Gisborne Boys’ High sevens hit hard by injuries

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

INJURIES to three key players cost Gisborne Boys’ High School dearly in their bid to win the Secondary Schools Condor Sevens tournament at the weekend.

Winger and leading tryscorer Hunter Mokomoko and outstanding loosies Angus McDonald and Naera Tipoki picked up injuries in the opening-round pool win against Waihi.

Mokomoko rolled an ankle two minutes into the game, McDonald took a knock to the knee and Tipoki aggravated the ankle injury that has restricted his playing and training for the past three weeks.

“It was disappointing to get three injured so early in the tournament, but that’s sport,” coach Rua Tipoki said.

“Sometimes you can be lucky and go through a tournament without any injuries and then you get something like this.”

Following the Waihi game, a depleted GBHS side lost 10-7 to Whangarei.

Rotorua were next up in the pool cross-over game. Rotorua, the secondary school national 15 champions were too strong, winning 20-7.

Gisborne then lost 22-17 to Nelson and 19-10 to St Pat’s Silverstream.

“Obviously we weren’t happy with the losses but, that said, the injuries gave some other players the chance to step up,” Rua Tipoki said.

“Nathan Rangihuna, Tame Curtis and Moses Christy can all be proud of their performances. It shows we have some promising players coming through.

“Izzy (Isaia Walker-Leawere) led the team well.

“One of the things that helps the teams from bigger areas is the amount of sevens modules they play.

“Sevens demands a different mentality and when you’re playing it regularly it’s certainly a big help when you front up at national tournaments.”

Hamilton Boys’ High beat Hastings 24-0 in the final and, in the girls’ competition, Hamilton thumped Southland 35-0.