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.”
