Nelson College avenge historic loss

In a rematch of the country’s inaugural rugby game, Nelson College and Nelson Rugby Football Club squared off again this afternoon, 151 years after their first meeting.

Nelson College went down 2-0 on that occasion and managed to reverse that result in a far more high-scoring encounter today, triumphing 57-24.

Nelson RFC was fielding an understrength by certainly not undersized side, with a noticeable discrepancy between the two teams.

College weathered the storm of their bigger and more experienced opposition however, outscoring Nelson RFC nine tries to four.

Netani Baleisomosomo continues to develop in his second year with the first xv, scoring a blistering hat-trick in a standout performance.

The blockbusting flanker opened college’s account as he managed to power his way over with three Nelson defenders swarming him.

The hosts went in again after Hunter Leppien sold a dummy which was bought by the Nelson’s defence as they found themselves 14-0 down after just ten minutes.

Nelson RFC eventually got on the board as college struggled to contain their much larger counterparts from close range.

College struck straight back with a stunner as Nic Sauria cut Nelson’s defence to shreds on a kick return before he linked up with halfback Will Thornalley looming up on the inside.

Isaiah Malaulau went in for a try against his old side to see Nelson trail by nine at the end of the first period.

Larry Banse took a quick tap and scored to kick off the middle period as Nelson looked to close the gap, but it was immediately restored as Cooper Grant picked off an intercept an went in under the bar.

Baleisomosomo brought the crowd to its feet when he exploded through a gap and stormed 50 metres to score a sensational try.

A fifth soon followed as Jayden Waharoa stood up his opposite and set up replacement halfback Patrick Beggs.

The fireworks continued courtesy of another scintillating long-range run, this time by replacement Tuterangi Stone-Willimas who showed great speed to evade the cover.

Dylan Turnbull pulled one back for Nelson before the half century was brought up by college on the back of another strong run by Hunter Leppien.

Plenty of changes and player fatigue saw the scoring slow in the final period.

It took until the final minute of the period for more points, but it was worth the wait as Baleisomosomo scored his third and arguably best.

The giant Fijian saw off several defenders again to put an exclamation point on a dominant performance.

Scorers:

Nelson College 57 (Baleisomosomo 3, H Leppien, Grant, Beggs, Thornalley, Stone-Williams, Tafia, tries, Lawton 3 cons, Grant 2, Thornally 1)

Nelson RFC 24 (Tupuola, Malaulau, Banse, Turnbull, tries, Jacobs 2 cons)