Wairarapa College Shock Wellington

Wairarapa College First XV captain Bruce Kauika-Petersen was so immersed in the heat of battle on Saturday he lost track of the score.

Wellington College was down, but rallying hard. Kauika-Petersen recalls the last-minute of their Premier One clash.

"We were defending our goal line thinking we were ahead by seven when they scored. They popped over a quick drop goal and the referee blew fulltime. We thought it was a draw, but our prop yelled to me, 'We won.'"

"We saw their heads drop and couldn't believe we had won. I can't believe our prop was the only one who knew the score."

Wairarapa College: 27, Wellington College: 24 is an extraordinary result for a team in their first season Premier One rugby. Wellington College is a traditional heavyweight!

What is happening in the Wairarapa?

"We have been building for while," Kauika-Petersen says.

"The rugby culture has really changed at the school. We have a more professional approach. Our coach Mr. Senior puts in a lot of effort with pre-season training, video analysis and diets," he says.

Wairarapa College had been seeking a place in Premier One for several years. Between 2013 and 2014 they won 35 out of 45 games, including Premier Two in 2013. Wairarapa achieved 18 victories over capital based first fifteens in this period.

This season they were granted the right to play in the grading round for the top grade and duly won three games to earn their place.

On Saturday they led Wellington College 20-0 at halftime. Kauika-Petersen describes the early action.

"The first ten minutes was a stalemate, but then we made a couple of breaks and our confidence grew. We know if we stick to the game plan we can challenge anybody. We scored three tries."

What was the game plan?

"We wanted to dominate up front and get quick ball to our backs."

Kauika-Petersen tried to keep his excited team claim at halftime, but it didn't really work.

"Some of the junior players had big smiles on their faces. I warned them it would be tough to win. It would be fair to say Wellington dominated the second-half, they scored four tries, but I am proud we hung in."

Kauika-Petersen, Chester Rothery, Cam Ravenwood and Croydon Hall scored tries in a result that was a genuine shock. Coach Chris Senior says Kauika-Petersen is a vital part of the new rugby culture at Wairarapa.

"He just played his 57th game on Saturday. He is a dynamic player, who possess outstanding ball skills and vision. He spent the whole summer playing for the Wairarapa Bush sevens team and went to nationals with them. He is a positive role model to all our young boys, teaching them the importance of nutrition and training."

Kauika-Petersen started playing rugby when he was ten after a back ground in football. He has always played on the flanks after his Mum told him to "chase the ball."

For a second consecutive year he has been selected for the Hurricanes Under-18 camp, but won't attend this year as he is in Australia with the First XV. 

Kauika-Petersen plans to study in Palmerston North next year. Surprisingly beating Wellington College is not the biggest highlight of his First XV career. Kauika-Petersen shares the story about the presentation of his 50th cap.

"I thought I was only going to get a certificate for my 50th game when at most schools you get a cap. Sir Brian Lochore came to our dressing room on the occasion of my 50th game to present the jerseys. He then presented me with a cap and that was a huge honour." 

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