Formidable challenge as GBHS take on Scots

COURAGE CUP UNDER WAY: Rico Gear team member Jaxon Mackey on the attack in the opening Wednesday of Gisborne Boys’ High’s Courage Cup junior rugby competition. Mackey’s team beat the Toa Halafihi side 17-15. Each of the six competing sides are named after famous GBHS old boys. Picture by Paul Rickard

Tomorrow could be a day of inspiration for the Gisborne Boys’ High School first15.

The Ryan Tapsell-coached team, under captain tighthead prop Nathaniel Hauiti, face Scots College in a Tranzit Coachlines first 15 Rugby Festival game at Porirua Park at 11.30am.

Last year’s Tranzit Wellington champions Scots are formidable opponents.

They beat Lindisfarne College 36-17 (who beat Gisborne 44-5 in April), then lost to Auckland A1 powerhouses St Kentigern’s (22-13) and King’s College (48-18) last Saturday.

They last played Gisborne in May 18, 2019 beating them 50-0 at Porirua Park.

Tapsell has made four changes to the team who lost 17-10 to Feilding Agricultural High School away last Friday.

Matariki Kaa is in for Rewiti Ropiha at hooker, Matiu Anderson for Tyla Keelan-Phillips at lock, Charlie Mathias for Ben Phelps at openside flanker, AND Josh Whyte for Puna Hihi at second-five eighth.

Hauiti and company ran excellent scenarios against local premier club side Enterprise Cars OBM on Tuesday night and are up for a big performance.

“We made strides against Feilding and trained hard this week — boys and coaches doing extras,” Hauiti said. “I’m proud of this group.”

Scots, under their director of rugby Sam Rasch and second-year head coach Willy Leota, retained 18 players from their 2020 squad including captain and lock Maea Tema-Schmidt, who debuted as a Year 10 student.

“We have big runners to use up the middle of the field and Scots traditionally like to give the ball some air, so with our strike power out wide, we want to get them the ball early,” Rasch said.

Controlling tomorrow’s fixture will be Campion College old boy and second-year Wellington premier referee Matt Thomas.

Gisborne (1-15): Zeke Collier, Matariki Kaa, Nathaniel Hauiti (c), Matiu Anderson, Max Briant (v-c), Dylan Bronlund, Charlie Mathias, Nik Patumaka, Kyran Russell, Carlos Hihi, Siope Fakahokotau, Josh Whyte, Von Huata, Taimana Teneti, King Maxwell.

Reserves, 16-26: Reweti Ropiha, Uetaha Wanoa, Levi Cameron, Ben Phelps, Karlos Howe, Israel Fox, Isaiah Lemaua, Hayze Nepia, Hikurangi Reid, Puna Hihi, Reuben Whaitiri.

Scots College: Fraser Harding, Manu Latu, Semurana Fepulua’i, Archie Treadwell, Maea Tema-Schmidt (c), Will Lambie, Tana Maene-Lokeni, Aidan Christians, Muri Stewart, Kaia Brunning, Rupeni Mataele, Ietitaia Campbell, Eric Lawson (v-c), Andre Debriacher, Callum Koeberg. R: Samuela Moli, Valentine Parker, Sione Latu, Paddy Blackman, Edoardo Payano, Alex Schofield.