Boys’ High under-14s to play in BoP tourney

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

NEXT stop, Mt Maunganui.

The Gisborne Boys’ High School under-14 rugby team will contest the Bay of Plenty Secondary Schools seven-a-side tournament for the first time at Arataki Park tomorrow.

“We want them to trust their structures but also to play what’s in front of them,” said coach Wiremu Kaa. He and Kahu Falaoa were at the helm when the u14s won three out of four games to be placed third at the Colquhoun Invitation Tournament in Palmerston North early in September.

Kaa said the team had a strong front row in Whetu King-Taufa, Matariki Kaa and Jackson MacDonald.

Halfback was Kyran Russell, John Horua was at first five-eighth, skipper and second-five Anaru Paenga-Morgan would spark things up in the midfield, and winger Caleb Billington had a ton of gas.

Reweti Ropiha, Saylahr Paaka, Irie Eyles, Clay Barry, Nik Patumaka and Mikaere Marino-Moore would provide energy off the bench.

Although the u14s were placed fourth of four teams in the Condors 7s tournament in Gisborne last weekend, Kaa’s assistant coach — LeaderBrand Poverty Bay assistant coach Dwayne Russell — took nothing but positives out of the u14s’ showing at the Rectory.

“They are strong attackers and decent defenders, which makes them a good chance,” Russell said.

“They should be hardened, having played up a grade — at under-15 level — as GBHS Black here.

“They began on Saturday with a 20-12 win against Boys’ High Red, before being beaten by the GBHS Colts — who won the grade as GBHS Green — 25-17, and going down 22-12 to a Wairoa College team that had talented players like Clayton Wesche and Hugh Taylor.

“Green had the likes of Lyric Baty and Tyrese Tuwairua-Brown, while Kahu Whaitiri stood out for Red.”

The u14s will stay at Te Wharekura o Mauao in Bethlehem tonight and do battle tomorrow in Pool B of the six-team u14 open division, with two teams from Pool A and Pool B advancing to the finals.

At Arataki Park tomorrow, Gisborne Boys’ High School play Western Heights High School at 9.20am, Rotorua Boys’ High School at 10.40am, and Tauranga Boys’ College at 12.20pm.

The semifinals and open bowl final for fifth place are to start at 2pm, with the open cup final set for 4.20pm.

GBHS under-14s: Whetu King-Taufa, Matariki Kaa, Jackson MacDonald, Kyran Russell, John Horua (vice-captain), Anaru Paenga-Morgan (captain), Caleb Billington, Reweti Ropiha, Saylahr Paaka, Irie Eyles, Clay Barry, Nik Patumaka, Mikaere Marino-Moore.