“We have to step up again this Thursday against Kelston Boys’ High at Kelston in Auckland but we’ve been working towards games like that.
“Now we’ll go into this one, off our first win at home.”
On a clear, humid day with a thousand fans at the Rectory ground, GBHS co-captain and MVP (most valuable player) first five-eighth Carlos Hihi won the toss and chose to receive the ball. Boys’ High played with a nor’westerly breeze.
They were penalised by Poverty Bay referee Mark Greene under the rugby law that states a team who win the toss may go as far as, but must stop at, halfway during a cultural challenge (the GBHS pre-match haka), the team who lost the toss (Lindisfarne) not being allowed over their own 10-metre line.
Lindisfarne fullback Jack Brittin drew first blood three minutes into the game, landing a penalty goal from five metres to the left of the posts, from a distance of 28m.
The home team played with urgency and were sharp from the outset.
Openside flanker Ben Phelps (with the assistance of his fellow forwards) soared to great effect at kick-off and restart.
Boys’ High maintained a high tempo throughout the match, blindside flanker Dylan Bronlund carrying the ball with great determination.
In the 13th minute, Hihi opened the scoring — the first of his two tries — with great footwork. The visitors, under pressure in their own 22, kicked the ball down the left of the ground and Hihi fielded it on the second bounce, 15m into Lindisfarne’s half, 10m off Boy’s High’s right touch.
He zipped infield and then steamed on straight for the first try, under the crossbar. Hihi then converted his own try for 7-3.
Two minutes later, Hihi kicked from centrefield in his own half deep into the college’s territory.
The ball bounced off the firm turf and centre Luka Russell capitalised to scoot down the left side, then improve the position to score for 12-3.
Hihi converted for 14-3 and, in the 19th minute, landed a penalty goal for 17-3 at the end of the first quarter.
Hihi completed his double from an attacking scrum set 16m off the left touch.
He ran strongly through would-be tacklers to score in the 29th minute, and then convert, for Gisborne Boys’ High to lead 24-3 at the break.
The remainder of the match was played as a half.
Gisborne’s rugged reserves Whetu McGhee (tighthead prop) and Charlie Mathias (hooker) both ran straight and strongly from the resumption and, in a tough season opener for Lindisfarne, two of their best forwards — Patrick Tuifua and Kingshouse Tupuola — showed their quality.
Tuifua and rake Tupuola carried the ball with venom in the build-up to a fine try, the latter scoring in the right corner for the visitors after 51 minutes. With no conversion, GBHS led 24-8.
Tuifua’s locking partner, Ollie Barham, excelled at the lineout.
Tuifua consistently made metres with ball in hand on behalf of a smaller pack.
The Lindisfarne captain, MVP, first-five and head prefect, Tuawhio Porima, held his composure against a willing Boys’ High unit with their blood up.
Porima, a third-year man, is slight but also quick, skilful and gutsy.
The courageous college tried to run the ball out from their own goal-line in the 63rd minute and the Gisborne team took advantage.
Boys’ High forced a turnover at a ruck in front of their opponents’ posts and Hihi’s hefty co-captain, Nathaniel Hauiti, scored for 29-8. Hauiti started at tighthead prop, went to the loosehead at halftime and, with Hihi as general of the backs, led his fellow forwards by example.
The combative Bronlund handled the ball twice in the last try-scoring movement of the match.
On fulltime, he hared over halfway and down the left touch, linking with Russell for the hosts’ fifth try. Russell converted his own try for a final score of 36-8 to GBHS.
Referees Greene, Aaron Brown and Ray Young all contributed to a game of open, running rugby and no yellow or red cards were issued.
Lindisfarne head coach Laurent Simutoga has good material to work with.
“A lot of our boys are new to that level of intensity,” he said.
“The game was their baptism in terms of physicality and speed.
“We spent much of it defending. Our centre, Corban Watson — who won our MVP award — chased Xavier Tuapawa (GBHS reserve centre) 76m to save a try in the second half, and that was awesome because it was Corban’s first game back since he had surgery on his right knee last year.
“The Gisborne team were well-organised. From set-piece, their attack was impressive. And I was impressed by their humility on the field and off it, while Gisborne Boys’ High School’s legendary hospitality after the match was as good as ever.”
