Reserve No.9 Ollie Cuff got the first of his two tries in the 40th (his other was in the 52nd while fullback David Tokalautawa (49th) and centre Jeremiah Peleseuma (67th) rounded off their tryscoring. Reserve first-five Liam Slight converted four of those.
Tuwairua-Brown superbly finished in the 46th minute. From a scrum nine metres over halfway. No.8 Luke Bidois went right, slipped the ball to halfback Liam Beattie who moved it on for first-five Te-Reimana Gray to put Tuwairua-Brown into an opening.
He feigned to pass, stepped infield and blew by St Patrick’s cover defence.
The Duane Hihi-coached GBHS team’s second try came in the 64th minute — Beattie’s replacement, Kauri Christie, spying space to set up Stewart for the five-pointer.
Despite the margin of victory, head coach Forbes was complimentary of the Gisborne side who travelled eight hours, via Rotorua, to Hawke’s Bay, and back to Gisborne.
“The Gisborne lineout got very good, clean, quality ball to the backs all day and Noah Torrance-Cribb, the hooker, played well with a real shiner — he’s a tough kid, great around the pitch and obviously a good thrower too.”
“Braith (GBHS co-captain openside flanker Braith Ingram) was tenacious all day and caused us trouble at the breakdown. They had strong runners in the midfield. Timuaki provided the finish to a great try with real speed.”
Ingram spoke to the pace of the game and the fact that not much went his team’s way against a Silverstream side who had come within a converted try of 2022 Super 8 finalists Hastings the previous weekend.
Coach Hihi was proud of the courage Gisborne showed in a game not lacking in intensity.
“Our set-piece play is still a work in progress but we stayed in the fight until the final play.
“The last seven minutes of the game were the best that I’ve seen us play so far this season.”
