Defending champions suffer their third loss

New role for Leighton: High School Old Boys assistant coach and former Poverty Bay first five-eighth Scotty Leighton prepares to pack down as hooker alongside Myles Tawa (left) and Jody Tuhaka against YMP. HSOB have been struggling for forwards this season and Leighton answered the call. “The boys were joking that it could prolong Scotty’s career,” said former Bay lock Jonathan Poole, who was also required to pull on the boots. Picture by Paul Rickard

RUGBY

YMP dealt defending Lee Bros Shield champions High School Old Boys another blow with a 25-7 defeat in premier rugby at Barry Park on Saturday.

That makes it three losses in four games and leaves Earthwork Solutions HSOB fifth on the table. They are nine points behind OBM, 11 behind YMP and 15 behind Waikohu and Ngatapa.

“We’re happy with the win but I wouldn’t read too much into the result at this stage of the season,” Eastland Farm Vets YMP coach Steve Smith said.

“HSOB have a lot of players to come back from injury and I wouldn’t be writing them off just yet.

“They were still strong at set pieces, and in a player like JP (former Poverty Bay lock Jonathan Poole) they have a player who knows how to win lineouts and disrupt the opposition’s throw.”

YMP first five-eighth Brian Whaitiri-White opened the scoring with a penalty, then kicked another. Halfback and player of the day Quinnton Pari-Collins scored the first try of the game following good work from his forwards. Whaitiri-White converted for a 13-0 lead.

“The try was similar to the one he scored against Waikohu last week,” Smith said.

“The forwards combined well to take us close to the line, then Quinny finished it off. He’s having a good season.”

More points came from tries to winger Christy Stuart and captain Reihana Wyllie, and a conversion by Whaitiri-White.

For HSOB, halfback Scott Tallott scored a try, which was converted by first-five Baxter Mackay.

For YMP, it was the perfect response to their defeat by Waikohu last week.

“I was pleased with the way the boys lifted themselves after last week’s disappointment,” Smith said.

“And I was particularly pleased with the try by Rei (Wyllie). It came after a series of phases, which is something we have been working on this season. In the past we have tried to get the ball out wide too early, but we’re looking for a bit more patience and structure this season.”

Others to stand out for YMP were fullback Jayden Milner (two points), hooker Shayde Skudder (one point) and second-half replacement props Harmony Hauraki and Walter Shepherd, lock Simone Akurangi and No.8 Jimmy Wilson.

“We’ve now got four good props (Axel Campbell and Lewis Fleming being the other two) fighting for starting places, which is great,” Smith said.

“Simone has been training for a few weeks now and he made a big impact off the bench, as did Jimmy.”

HSOB lock Poole said: “the boys were disappointed with the outcome”.

“We’re short on numbers and Scotty (Leighton, assistant coach and Poverty Bay’s record points-scorer) played hooker.

“In the past we’ve always had plenty of numbers in the forwards and struggled for backs. This year we have plenty of backs.”

Another former Poverty Bay player lock Jared Phelps was called into action and played well. Prop Myles Tawa also earned praise from Poole.

YMP 25 (Q Pari-Collins, C Stuart, R Wyllie tries; B Whaitiri-White 2 con, 2 pen).

HSOB 7 (S Tallott try; B Mackay con).

HT: 13-0.