7) great part of our season, so we over the last three weeks. used that as part of our motivation They have a potential banana for this year,’’ Rasch said. skin match against Kapiti College ‘‘We reflected on some of the this weekend in their last match issues and problems from last before the school holidays. Kapiti season and fixed those and have lost heavily to Stream, Town and Scots College’s Jaylen Tuapola, No 15, been progressively improving.’’ Wellington this year, but they did is congratulated by Jack Gray after Given all the injuries, that upset Rongotai 19-15 on June 10. scoring against Rongotai College. improvement has come via a wide Still, given Scots’ form they range of players. Rasch said it should have no issues getting past season. Hopefully we get those would be too hard to pick the best them, with coach Sam Rasch players back, some will be back by performers in the team as so many expecting his side to continue to next term and that would be a good players had stepped up through improve as players return from bonus for us.’’ the year, but pointed to captain injury after the break. The past two wins have been Katoa and his leadership group as ‘‘This season has been quite aided by the return of midfield a strong influence on the squad. horrific in terms of injuries, we’ve back Tai Neli, who was one of ‘‘The leadership group have had probably four or five of our three Scots players alongside cap- really taken control of the team frontline forwards out. We’ve tain Moala Katoa and Jaylen this year and built a good culture.’’ closed the gap in between our Tuapola named in the 58-strong Their season is building to an firsts and seconds, with our under-18 camp that exciting conclusion, with a final seconds playing up a grade in will take place in the first week of round match against Stream Premier 3, which they’ve never the holidays. scheduled for August 5. Stream are done before, but even they have There were 10 others invited to in a similar position to Scots, had a few injuries as well. the camp from Wellington schools, having struggled last season with a ‘‘I know a lot of schools are in with Stream best represented with young squad, losing to Rongotai at the same boat as us, but this year four. the quarterfinal stage. for me has been really bad. Geoff Rasch took over as Scots head ‘‘Our boys won’t need too much Hall, who has been involved in col- coach from current motivation to play them in the last lege rugby a long time, he’s never coach Filo Tiatia last round and that will be a great seen so many injuries in one season, but it was a tough intro- game for both teams.’’ Scots College’s Isaiah Peachey takes on the Rongotai College defence on Saturday. PHOTOS: MASANORI UDAGAWA

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