Under advantage from Poverty Bay referee Damien Macpherson, five metres from the Gisborne goal-line, Russell tap-kicked and flew in for the first try of the match.
Second-five Luke Thomas landed the first of his three successful conversions of the visitors’ four tries to go along with a penalty goal and his own five-pointer for a personal tally of 14 points.
With five minutes remaining in the first half, Gisborne wing Timuaki Stewart’s grubber-kick down the left touch was fielded by Napier blindside flanker George Hancy at halfway. From an ensuing surge made by brawny lock Ben Campbell, NBHS went left through four sets of hands and wing Kiane Tuifao dotted down in the far corner.
Thomas did his duty from the sideline to give the visitors a 14-0 lead at the break.
Throughout the first half, Gisborne’s co-captains and the forward pack made several telling tackles. Loosehead prop Malosi Luafalealo, lock Reuben Whaitiri and Bidois all carried the ball strongly while blindside flanker No.6 Jimmy Moore impressed with his energy and enthusiasm as a support player.
The visitors tested their hosts after the resumption.
Stewart and first-five Te-Reimana Gray both made try-saving tackles before Thomas put his side 17-0 up with a penalty kick in the
41st minute.
For the Rectory faithful, the most satisfying moment of the day came in the 50th minute.
Having been awarded a scrum five metres from the try line in front of Napier’s posts, the visitors wheeled Gisborne, but Bidois put on an incredible show of strength and technique to shrug and shunt the blues off, driving right side. Over 10 phases of play, Gisborne pushed for the line and Hihi finally went over to put them on the board — a great team try which was not converted.
Thomas extinguished any Gisborne comeback hopes in the 57th minute when he scored in the corner, courtesy of a magic cut-out pass from reserve halfback Hunter Kinney (22-5).
The last score came in the 61st minute — tighthead prop and skipper Tasman Soanai-Oeti plopping over after several phases from a Napier lineout 11m out.
The win meant Napier have held sway in Super 8 contests v GBHS for nine years.
“Gisborne came out hard — as we knew they would —in the first 15 to 20 minutes,” Russell said. “We weathered the storm and then came up with points through territorial pressure. There’s still plenty for our young team to improve upon but it was good to get the win in Gisborne.”
In the curtain-raiser, the Mike Kora-coached and Impala Waipara-led Gisborne second 15 side had a fine 13-7 win over their Napier counterparts (story in Wednesday’s Herald).
Gisborne’s next Super 8 fixture is against Palmerston North Boys’ High in Gisborne on Saturday.
