Boys’ High fall to late comeback

ON THE CHARGE: Gisborne Boys’ High School winger Hunter Mokomoko takes on the Scots College defence during Saturday’s Hurricanes Secondary Schools’ first 15 semifinal match at the Rectory field. The sides finished level at 33-all but Scots College made it to the final, outscoring the home team five tries to three. Pictures by Paul Rickard

SCOTS College fought back from a 30-16 deficit to draw 33-all in the Hurricanes Secondary Schools’ semifinal and eliminate Gisborne Boys’ High School first 15 — five tries to three.

“It was a bitter pill to swallow,” Ngati Porou Seafoods Gisborne Boys’ High School coach Tom Cairns said.

“It was a horrible way to end the season, and it left an empty feeling.

“We feel for the boys, especially those who were playing their last game on the Rectory field — Hunter Mokomoko, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Quinnton Pari-Collins, Sean Ormond, Angus McDonald, Saigeon Carmichael and Conrad Kutia.

“They didn’t deserve to end their season like this; they deserved better. But you have to acknowledge Scots for their fightback.

“They refused to give in and the Jensen-Umaga brothers (Peter and Thomas) and Alex Fidow (No.8) were just ridiculous. We just couldn’t contain them in the end.

“We could point to some missed tackles towards the end of a highly entertaining game but that would only be taking credit away from Scots.”

First 15 rugby is a 70-minute game and the Wellington-based defending national champions showed their class and character.

Trailing 30-16 with 10 minutes to go, they closed the gap to 30-26 before Gisborne first-five Austin Brown stretched the lead with a penalty.

“We sent on instructions to the boys that we needed to score again — knowing that if the game ended in a draw Scots would go though,” Cairns said.

But it was the visitors who had the final say with a converted try.

Gisborne skipper and lock Walker-Leawere set the tone for a great game with a storming run up the middle, which led to a try to long-striding left-winger Mokomoko, converted by Brown.

The sides then traded penalties before Scots scored the first of their five tries.

Scots went ahead with another penalty and opened a six-point gap with an unconverted try.

Brown then kicked two penalties as the sides went to the halftime break locked at 16-all.

Gisborne were first to score after the restart when they were awarded a penalty try when winger Christy Stuart was taken out as he was about to score. Brown converted.

The home side then looked to be on their way to the final when in-form No.8 Naera Tipoki dotted down and Brown added the two points.

“We had one more chance to win the game when we forced a turnover after the scores were tied but unfortunately time ran out,” Cairns said.

“The boys were naturally flat after the game but we’re proud of them.

“It’s been a big season and we’ll be back again next year.”