Rugby: Debutant helps break three-year drought

Will Tremain (with ball) scored a try.

First five-eighth Nikau McGregor kicked a match-winning conversion in his Super 8 1st XV rugby debut for Napier Boys' High School on Saturday.

It gave NBHS a 22-21 first-round win over Gisborne Boys' High School in Napier and it followed player of the day, winger Brayden Cunningham's second try with 10 minutes remaining. This was Napier's first win against Gisborne at this level in three years.

Gisborne led 14-10 at halftime. Centre Mitch Drew and flanker Will Tremain scored Napier's other tries.

Tremain and lock Toby Holden had huge workrates in the winning pack. Cunningham's defensive work matched his quality try-scoring ability.

Drew and second five-eighth Nathan Giles combined well in the midfield.

Hastings Boys' High School ran in six tries during their 40-7 away win over Palmerston North Boys' High School, their first victory in Palmerston North since 2004. Hastings led 14-7 at halftime after playing into a strong wind and manager Steven Small was rapt with how his troops handled their first outing in heavy conditions.

Fullback Danny Toala did well to slot five of his six conversion attempts in the tricky wind and also scored a try. Winger Dennon Robinson nabbed two tries and lock Tane Hohipa, blindside flanker Donovan Mataira and tighthead prop Aleki Vuki one each.

Winger Trent Hape joined Toala and Robinson as the pick of the Hastings backs. Hohipa was full of authority at set-piece time and hooker Jacob Devery had his best outing of the season for the unbeaten Hastings team, who will host NBHS at noon on Saturday.