“He and Joe (Mason) thoroughly deserved their selection for the Hurricanes Schools team and, in Quade’s case, there can’t have been many players over the years who have started off at halfback and been a No.8 the following year.
“If these guys are prepared to work, they’ve got all the necessary attributes to take their rugby a lot further.”
Playing into the westerly breeze from the school end, the home team made a keen start and left-wing Braedyn Grant scored the opening try two minutes into the game.
They doubled the lead in the fifth minute. The pack, in particular the front-row of Milner, Mason and hooker Billy Priestley, applied pressure on Te Aute’s scrum-feed five metres from the left sideline and five metres from the goal-line. The ball popped sideways out of the scrum on the openside and halfback Quintony Ngatai toed it through to score.
Te Aute first five-eighth Joshua Onekawa kicked a penalty from in front in the 12th minute to cut the deficit to 3-10. But moments later Gisborne lock Ofa Tauatavalu won the “money ball” in the lineout and from the ensuing maul, openside flanker Dylan Hall went over for a try.
A superb pass from Priestley put right-winger Matt Proffitt over in the 21st minute, then Priestley scored one himself and first five-eighth Austin Brown converted to give Gisborne a 27-3 halftime lead.
Te Aute’s magic moment came four minutes into the second spell. From a penalty on Gisborne’s 22-metre line, halfback and Te Aute player of the day Tirau Wihongi tapped, then jinked his way to the 10m line. Blindside flanker Israel Jensen freed the ball for No.8 Logan Flutey to score on the angle.
Gisborne struck back shortly after. Ngatai ran from the base of a scrum set 10m from the goal-line and a wonderful back-flick found captain Tapsell.
Brown converted to make it 34-8, Mason marked his finale with two tries, Brown converting the first and Tapsell missing the conversion attempt for the second.
Replacement prop Seth Lundon scored Gisborne’s eighth and final try, which replacement first five Te Aho Morice converted.
Tapsell was delighted to finish his tenure on a winning note.
“To be captain of the first 15 was a huge privilege. To be part of 108 years in the jersey is humbling,” he said.
“I’d like to thank everyone from Te Kura o Manutuke through to GBHS and Mr. Mackle (principal Greg Mackle). A lot of people and have supported me throughout my five years at the school.”
“The coaches, Tom Cairns, Mark Jefferson, Rua Tipoki, Rapiata Ria and James Swift — they’ve helped me so much.
With all that, plus the support of my dad and whanau — their impact on me on and off the field — I’m the person I am today.”
Te Aute old boy Harley Thompson, who co-coaches the side with Shane Nuku, said they were proud of their boys’ efforts.
“We had two 14 year-olds in this team. Shane and I are stoked to have these guys playing for the shield. We look forward to hosting and recementing the fixture next year and 11 of the current players will be back in Gisborne in 2019.”
Te Aute captain and second five Tauawhi Bonilla said it was exciting and an honour to represent the school against Gisborne. “We put pressure on them at times but they capitalised on their opportunities. It was great running rugby against a team who shift the ball.”
Cairns complimented referee Tuki Sweeney and his assistants — Paul Brown and Dave Stevenson — on their performance:
“Tuki’s decision-making was clear and consistent. The boys were able to play because the game flowed. We’re very grateful the Poverty Bay Referees Association made their people available to us again this year. We appreciate it. The players do, too.”
Cairns acknowledged the support of Ngati Porou Seafoods, whose chief executive Mark Ngata is an old boy and former first 15 player.
He also thanked those old boys who attended the dinner held in their honour on Saturday, and made special mention of the contribution of outgoing second 15 coaches Guy Allan and Peter Burgess over the last three years.
