Gisborne Boys' High School aim to maintain focus

OUT OF MY WAY: Gisborne Boys’ High Puna Hihi runs in support of teammate Boston Morete as he makes a break through the defensive line of St Paul’s Collegiate defenders. GBHS will host and take on St John’s College tomorrow at the Rectory and kick-off is at 12pm. Picture by Paul Rickard

Sometimes people deserve to have their faith rewarded.

So said Batman at the end of The Dark Knight. Such is the case for the 42 Gisborne Boys’ High School and St John’s College players whose game here on April 14 was postponed due to Covid-19 — and for whom playing at the Rectory is a dream.

The GBHS first 15 and St John’s of Hastings will play on Rectory No.1 tomorrow at 12 midday.

The day before the teams were due to meet originally, Boys’ High head coach Duane Hihi wanted to see his forward pack tidy up their play at set-piece, so that the backs might be able to express themselves better.

Seven weeks later, Gisborne’s priorities remain the same on the eve of battle.

“We need to be more disciplined and accurate in our set-piece play,” Hihi said last night.

“We need to work harder at staying focused in vital moments, so that we can finish when opportunities present themselves.”

First five-eighth Carlos Hihi’s aim is to direct the pack led by his co-captain, scrum anchor Nathaniel Hauiti, around the paddock.

From there, the focus will shift to breaking St John’s defence, especially on counter-attack.

The only change to the starting 15 Gisborne Boys’ High fielded in the 12-point loss at Palmerston North last Saturday sees Braith Ingram move from openside flanker to No.6 for Dylan Bronlund, with Ben Phelps as the new fetcher.

Since GBHS were to have faced St John’s, the local team have squeaked home 8-7 against St Paul’s Collegiate School here, lost to Feilding High School by 31 points at Elwood Park, beaten Wellington College 33-24 in Wellington and fallen to St Patrick’s College Silverstream 39-11 before the Super 8 opener against Palmerston North Boys’ High School.

They have experienced relief, disappointment and delight, and learned tough rugby lessons. And they are the better for it.

They will take the field tomorrow in a new strip acknowledging their sponsors, principally Turanga Health. A uniform alone does not make a team but it can inspire. To see the side in their traditional black and red will please older supporters and aspiring players alike.

St John’s regular captain, hooker Dylan Homan, spoke highly of their skipper for the game against Gisborne, Year 12 student Harry Campbell, a halfback-turned-rake.

“Harry’s awesome,” Homan said.

“He’s gutsy, he gives his all and will tackle anything that moves.”

The last month has been tough for St John’s. They lost 24-19 to Rathkeale College at Rathkeale on May 14, 48-20 to Feilding High School on May 21, and 34-10 to Wanganui Collegiate School last Saturday. Feilding High and Wanganui Collegiate beat St John’s at St John’s.

Players have been drawn from the second 15, E Grade and F Grade as cover for an injury-hit but gutsy first 15, and now have the opportunity to play in front of an expectant Rectory crowd.

Fourth-year head coach and St John’s director of rugby Matt Wyatt and his side deserve real credit for fronting up to what could be a fast game on a superb surface.

Wyatt said: “Our goal is to give our extended squad game-time. With team and management depleted, it’s an opportunity for our Year 10s and 11s to have a crack at a decent side with the intent to implement systems they’ve trained with, particularly in regard to our micro-skills.”

The referee for tomorrow’s match will be Damien Macpherson, to be assisted by Terry Reeves and Barry Shirley Senior.