Rugby: Tauranga ease by New Plymouth

Tauranga Boys' First XV winger Christian Kelly sprints past a New Plymouth Boys' defender to score his second try in the big win at Nicholson Field on Saturday. Photo/Andrew Warner

The battle of the former Hurricanes was won clearly by Tauranga Boys' First XV coach Jason Spice at Nicholson Field on Saturday.

Spice's injury-depleted side turned on a superb performance in a resounding 41-17 Super Eight victory over New Plymouth Boys' High School, coached by his former team-mates Daryl Lilley and Paul Tito.

Tauranga Boys' captain Connor Fifita led by example, running errant kicks back from fullback with interest, and combining superbly with wingers Ryan Carroll and Christian Kelly.

Kelly scored two of his team's seven tries but there were plenty of other heroes in barnstorming props Kemble Frost and Leighton Hika, outstanding ball-running No8 Caleb Aperahama, and the new midfield combination of Brad Armstrong and William Ngatai.

Nippy halfback Carlos Price and first-five Israel Turner combined well and defended the inside channel, with plenty of help from tough tackling flankers Paea Lavaka and Jonty McCool.

Tauranga Boys' led 17-10 at halftime, with mobile lock Mitch Holton grabbing a brace of tries. New Plymouth based their attacking plays around second-five Legend Campus-Newton, but once he was shut down, so too were their options.

Both teams scored early in the second half to have the game poised evenly at 24-17, before Tauranga Boys' Harris Williams, Kelly and Salesi Leota scored tries to complete the rout of their long-standing traditional rivals.

"We were wounded, we were down on numbers, and for all the guys that don't play a lot to step up and put in a convincing one was very good," said Tauranga Boys' captain Fifita. "They have given a few of the starters a run for their money.

"We are happy with our start to the Super Eight. Last year we began with a win over Rotorua but couldn't follow it up, with six losses after that. That was the big talk going into this week, saying that we wanted to follow up a good performance and this was our last home game for a while, so we thought we would put on a show."

Tauranga Boys' play Napier Boys' High School away next Saturday.

Tauranga Boys' College 41 (Mitch Holton 2, Christian Kelly 2, Leighton Hika, Harris Williams, Salesi Leota tries; Carlos Price 3 cons) New Plymouth Boys' High School 17 (Michael McDonald 2, Liam Rowlands tries; Brayton Northcott-Hill con). HT: 17-10.