A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.
It's a team and a season that the Gisborne Boys' High School first 15 of 2020 will never forget.
As the 2019 side came within one point of victory, 21 to St Patrick's College Silverstream's 22, here last year and were pipped 24-21 by Napier BHS on Rectory No.1 three weeks later, the Ryan Tapsell-coached, Amos Roddick-led GBHS of 2020 lost 20-19 to Rotorua BHS at Raukura on August 1 and 22-29 to Tauranga Boys' College in Gisborne a fortnight ago.
Hooker Reweti Ropiha – a reserve in the Gisborne second 15's come-from-behind 29-19 win against New Plymouth BHS at McNaught Field last year — will skipper the seconds for the first time against New Plymouth BHS at the Rectory from 10am tomorrow, and at 11.30am first 15 skipper, openside flanker Roddick, will take them out for what, if NPBHS prevail, would be the last time at home.
Under those circumstances, it would be Roddick, tighthead prop Sione Mafileo, blindside flanker Sam Twigley, No.8 Khian Westrupp, halfback Kirk Ngatai, first five-eighth Nic Proffit and utility reserve Bryan Howard's final appearance at the Rectory.
Second-five Corbyn Peach, centre Von Huata and right wing Isaiah Lemaua may all return in 2021.
Roddick, Mafileo and Westrupp are all third-year first 15 players to have worn the jersey under Tapsell, Mark Jefferson (2019) and Tom Cairns (2018). Roddick and Proffit were named on Tuesday to attend a New Zealand Barbarians-Hurricanes age-grade camp at Napier BHS from October 28 to November 1.
But that hard-earned honour could not be further from the captain's mind.
He said: “Our team is very close, a real brotherhood: we play for each other.”
Gisborne beat 2019 national champions Hastings 17-5 here, had the measure of Rotorua and Tauranga and — if the ball had bounced more favourably on two occasions — might on July 18 have claimed the scalp of Auckland 1A powerhouse St Peter's College, who instead exited from the Rectory with a 21-10 win to retain the Boris Srhoj Cup.
Napier BHS (20-0), Palmerston North (54-10) and Hamilton (80-5) outplayed GBHS at home and in Super 8 competition, Gisborne and TBC both have seven points but TBC are sixth, Boys' High seventh, on the first “tie breaker” rule of head-to-head result — TBC, 29-22 victors here on August 29 — with points differential being the second rule applied.
New Plymouth under head coach Ricky Tito and captain, lock Rowan Slater, come to Gisborne having won 5-6 in the Super 8 this season. Slater, tighthead prop Shaun Leath, first-five Jack Parker, centre Rova Drauna, second-five Levi Rewiti and fullback Matua Robinson are all third-year players; Robinson was the toast of the Gully last year, a two-try hero in their 27-5 win at home.
New Plymouth (23pts), placed second to unbeaten Hamilton (29pts), are coming off a 25-22 win against Napier (20pts) at NBHS. At the last meeting, lock Ofa Tauatevalu's effort as GBHS Player of the Day was a high point on that tough afternoon, the hosts being 15-0 up at halftime, threatening mayhem. But historically it has been Gisborne who have run riot against New Plymouth: 50-12 here two years ago, 22-14 in 2016, 72-7 victors in 2014, 39-22 in 2012, 22-3 in 2010, 12-7 in 2008, 48-5 in 2006, in 2004 it was 20-10, 23-0 in 2002, 53-27 in 2000 and in the Super 8's inaugural year of 1998, it was 15-5.
In and before the Super 8 era, New Plymouth's first 15 have not beaten Gisborne at home in 11 attempts: GBHS have won five times at the Gully, Jamie Vette leading GBHS to their first win there, 28-17, in 1999.
It has been 50 years since mastercoach Dick Glover's 1970 team under Phil Duncan beat New Plymouth 12-6 here in front of one of the largest midweek crowds for a match at the Rectory: 7000, with gated entry by donation.
With Covid-19 alert level 2 still in effect, such a crowd would pose logistical difficulties — but GBHS rugby fans are loyal and have been known to take the action in from nearby rooftops, in the days before Sideline App's live streaming service.
The officials for tomorrow's first 15 game at 11.30am are Wairoa-based referee Matt Smith with assistant referees (1) Aaron Brown and (2) Hugh Fitzgerald. Brown will referee the second-15 fixture at 10am; both matches will be played on the Gisborne Boys' High School Rectory's No.1 ground.
Kitini Taihuka, Nathaniel Hauiti, Sione Mafileo, Max Briant, Dylan Bronlund, Sam Twigley, Amos Roddick (c), Khian Westrupp, Kirk Ngatai, Nic Proffit, Siope Fakahokotau, Corbyn Peach, Von Huata, Isaiah Lemaua, King Maxwell. R: Matariki Kaa, Tyla Keelan-Phillips, TBC, Taimana Teneti, Kyran Russell, Bryan Howard, TBC, Zeke Collier.
Moeaki Mosati, Reweti Ropiha, Hayze Nepia, Zeke Collier, Matiu Anderson, Jacob Storey, Ben Phelps, Uetaha Wanoa, Israel Fox, Bryan Howard, Jayrieon Te Ahu Ahu, Adrian Wharehinga-McDonald, Freedom Lemaua, Saylahr Paaka, Mikaere Marino-Moore. R: Drake Wanoa, Haeora King, Sitiveni Tuilautala, Whakaruru Waitai-Te Kurupa, Xavier Henare-Brown, Silas Brown, Henare Lardelli-Clarke.
Patrick Howlett, Natalie Raniu, Shaun Leath, Jacob Mitchell, Rowan Slater (c), Shacaine Enoka, Brooklyn Greer-Atkins, Che Potaka, Liam Day, Jack Parker, Samuela Vakadula, Levi Rewiti, Jone Rova, Kusitino Drauna, Matua Robinson. R: Ropata Taylor, Tyler Haupapa, Jack Gallie, Joel Turnbull, Sebastian Lauderdale-Smith, Cullum Tito, Rowan Cole.
Blake Irvine, Harry Theodore, Patrick Howlett, Caleb Nazzer, Jack Gallie, Taine McGhee, Joel Turnbull (c), Douglas Tangi, Sebastian Lauderdale-Smith, Cullum Tito, Rowan Cole, Noah Callaghan, Jayden Anaha, Tom Cutler, Zak McDonald. R: Ropata Taylor, Tyler Haupapa, William O'Donnell, Jack Graystone, Siri Rova, Jacob Berquist, Connor Nielson.