Blindside flanker-cum-right wing Hikurangi Reid scored four of them, one
from flanker and three from the wing.
Tries were also scored by hooker Riley Kururangi, lock Dylan Bronlund, openside flanker Geordie Sawyer, captain and first five-eighth Carlos Hihi, left wing Wiremu Maxwell, centre Xavier Henare, and co-captain and fullback King Maxwell. Hihi kicked three conversions and Maxwell, one.
The Turanganui a Kiwa team comprised players from Campion College, Lytton High School, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Nga Uri a Maui and Te Karaka Area School. They hit the final on the back of their fourth win of a six-game season. They had beaten GBHS Green 56-32 in the semifinal. The team came together under three co-captains: Campion lock Max Briant, Lytton flanker Tui Leilua-Tuwairua and Nga Uri a Maui first-five Adrian Wharehinga-McDonald, TAK’s player of the day in the final.
An unselfish, skilfully slick Boys’ High team led 30-0 at halftime. Hihi is a great talent, and created opportunities for the outside backs to attack space and run hard to finish passing movements.
Henare made a great tackle on TAK left wing Jack Sadler early in the game but the 6ft 5in Briant made the tackle of the final following the break. He descended on a flying Reid at halfway.
TAK scored second-half tries through No.8 Isaiah Moran and Wharehinga-McDonald.
Moran is incredibly strong and a player of rare promise.
Gisborne Boys’ High School are a well-settled team with Super 8 experience; TAK coaches Mark Naden, Miah Nikora, Ash Edwards and Marty Davis did rugby a great service in bringing the Year 9-10 composite team together. That those players were exposed to the professional knowledge and experience of Nikora and Davis is fantastic.
Boys’ High co-captain King Maxwell said his team deserved the win.
“It was good to see structure throughout the game because we’ve had players under an injury cloud,” he said.
“We head to the Colquhoun Invitation Tournament in Palmerston North this Sunday and while the first 15 jersey is a long-term goal for all of us, we’re focused on the now.”
Briant spoke for Turanganui a Kiwa: “We played well on attack in the second half and our defence improved in the second half, too.”
