First XV rugby: Kelston Boys’ too good for Gisborne Boys’

Gisborne Boys' High School First XV tighthead prop Kahutia Crawford (left) packs down against Kelston Boys' High School's Logan Bernard, with halfback Coen-Theros Brown ready to feed the scrum in front of opposite P.J. Polkington. Kelston Boys' High School beat Gisborne Boys' 50-0 at the Rectory on Saturday. Photo / Mahinerangi Tawhai

They were quicker than quick.

The Kelston Boys’ High School crew who beat the Gisborne Boys’ High School First XV 50-0 on Saturday possessed stunning fleetness of foot and speed through the hands.

They scored five tries to lead 33-0 by the break at the Rectory fields, but the home side showed fighting spirit to limit them to three five-pointers in the second half.

“By halftime, we knew how good they were and the challenge ahead of us, so we fought back as hard as we could,” Gisborne captain and hooker Max Hammond said.

“The first half was frustrating, but we changed our mindset, concentrated on our defence, putting more power and energy into the contact zone ... we showed pride in our school in that second half.”

On a fine day, with a crowd of 500 in attendance and Wairoa-based referee Keelyn Smith in charge, Kelston stunned their hosts with a try from the get-go.

They swung the ball from right to left, co-captain and first five Max Talbot found speedy centre Mervyn Valentine on the fly and he dotted down just 38 seconds into the game.

The Aucklanders dazzled as a unit with impressive interplay between forwards and backs. A short pass from Talbot’s twin, halfback Flynn Talbot, to co-captain and lock Maddux Bernard for try number four in the 19th minute was a beauty.

Gisborne matched their opponents at scrum time (there were no tightheads), but Kelston won five lineouts against the throw and received 15 penalties to the home team’s 12.

Despite the scoreline, Gisborne had their moments.

Ruan Ludwig produced a magnificent box kick on the right side of the ground and in the 27th minute fired the ball wide to right wing Sakenasa Senivono, only for it to be judged a forward pass.

Two minutes before the break, openside flanker Maddy Syme busted through a strong line to threaten; Hammond cleared out at the ruck like a tidal wave in the 46th minute; and left wing Rori Fukushima-Hall made three 25m breaks during the game that drew strong cover defence on each occasion.

Before halftime, Gisborne’s backs had little ball and few chances to run. After halftime, halfback Coen-Theros Brown was able to send them on their way more often and they strung together numerous good phases of play without reward.

Gisborne’s backs did their best to get stop big Kelston runners Manawanui Stewart and his midfield partner Tana-Boy Haerewa – both taking and making crunching tackles.

“We stuck to our structure at the kickoff and restarts, and executed well – we play fast,” Max Talbot said. “We’d like to thank our Gisborne hosts. We had a good night with them last night and a good game today.”

Gisborne’s Second XV showed fighting qualities but were outgunned 85-5 by their Kelston counterparts, who led 35-0 at the break. Halfback Leyton Hall and openside flanker James Briant made several excellent tackles and reserve lock Jared Pearse got them on the board with a second-half try.

Gisborne Boys’ High First XV play St Patrick’s College of Wellington at Tremain Field one, Park Island, in Napier this Saturday.