Nelson College first XV hungry for revenge

Nelson College's first XV season starts with the team plunging their heads directly into the furnace.

The team's first game to kick off their campaign is a rematch of last year's final against Christchurch Boys High School.

With home-field advantage, they will be eager to avenge last year's 26-30 loss and push for another crack at the championship.

The second week of competition doesn't get any easier, with the team travelling to Christchurch to play a rematch of last year's semi-finals against St Bede's in an action-packed start to a busy year.

Nelson College will host this year's edition of the Quadrangular Tournament, the 98th in history, in late June.

But coach Jono Philips isn't worried, saying the team has been building well through their preparation.

"We have 20 boys who have played first XV rugby before. The expectations are high on the group, they have put pressure on themselves to perform.

"They've been working since January, so they're pretty fit. We've been focusing on fitness and skill as well as unity."

He says the disappointment of losing last year's final has provided a strong motivation to get their revenge to start this season.

"It's a huge year, especially with [Christchurch] Boys High first up."

The team, who will be captained by Harry Inch this season, have had four preseason games in the build-up to this year.

For the first time, both first and second XV teams travelled to Wellington to play St Pats Silverstream and New Plymouth Boys High School.

Jono says it was a successful trip, with ambitions to make it an annual affair with an additional team to make it a small tournament.

Nelson College opened with a win over NPBHS, 33-22, before falling short against St Pats with a 15-33 loss.

"We were giving everyone a go," says an unworried Jono.

The team's final two preseason outings were impressive performances, with a big 77-5 win over Rongotai on the school's front field before travelling to Hamner and beating St Thomas 54-12.