GBHS had a 36-12 win in the season opener against Western Heights High School of Rotorua in Whakatane on March 1. The home game against Kelston BHS scheduled for April 1 and the game against Feilding HS, set for Whakatane on Monday, were cancelled.
Five players are unavailable for what is an important match to both Boys’ High and Wellington College.
Gisborne Boys’ High beat the Wellingtonians — now coached by former All Blacks Neemia Tialata and Piri Weepu — 33-24 at Porirua Park last year and Level 1 premier referee Tomas Roche, who controlled the 2022 meeting, will be on deck again tomorrow.
The 6ft 4in Roche, an old boy of St Patrick’s College Silverstream in his last year studying law, was noted for his calmness and control of that game.
Co-captains scrum-anchor Nathaniel Hauiti and first five-eighth Carlos Hihi scored tries that day. Their successors, Carlos’s younger brother, second-five Puna, and second-generation GBHS No.7 Braith Ingram, are up for the challenge. Puna Hihi, Ingram and No.8 Reuben Whaitiri are returning players from the 2022 fixture.
Returning for Wellington College are No.8 Jack Riley and Jacob Kennedy, second five-eighth last year but on the right wing this time around. Riley and Kennedy are Wellington College co-captains this season.
“Braith and I understand each other,” Puna Hihi said.
“We’ve been tight since we were young. Our dads (Duane Hihi and Brent Ingram) played together for OBM in 2002 and Pirates in 2012, and won the Lee Brothers Shield with both clubs.
“We push each other in training and we all want to get out there. This is a fairly new team (tighthead prop Franco Ludwig and right wing Kahurangi Leach-Waihi will debut) but it’s good to be able to build more boys up to play first 15 rugby.”
Head coach Duane Hihi knows that his crew’s supporters at the NZCIS will also be keen to see the visitors play well and with flair.
“Taran Wilson and James McKay have joined the squad,” he said.
“A big focus for us has been getting healthy, because through the holidays, due to injuries, barely 10 players were able to train.
“Our loose trio of Jimmy Moore, Braith Ingram and Reuben Whaitiri work hard and thrive in dark places. Tidying up our play at the breakdown is an area of the game that we’ll look to show inprovement in, but the backs are fizzing at the moment.
“Good back-play is a strength of this team.”
GISBORNE BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL: Malosi Luafalealo, Noah Torrance-Cribb, Franco Ludwig, Joe Kemp, Tipene Wilson, Jimmy Moore, Braith Ingram (co-captain), Reuben Whaitiri, Kauri Christie, Te-Reimana Gray, Timuaki Stewart, Puna Hihi (cc), Quaydon Chaffey-Kora, Kahurangi Leach-Waihi, Kaiaio Tangira-Kerekere. Reserves: Jahn Karakia-Niwa, Ratu Nairoroi, Taran Wilson, James McKay, Luke Bidois, Liam Beattie, Gibson Poi.
WELLINGTON COLLEGE: Flynn Taylor, Corbin King, Israel Time, Harry Law, Joe McGuinness, Finn O’Sullivan, Max Mclachlan, Jack Riley (cc), Henry Bremer, Archie Sims, Finn Leighton, D’Mitrius Rere, Ezekiel Hotai, Jacob Kennedy (cc), Carisma Faitala. Reserves: Dan Hawes, Sam Wood, Ollie Church, Ele Lupo, Jacob Cook, Boston Thurlow, Shea Boshier.
