GBHS 2nd 15 show courage under late fire

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

A blood-and-guts performance earned Gisborne Boys’ High School second 15 victory over Napier Boys’ High in Gisborne on Saturday.

Coach Mike Kora’s team opened their Super 8 campaign at home with a 13-7 win at the Rectory.

Cody Tarei was the try-scorer and first five-eighth David Gray the sharpshooter who kicked the conversion and penalties to win it.

Giant lock Tarei scored in the 21st minute, and Gray’s conversion gave GBHS a 7-0 halftime lead.

Left wing Enzo St Leger scored for Napier six minutes after the break and second-five Zach Forster’s conversion drew the sky blues level.

After 51 minutes, Gray kicked a penalty goal from 41 metres out to put Gisborne 10-7 up and, in the 60th minute, he kicked a penalty goal for 13-7.

The visitors, under captain and lock Conrad Awatere Maden, spent the last five minutes on the GBHS goal-line in the vicinity of the posts.

They did not cut the line.

The match was fought desperately hard but clean and fair to the last.

GBHS coach Kora was a proud man.

“Lock Eugene Paul had a blinder at the lineout and around the field — he was our MVP (Most Valuable Player). We won all of our scrums. The boys were strong in that area.

“Out wide, right wing Storm Henare was awesome with ball in hand. That’s where we ate up the metres.

“Lukas Fry replaced Bekko Page at openside flanker and made a big impact with five penalty turnovers.

“The captain, Impala Waipara at second-five, and David Gray were also outstanding.”