Gisborne BHS ‘on a roll’

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

They are on a roll in the capital.

The unbeaten Gisborne Boys’ High School under-15s yesterday added the scalps of Rongotai College (20-10) and Hato Paora (50-5) to that of Porirua College at the Hurricanes Rugby Tournament in Wellington.

GBHS second five-eighth Irie Eyles scored the first try, first-five Anaru Paenga-Morgan converting for 7-0.

Paenga-Morgan kicked a penalty for a 10-0 half-time lead to Boys’ High. Following the break, Gisborne Boys’ High fullback John Horua scored and Paenga-Morgan converted for 17-0.

Rongotai captain second-five James Akerise scored to close it to 17-5. Paenga-Morgan then kicked a penalty.

Rongotai No.8 John Samuelu, the Most Valuable Player at the 2017 Hurricanes u15 tourney, scored the last try to make it Gisborne 20 Rongotai 10.

“They got their tails up early, identified space and attacked it,” Rongotai coach Kili Samuelu said.

“You’ve got to push them back before they get on a roll.”

GBHS fullback Horua opened the scoring against Hato Paora, Paenga-Morgan converting for 7-0.

Hato Paora second-five Kohi Hohua responded with a try, but Boys’ High centre Clay Barry and Horua then went in to score for a 17-5 lead at the break.

In the second half, replacement tighthead prop Kitini Taihuka scored two tries, both converted by Paenga-Morgan. Reserves Whetu King-Taufa and Kyran Russell, second-five and halfback respectively, both had their tries converted by Paenga-Morgan. Taihuka scored again for a hat-trick for a final score of 50-5.

No.8 Christian Hiha was Hato Paora’s player of the day and his coaching staff as a group believe that Gisborne should make at least a top-four finish in the 16-team competition. GBHS have played superbly to date and are No.1 in Pool D.

Boys’ High were to play Pool A’s St Patrick’s College Silverstream on their turf, Silverstream ground No.2, this morning.

The Silverstream u15s beat Francis Douglas Memorial College 36-7 and John McGlashan College 55-0 yesterday.

A Gisborne win this morning would mean a grand final appearance against either St Peter’s College of Pool B or Kelston Boys’ High School (Pool C). The grand final is set for 1pm tomorrow.