HSOB fight till the end but playoff hopes gone

ON THE CHARGE: High School Old Boys prop-cum-No.8 Tamanui Hill takes on YMP No.8 Jimmy Wilson during Saturday’s premier game at Rugby Park. Hill scored a try and led from the front in a 31-30 win. Picture by Paul Rickard

High School Old Boys’ bid for a fourth straight Lee Bros Shield victory ended when OBM beat Ngatapa at Patutahi on Saturday.

But the reigning champs did all they could to stay in the hunt for a top-four spot with a 31-30 win against second-placed YMP at Rugby Park.

East Coast Farm Vets YMP were 24-14 ahead at the break. Their points came from tries to blindside flanker Willis Tamatea (2), second five-eighth Te Peehi Fairlie and first-five Brian Whaitiri-White, along with two conversions to Whaitiri-White.

Earthwork Solutions HSOB fullback Korey Love had scored two tries, both converted by utility back Andrew Tauatevalu.

However, HSOB outscored YMP 17-6 in the second half to win a thriller, with Tauatevalu kicking a penalty in the last minute to seal the win.

“That’s two weeks in a row our defence has let us down and it’s something we need to fix ahead of the playoffs,” YMP coach Steve Smith said.

“HSOB lifted their intensity in the second half and we didn’t match them, which is disappointing and hard to explain.

“We’ve another tough match on Saturday against an OBM side peaking at the right time. It’s our last game before the bye, then the playoffs.

“We really need to put together a complete performance on attack and in defence.”

Whaitiri-White backed up his two tries with two penalties in the second half in a man-of-the-match performance, edging his side ahead 30-28, before Tauatevalu replied with a penalty.

Hooker Shayde Skudder stayed in contention for a share of the premier division’s Most Valuable Player award by collecting two points, while halfback Quinnton Pari-Collins earned one point.

Smith said Tamatea and No.8 Mekepio Brown, who moved to prop in the second half, played well.

Love was outstanding for HSOB, who were without two of their best forwards — No.8 Siosiua Moala and openside flanker Stefan Destounis — but were well led by Poverty Bay hooker and captain Tamanui Hill, who got on the scoresheet with a pushover try.

HSOB have two matches to complete their campaign, Waikohu on Saturday, followed by Tapuae, who defaulted to GT Shearing Waikohu at the weekend.

YMP 30 (W Tamatea 2, B Whaitiri-White 2 tries; Whaitiri-White 2 con, 2 pen).

HSOB 31 (K Love 2, T Hill, F Toleafoa, tries; A Tauatevalu 4 con, pen).

HT: 24-14 (YMP).