HSOB lock Fletcher Scammell has his hands full trying to stop YMP midfield back Anthony Karauria. Photo / Paul Rickard
To beat YMP twice in a season is something High School Old Boys have not achieved in an age.
And to do it took everything out of Earthwork Solutions HSOB, who scored a 72nd minute converted try for a 17-14 win over East Coast Farm Vets YMP in the opening games of round 2 of the Poverty Bay Premier club competition on Saturday.
HSOB recorded their fourth win on the trot in a perfect run so far in the 2026 competition. It also saw them take back the Richard Bruce Memorial Trophy played for between the sides.
HSOB had surprised defending champions East Coast Farm Vets YMP 20-12 in the Tiny White Opening Day at Paddy’s Park in Pātutahi, so this second clash, on YMP’s home turf of Barry Park, was expected to be another close one.
YMP dominated field position and possession for the first 19 minutes, with pacy left wing Quaydon Chaffey-Kora running hard.
His opposite, debutant Sione Tupou, got his first touch with a hard, straight charge in the 21st minute, but shortly after that, first five Silas Brown put YMP on the front foot with a superb kick to touch. A lineout steal and strength in the pick-and-go saw lock Shyann Wyllie dot down in the left corner on the half-hour mark.
Brown converted for 7-0, and from then until the break, HSOB threw a lot at YMP, whose goal-line defence held magnificently.
Two minutes into the second half, giant YMP openside flanker Jokatama Cewa, in his own 22, put up a kick that went almost sideways. HSOB lock Fletcher Scammell gathered the ball and flung a 15m pass the way of in-form winger Josaia Bosaka Tikicidre who went over for the try.
Fullback Cohen Loffler converted, then put his side 10-7 ahead with a penalty kick in the 54th minute.
YMP came back with urgency, but HSOB stopped them four times before hooker Skudder finally drove over to score alongside the posts and Brown converted for 14-10.
The match-winner came in the 72nd minute.
YMP halfback Rawiri Broughton, on the halfway line, floated a pass to Brown, who was tackled by blindside flanker Selisio Palusa. The ball went loose and HSOB fullback Matthew Proffit gathered it on the bounce and ran in to score behind the posts. Loffler converted for 17-14.
“We’re very happy with the intent and the result, but that was stressful to watch,” HSOB coach James Jenkins said.
“We still made life hard for ourselves at times in a really physical game – still striving for that elusive complete performance. Our fitness and ability to keep the pace of the game high won it for us.”
YMP head coach Willie Brown felt his outfit created opportunities but missed that last, try-making connection at times.
Loffler and YMP second-five Anthony Karauria won the Taste One Most Valuable Player awards. Karauria, who tackled and carried the ball powerfully, is the best sort of competitor – hard but fair.
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A grinding wrestle-fest between Kahu Scaffolding Tapuae and visitors Larsawn Ngatapa at Tapuae Sports Ground went the way of the hosts 29-21.
Ngatapa right wing Mosese Bulicakau showed his excellent finishing capabilities in dotting the ball down out wide to open the scoring six minutes in, and crossing in the corner again for an intercept try two minutes into the second half.
That double, however, was bettered by Tapuae fullback Kyoni Te Amo-Poki’s hat-trick – the first of those after 18 minutes to level it 5-all.
Tapuae scored again in the 23rd minute when No.8 strongman Antonio Vukicicakaudrove muscled his way over, and player-coach Paoraian Manuel-Harman’s conversion put the green and blacks 12-5 ahead.
In the 28th minute, blindside flanker Harawira Kahukura won a lineout in Ngatapa’s 22. The Taniwha pushed left, came back right and Te Amo-Poki made it a double.
Two minutes before the break, Ngatapa blindside flanker Jack Hamilton burrowed through on the goal-line to score in the left corner to cut the deficit to 17-10.
Two minutes after the resumption, Bulicakau gave the Sione Ngatu/Tim Gardner-coached Ngatapa a further boost with a try off a loose ball in the right corner.
In the 55th minute, fullback Jake Holmes kicked a 40m penalty goal to put Ngatapa 18-17 ahead and four minutes later he landed another to give his team a sniff of their first victory in this year’s competition.
Tapuae were tested by a big pack starting to throw its weight around and play to its strengths. But they held firm and in the 63rd minute, Te Amo-Poki brought up his hat-trick and Manuel-Harman’s conversion made it 24-21.
Tapuae sealed a hard-fought victory in the 75th minute. Having been awarded a second penalty on attack 10m from the line, cunning halfback Kingi Te Amo tap kicked and powerful lock Knox Ranitu lunged over.
First five Manuel-Harman spoke highly of their efforts.
“We’re proud of the talent we had to score five quality tries,” he said. “When we were able to put phases together, we played good rugby in the second half.”