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THAT’S more like it.
Just 72 hours after being swept by Kelston, Gisborne Boys’ High School rugby bounced back in epic style last night.
The first 15 beat St Edmund’s College of Canberra 45-35 in a thrilling display of running rugby.
Twelve tries were scored, seven to Gisborne Boys’ High.
St Edmund’s captain Brendan Jimenez converted all five of the visitors’ tries — scoring twice from fullback in the process — while Boys’ High skipper and openside flanker Dylan Hall’s crew gave the 500-strong crowd every reason not to miss a home game from now on.
“The boys appreciate the support we get from the public and that was, as always, an awesome turnout,” Hall said.
“We still have a lot to work on but we scored some very good tries. We’re pretty happy with the performance.”
Gisborne Boys’ High fullback Moses Christie shot down the left sideline to score two minutes into the game and at the seven-minute mark, left-wing TK Reihana dotted down for 12-0. First five-eighth Quinn Collard converted for 14-0.
Jimenez scored, Boys’ High reserve Matt Proffit scored after 15 minutes and centre-cum-second-five Poumana Gemmell bagged the home team’s fourth first half try for 24-7.
But the Australians had the last word before the break, when from a ruck 15 metres off the left sideline and a metre short of the goal-line, halfback Ben Magro darted right to open up space for St Edmund’s player of the day, blindside flanker Davea Teoteo. He hit the inside pass to score, which with Jimenez’s conversion cut the Boys’ High lead to 10 points, 24-14, at halftime.
Reihana’s great hands and Christie’s hyper-step threatened mayhem following the resumptionReihana’s great hands and Christie’s hyper-step threatened mayhem following the resumption. The left-wing picked up a tough pass low, got the ball back infield off his sideline for second-five-cum-centre Michael Fox to score.
St Edmund’s reserve openside flanker Kyle McCarron punished Gisborne for some loose play in the 44th minute. In the 47th minute, first-five Daniel Shaw burst out of his own red zone at incredible speed. Neither support players nor would-be tacklers could get anywhere near him as he scored a sensational individual try.
Jimenez’s conversion closed the score to 31-28.
Lock Ofa Tauatevalu scored in the 51st minute and halfback Quintony Ngatai crossed for Gisborne’s last try, in the 62nd minute. Collard converted.
Jimenez then scored his second try and kicked the goal to make the final score 45-35 in Boys’ High’s favourJimenez then scored his second try and kicked the goal to make the final score 45-35 in Boys’ High’s favour. Both teams played positive rugby throughout and, between tries, players and combinations shone.
Gisborne Boys’ High School’s scrum held the upper hand, with Boys’ High’s Tauatevalu and St Edmund’s lock Matthew Winchester and openside flanker Lachlan McLeod three of the game’s best lineout forwards.
Teoteo carried the ball powerfully and would certainly have scored in the 28th minute but for Christie in cover-defence.
Seventeen-year-old Jimenez showed why he was picked for the Australian Schools Barbarians when, in the 60th minute, he made a try-saving tackle when outnumbered 2-1. The game was played at breakneck pace.
“That was awesome . . . intense,” Jimenez said.
“For the boys who were facing the haka for the first time, it was mad.
The whole game was fast because Gizzy counter-attacked from everywhere“The whole game was fast because Gizzy counter-attacked from everywhere.
“But I was rapt that we kept our structure and that we hung in.”
Of Game 1 on St Edmund’s three match-tour, head coach Tim MacArthur was in no doubt.
“That was a good taste of tough New Zealand schoolboy rugby,” he said.
“Both sides used the ball and the width the teams played with was amazing.
“Beyond that, the hosting, the all-round experience we’ve had here will be a highlight for us. Just to come was a privilege.”