There was a lot to like about the rugby on offer at the Rectory yesterday.
Second-year Gisborne Boys’ High School head coach Duane Hihi’s first 15 lost their second game of the season 29-10 to De La Salle of Auckland yesterday.
A hat-trick of tries to left-wing Patolo Taito, one by prop
Kalani Peyroux-Donaldson and two conversions by fullback Kise Manulelua contributed to De La Salle’s win.
One try each to GBHS’ centre Kaiaio Tangira-Kerekere and co-captain openside flanker Braith Ingram rounded out their points tally.
Boys’ High led 5-0 and 10-0 with De La Salle scoring every other point from that moment on, the game being played in quarters. Poverty Bay officials Terry Reeves, Paul Brown and Joel Pearse did an excellent job of refereeing GBHS’ first home game of the season on Rectory No.1, with a student body-supplemented crowd of 1000 in attendance.
De La Salle captain halfback James Singh led his team with distinction on the college’s first trip to Gisborne. He said: “”It was challenging — we were tested at the line-out, around the ruck. It was a fast game. GBHS played very well with their structure — their backs were nippy.
It was great to be billeted and mingle. We’d love to come back.”
Hihi was pleased with his team’s gutsy showing — their tackling, throughout both forwards and backs, was excellent early on. The heat, skill and speed of the opposition tested their endurance but Hihi knows that he has spirited material to work with.
“The boys did quite well today and were in the fight, but just couldn’t finish the job in the end,” he said. “It’s still early days, and we’re trying combinations, but against a top four team in Auckland, I’m very proud of the effort.”
