Gisborne Boys’ High first 15 off to Wellington

TACKLE RESISTED: Gisborne Boys’ High School’s Xavier Tuapawa tries to shake off the attempted tackle of a Lindisfarne College player in a 36-8 win to the Gisborne side on April 2. Boys’ High will look for more of the same against Wellington College at Porirua Park tomorrow. File picture by Paul Rickard

In 2006, the Gisborne Boys’ High School first 15 played rugby at its best to beat Wellington College 32-7 here for the Hurricanes secondary schools’ title.

A year later, with no provision in the rules for extra time, the teams drew 17-all here. Gisborne went on to the Hurricanes final having outgunned the visitors by three tries to two.

The collegians will be more comfortable travelling 24 kilometres from Mount Victoria to Porirua Park to play GBHS at 11.30am tomorrow, than they were returning 535km home from the Rectory in 2006 and 2007.

Tomorrow’s games at Porirua Park, home of Jerry Collins Stadium, are fixtures in the Tranzit Coachlines first 15 rugby festival. Next Saturday, GBHS will play St Patrick’s College Silverstream at Napier Boys’ High School.

Gisborne coach Duane Hihi is determined his charges will maintain discipline, stick to their structures and finish off their opportunities.

The boys worked to meet the first two of his requirements in the first half of last Saturday’s game admirably, conceding only 12 points to well-prepared and highly motivated opposition.

Wellington College’s Charles Aliva, like Hihi a first-year head coach at first-15 level, enjoys his work with a predominantly older team.

“We have 11 Year 13 students, the rest bar two are Year 12s,” Aliva said.

“Skipper Sam Hickey is a second-year man, a man of action and a top scholar.”

Wellington began their season with a hit-out in quarters against Old Boys United, a win at Boyd Wilson Park on March 19.

Wellington College beat Rongotai College 36-27 at Rongotai two weeks ago before going into camp at Forest Lakes in Otaki.

“We expect Gisborne, with their classy first-five and big boppers, to take their chances,” Aliva said.

The referee for the first-15 match tomorrow will be fourth-year law student Tomas Roche, 22, an old boy of St Patrick’s College Silverstream.

GISBORNE BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL FIRST 15: Lathaneal Niwa-Karakia, Boston Morete, Nathaniel Hauiti (co-captain), Kaia Gate, Zeke Collier, Dylan Bronlund, Braith Ingram, Reuben Whaitiri, Israel Fox, Carlos Hihi (co-captain), Luka Russell, Puna Hihi, Xavier Tuapawa, Izaiah Fox, Cohen Loffler. Reserves: Whetu McGhee, Joe Kemp, Luke Bidois, Kaiaio Tangira-Kerekere, Liam Beattie, Xavier Henare, Hikurangi Reid.

Wellington College first 15: Jarvis Leaupepe-Mailei, Tauvaga Siolo, Henry Underhill, Fin O’Sullivan, Finbar Mallett, Faaloto Va, Sam Hickey (captain), Jack Riley, Devon Sopoaga, Stanley Solomon, Alopoto Tuitama-Tiatia, Jacob Kennedy, Laquan Afamiliona, Finley Hagan, Sam Meo. Reserves: Chalis Briskie, Joe Jones-Mackay, Riko Stowers Opetaia Tui, Abraham Flecher, Mason Aaifou-Alasio, Thoma Takeuchi, Marco Muollo, Fiti Aliva.

■ Gisborne Boys’ High School second 15 feel as much pride as pressure when they headline at the Rectory.

And tomorrow, the expectation will be great as the Mike Kora-coached second 15 play Gisborne Boys’ High School’s oldest traditional rivals, Napier BHS, on Rectory 1.

The last second-15 game in Gisborne between the schools was in June 2021 — a 27-0 win to the visitors.

The home team will be led tomorrow by co-captains No.8 Noah Torrance-Cribb and fullback Safin Tuwairua-Brown and can approach the game with hard-earned confidence.

Last Sunday, even with Tuwairua-Brown absent, they beat Feilding High School 18-0 at Elwood Park, Waipatu.

The GBHS second 15 work smart and hard and the rugby public can expect the boys’ best match effort tomorrow against powerful opponents.

Napier won their first two games — 51-7 against John Paul College first 15 and 29-0 against Mount Albert Grammar — then lost 26-7 to Sacred Heart.

NBHS coach Viliami Malatai said: “We haven’t played for two weeks but the boys are keen, raring to go and ready for what we know will be a torrid affair on Gizzy home soil.”

The teams tomorrow will have as their referee Poverty Bay Heartland head coach Miah Nikora.