Mokomoko player of Poverty Bay Sevens tourney

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN: Gisborne Boys’ High School flying winger Hunter Mokomoko beats YMP’s Mario Counsell during the Poverty Bay Sevens tournament final at Rugby Park. Although on the end of a 50-14 loss, Counsell chased and harried and was lively on attack. Picture by Liam Clayton

HUNTER Mokomoko capped an outstanding club sevens tournament at Rugby Park on Saturday when he was named player of the tournament by former New Zealand sevens star Rico Gear.

Mokomoko, who was named in the Poverty Bay sevens team for this week’s Weka Sevens at Rugby Park, scored 11 tries, including four in the final as his Gisborne Boys’ High School team retained their club title with a 50-14 win against YMP.

“There were some good performances out there today but you can’t go past Hunter’s 69 points (11 tries and seven conversions),” Gear said.

Ruan de Plooy also starsFormer Boys’ High and former Waikato halfback Ruan de Plooy, playing for High School Old Boys also starred, scoring seven tries and kicking four conversions.

“Ruan is back working in Gisborne and it’s great to have him here,” said Bay manager Dwayne Russell.

With Mokomoko in scintillating form and backed up by Boys’ High skipper Isaia Walker-Leawere, Austin Brown and LaTrey Haeata, the school side went through the competition unbeaten.

Boys’ High booked their place in the final with a 35-7 romp over OBM, while YMP advanced to the decider with a hard-fought 21-19 win against HSOB.

Mokomoko gave Boys’ High the perfect start to the final with a try inside the first 60 seconds and, despite Mario Counsell and Treigh Christy looking dangerous, the school side led 31-0 at halftime.

Haeata made it 38-0 with a try and conversion before Christy — YMP’s top-scorer with 24 points — reduced the deficit with the first of his two tries.

But there was no stopping Boys’ High. They were well led by Walker-Leawere, who was too big and too strong even for the premier players of YMP.

Walker-Leawere showed his strength when he scored a try between the posts despite being tackled by three YMP players.

Bay coach Brent Mokomoko named five Boys’ High players in his 23-man squad for Saturday.

Russell said Brown, who scored 28 points, and Haeata were too young to be in the running.

“They’re both Year 11 boys but their time will come.”

Mokomoko senior said he was excited about the talent in the district.

“Boys’ High played good structured rugby and you could see the influence of Rua (coach Rua Tipoki).

“But even though we’ve chosen a squad, the door is not closed for anyone who thinks they have what it takes to make the squad.

“We’ll be training on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Rectory field at 5.30pm, starting tomorrow night. It’s an open invitation for all players who want to upskill, get fit and try to force their way into the squad.”

Russell said another to stand out at the weekend was up-and-coming referee Caleb Greaves, who controlled the final.

“We got great support from the Poverty Bay Rugby Referees Association and Caleb did a great job in the final.”