Festival atmosphere for games

PASS IT ON: Gisborne Boys’ High School first 15 No.8 Quade Tapsell looks to offload before being tackled by his King’s College opposite. Tapsell has been in good form this season and will be a key player when his side take on Wellington College at the Rectory ground tomorrow. Picture by Paul Rickard

A RUGBY-FEST will be on offer at the Rectory ground from 11am tomorrow, when the third and final round of the Hurricanes festival of rugby will be held.

“Anyone who comes along will see eight of the best first 15s in the Hurricanes region,” said Ngati Porou Seafoods Gisborne Boys’ High School coach Tom Cairns, whose side play Wellington College at 1pm.

“Hurricanes selectors will be there, and we’ve had people such as Chris Stirling (Hurricanes high-performance manager), Dan Cron (Hurricanes scrum coach) and Darren Larsen (Hurricanes development coach) in town. It’s great for our boys to be around people of this calibre.

“Chris is the man who writes contracts and he spoke to the boys about what it takes to become a professional player.

“It’s fantastic that people in the Hurricanes franchise think enough about smaller provinces such as ours to allow us to host one of the three festivals of rugby.”

As well as being an opportunity for players in the eight teams to shine, the event is also the last hit-out for Gisborne before they start their Super 8 campaign next week, away to Palmerston North Boys’ High School.

And the good news for local supporters is that skipper and flanker Naera Tipoki and first five-eighth Austin Brown are fit.

Ankle injury forced him outTipoki has been bothered by an ankle injury that forced him to miss last week’s come-from-behind 29-28 win against St Pat’s Town in Wellington.

Brown started but left the field early in the first half after aggravating an ankle injury.

“We took Austin off as a precaution,” Cairns said.

“Naera will come back as captain; Quade Tapsell led the team well last week.

“We won’t have Jakob Teneti (blindside flanker), Tame Curtis (midfield back) and Michael Tabudravu (winger), who are all injured. Apart from them, we’re at full strength for what is sure to be a tough game.

“Wellington College represent one of the biggest schools in Wellingon with a proud tradition.”

Although Cairns was happy with the courage and character of his side, who trailed St Pat’s Town 28-12 last week, he was not pleased with the amount of possession they turned over, especially in the ball-carry department.

“It’s something we have been working hard on this week.”

The first games tomorrow start at 11am, with Napier BHS playing Scots College and Hastings BHS taking on St Pat’s Silverstream.

These games are followed by the Gisborne- Wellington College clash and the Palmerston North-St Pat’s Town match, with the Gisborne game being televised live on the Sky rugby channel.

“Here’s hoping the weather holds and we get a good advertisement for Gisborne and schoolboy rugby,” Cairns said.