Gisborne Boys’ High in a thriller

Looking for the gap: Gisborne Boys’ High School first five-eighth Quinn Collard takes on the Hastings Boys’ High School line in Super 8 action at the Rectory field on Saturday. Hastings won 24-13. Picture by Paul Rickard

They held firm in the face of stern opposition.

The Gisborne Boys’ High School first 15 lost 24-13 to Hastings Boys’ High on Saturday, the 500-strong Rectory faithful glimpsing the courage that coach Mark Jefferson’s side had shown around the North Island on the road in the previous eight weeks.

Reigning Super 8 co-champions Hastings remain a good side: captain and No.8 Liam Udy-Johns is a fine player and halfback Latrell Ah Kiong read the game well on Saturday, sending men into space.

Gisborne first five-eighth Quinn Collard drew first blood with a penalty, before Hastings left wing Donovan Mataira scored the first try. Collard’s opposite, Shamara Brooks, converted for 7-3.

The visitors had pace on both sidelines in Mataira and Fijian flyer Michael Naitokani on the right, but Gisborne captain and openside flanker Dylan Hall took personal charge of the effort to neutralise Naitokani as a threat.

The Hastings speedster threatened mayhem but Hall and company rarely missed a tackle. The home team were well-organised and committed. When the line was broken, they scrambled in defence.

Collard closed it to 7-6 with another penalty, but the visitors led in the possession stakes and had better field position.

Workhorses from both sides featured. For Gisborne, hooker Billy Priestley carried well while Hastings tighthead prop Matt Hall ran hard.

Udy-Johns scored and Brooks converted from the right touchline for 14-6. Hooker Damarus Hokianga’s try gave Hastings a 19-6 halftime lead.

Referee Damien Macpherson was kept busy maintaining order at the breakdown, but the game was played in excellent spirit, due in good part to the tone he set.

The moment Gisborne fans had waited eight weeks for came early in the second half, with reserve right wing Michael Fox scoring the first 15’s first try at home since April 7.

The wins against Lindisfarne, St Edmund’s, St Paul’s and Wellington College notwithstanding, Fox scoring Gisborne’s first Super 8 try here in 2018 was well-deserved reward for a side whose work ethic has remained high despite five straight losses on the road.

Collard converted for 19-13 but the last word belonged to Udy-Johns and his match-sealing second try.

Hastings retained the Harvey McConnell Memorial Trophy they have held since they claimed it with a 21-17 victory at Hastings in 2015.

Gisborne last beat Hastings, 21-11, at the Rectory field in 2014.

Gisborne Boys’ High School head coach Jefferson said: “The boys were gutsy. You couldn’t fault the effort; we just couldn’t sustain it for 70 minutes.”

Gisborne Boys’ High player of the day Hall knows how deep his team dug against last year’s national champions: “It was a very good effort. The game could have gone either way.”

And the locals have only grown in the eyes of their opposition.

“This win means a lot to us as it’s always tough to beat Gisborne in Gisborne,” Udy-Johns said.

“They are a tough, physical team. They were there to play on Saturday.”