Palmerston North BHS beat Scots College 47-21; Napier BHS, who host Round 2 of the festival this weekend, led St Patrick’s College Town 29-0 at the break in a 43-5 win. Hastings BHS, beaten Super 8 finalists at home last year, led St Patrick’s College Silverstream 24-0 at halftime and made no further addition.
The contrast between the GBHS co-captains — tighthead prop Nathaniel Hauiti and first five-eighth Carlos Hihi, both scored tries between them — is deliciously clear.
Scrum anchor Hauiti said: “I told our boys before the game that I didn’t want to travel down to Wellington for nothing, so they stepped up.”
Hihi jr said: “I’m really proud of them because coming off a tough loss to Feilding, we knew that we had to up our game.”
Wellington College first-year head coach Charles Aliva said: “We tried to do everything at 100 miles an hour from the start but once Gisborne got into our half, their confidence grew.
“We turned the ball over, they controlled the tempo and were aggressive — a real lesson for us. Their defence was very good, physical in the midfield especially.
“Reuben (Whaitiri, Gisborne’s MVP — most valuable player — and No.8) put pressure on our inside backs and Gisborne played to the corners when they needed to.
“Dylan (Bronlund, blindside flanker) brought great energy and Gisborne did what they needed to at the right end of the park.”
With 800 in attendance on a sunny day in the capital, GBHS ran in six tries to four.
The first GBHS try was simplicity itself. From a five-metre scrum, halfback Israel Fox found Whaitiri, who passed to Hihi on a hot-step to the right corner for 5-0.
Wellington put pressure on Gisborne at times in the first half and went close to scoring.
Instead, GBHS scored again. Five metres into the hosts’ half centrefield, Bronlund picked himself up from a ruck, quickly tap-kicked the ball from a penalty and pounded his way upfield again. Ten metres from the 22, Fox cleared the ruck right to Hihi who, going the same way, chip-kicked for centre Xavier Tuapawa, who gathered it on the second bounce to score 11m in from the corner.
Hihi converted for 12-0.
GBHS were feisty and tenacious and playing with great confidence
First five Stanley Solomon — Wellington’s MVP, — and dynamic hooker Tauvaga Siolo had been the home team’s best to that point. But whatever had to be knocked back by GBHS was; whatever sneaked through was snuffed out quickly.
That held true until the 38th minute when Solomon, his crew having been awarded a penalty 12m into Gisborne’s half, took a tap-kick on the run before turning left. He lost his footing in a strong challenge but the Wellingtonians kept the ball alive, went left and tall fullback Sam Meo picked Siolo up with the last pass. The rake slid to score in the left corner.
With the conversion unsuccessful, GBHS led 12-5 at halftime.
In the 41st minute, Solomon made one of the plays of the game. From a lineout on the right just outside the Boys’ High 22, Siolo found second-rower Finbar Mallett at No.2. Halfback Devon Sopoaga hit Solomon and he, running hard, threw a dummy and then the assist of the game to second-five Jacob Kennedy who scored next to the left post.
Solomon missed the conversion attempt.
GBHS led 12-10 until the 44th minute when lock Zeke Collier went over. Nine metres from the right corner hooker Boston Morete found reserve lock Joe Kemp at 2 and Collier scored three phases of play after the initial drive.
Hihi’s conversion put GBHS 19-10 ahead.
Fifty minutes in, 13m into Wellington College territory, Hauiti latched on to an errant kick and drove down the middle. The home team’s defence held up for four phases before Hauiti scored a grand try.
Hihi converted for 26-10.
In the 60th minute, GBHS reserve left wing Hikurangi Reid scored their last try. A five-metre scrum was cleared right by Fox’s replacement, Liam Beattie. Hihi’s sleight of hand found Reid on a wrap-around angle back towards the posts.
Hihi’s conversion took the score to 31-10.
The home team finished strongly and scored tries in the 63rd and 65th minutes, with Solomon converting both. He made the first one for centre Laquan Afamiliona, then scored the second himself.
The game ran well as a spectacle due in large part to referee Tomas Roche.
GBHS face St Patrick’s College Silverstream this Saturday at 11am in Round 2.
