A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.
Rugby lightning struck twice there.
The Gisborne Boys’ High School first 15 beat Tauranga Boys’ College 22-10 for the Moascar Cup, the “Ranfurly Shield of New Zealand secondary schools rugby”, at Tauranga in 1983. And they beat TBC 22-9 to win the Moascar Cup in 1993.
Tomorrow at 12pm the Gisborne first 15, holders of the Kane Cup, will play their last game in GBHS’ toughest season since 1998 — when former rivals St Stephen’s School ended their unbeaten streak (1991-1998) in interschool games at the Rectory here, 16-6.
It was Tauranga who, in beating Gisborne 23-7 at their Nicholson Field, won the Super 8 of 1999 . . . though GBHS took revenge a week and half later, 32-8, in the first round of the national championships.
Gisborne v Tauranga is a game rich in history and often dripping with drama. GBHS head coach Mark Jefferson has respect for history but is focused on the present.
“A gutsy performance against Tauranga will mean a lot to the boys; guys are playing their last game in a jersey which means a lot to them — this having been a difficult year — so we want to finish well.
“There has been heartbreak in games with close finishes; we’ve been outplayed in others.”
Jefferson, first 15 captain in 1995, regards his team as good servants of the game. First-five Ricardo Patricio’s penalty goal were the only points GBHS scored in Game 6 of the S8 last weekend: Hamilton BHS won 52-3 here. GBHS’s second 15 lost 55-0 to HBHS here but like his former first 15 skipper, GBHS 2nd 15 coach Graeme Newlands has let his team know what Priority 1 is: “The boys will need to tackle, tackle, tackle if we’re going to beat the old enemy up there.”
GBHS tighthead prop Jordan McFarlane and his team want a Super 8 scalp tomorrow; to retain the Kane Cup is the aim, but that rests on doing everything well against a team which may only have won one S8 game (14-5 v New Plymouth) this season, but has pushed Hamilton to the brink in a 19-21 loss. They scored four tries and claimed two bonus points in the five-point loss (24-29) to Hastings. TBC’s record appears to be undistinguished but closer inspection points to their having been pipped at the post on occasion: a 26-all draw v Napier BHS being a case in point.
Yet these other games are not at hand: GBHS v TBC is . . . and the history is fascinating: in 2016 — the fixture televised live — GBHS clung on to victory by one point, 26-25, here; in 2017, Gisborne won the Kane Cup for competition between the schools 24-19 and last year defended it against the visitors 28-5. GBHS won two Super 8 games last season.
Tomorrow is a big day.
The under 14s fixture is at 9.15am, the u15s and second 15 are both at 10am with the first 15 to follow at 12pm.
Gisborne Boys’ High School first 15: Jordan McFarlane (c), Amanaki Tonga, Sione Mafileo, Nik Patumaka, Khian Westrupp, Amos Roddick, Nikau Maxwell, Braedyn Grant, Ricardo Patricio, Nicolas Proffit, Tuteari Te Rauna-Lamont, Niko Lauti, Matthew Proffit, TK Reihana. Reserves: Nathaniel Hauiti, Kirk Ngatai.
GBHS second 15: Isaiah Kiwara, Matariki Kaa, Moeaki Mosati, Corban Richter, Tyla Keelan-Phillips, Saylahr Paaka, Sam Twigley, Sitiveni Tuilautala, Silas Brown, Bryan Howard, Freedom Lemaua, Von Huata (c), Isaiah Lemaua, Mikare Marino-Moore, Corbyn Peach. Reserves: Rewiti Ropiha, Kapua Thornicroft, Jacob Wyllie, TeAotahi Tuhaka.
GBHS under-15s: Lathaneal Karakia-Niwa, Wiremu Maxwell, Zeke Collier, Matiu Anderson, Dylan Bronlund, Reuben Whaitiri, Ben Phelps, Uetaha Wanoa, Israel Fox, Carlos Hihi (c), Izaiah Fox, Xavier Henare, Xavier Tuapawa, Hikurangi Reid, King Maxwell. Reserves: Taimana Teneti, Cleveland Kennedy, Geordie Sawyer, Hawaiki Nepe, Tama Taitua.
GBHS u14s: Ratu Nairoroi, Jahn Niwa-Karakia, Simon Hauiti, Noah Torrance-Cribb, Latrell Walker, Brayden Maxwell, Braith Ingram, Lehi Te Hau (c), Kauri Christie, Kaiaio Kerekere-Tangira, Maui Connelly, Kerry Hohepa, Luka Russell, Chris Tangira, Kevin Higgins. Reserves: Simione Latu, Levi Soto, Osai Tufunga, Ascha Wells, Angus Henry, Edwin Latu, Te Aowera Para, Cohen Loffler.