Better team won — Cairns

Pictures by Paul Rickard

GISBORNE Boys’ High School first 15 coach Tom Cairns said his team were beaten by the better team on the day, following a 22-7 loss to Super 8 leaders Hastings here on Saturday.

“We didn’t get a lot of ball in the first half due to the pressure Hastings put us under and when we did get our hands on the ball we turned it over, again, due in part to the pressure,” said Cairns, whose Ngati Porou Seafoods GBHS side face another tough game when they play New Plymouth BH at the Rectory on Saturday.

Lessons to be learned“We’ve no excuse we were beaten by the better team on the day. Their second try was beautiful rugby. But as coaches we were happy with the way the boys came back in the second half. As long as they continue to make that type of effort and show the fight they showed we’re proud of them. There were lessons to be learned and hopefully by the end of the year we’ll get a chance to put some of those lessons into place.”

Hastings opened the scoring after five minutes through an unconverted try to leftwinger Trent Hape.

The visitors stretched their lead 15 minutes later when tighthead prop Alex Vuki finished off a superb move involving first-five-eighth Lincoln McClutchie and halfback Folou Fakatava, with a five pointer. McClutchie and Folou were in outstanding form, controlling the game brilliantly.

“They got good front-foot ball to work with and used it well,” Cairns said.

Halftime score of 15-0Hastings fullback Danny Toala, another to impress, then made it 15-0 at halftime with an individual try. Four minutes into the last 35 minutes, second five Liam Udy-Johns crossed the line and Toala converted for a 22-0 lead.

Ngati Porou Seafoods GBHS, with several players making comebacks from long term injuries, were out on their feet. To their credit they regrouped and threw everything, bar the kitchen sink, at the competition leaders and were rewarded with a try to Tyler Symon-Burke with 10 minutes to play. First five Austin Brown converted.

Gisborne came close to scoring another try when the forwards and backs combined to camp inside the Hastings 22 but were denied by solid and well-organised defence.

The home side looked to have scored a second try with five minutes remaining, only for referee Damien Macpherson, who Cairns said had “an excellent game” to rule held up.

“We’ve no complaints. Damien’s a great young up-and-coming referee.”

While Cairns offered no excuses Gisborne were without regular hooker, Colby Putnam and backs, Tame Curtis, Nathan Rangihuna, Michael Tabudravu and Manahi Tipoki.