BRACING FOR CONTACT: Gisborne Boys' High School's Luke Bidios prepares to go into a tackle made by two New Plymouth defenders during their Super 8 rugby clash on Saturday at the Rectory. NPBH won the match 29-14, their first win here in 14 attempts.Picture by Paul Rickard
Giant workhorse Jacob Mitchell and his 2022 New Plymouth Boys' High School team made rugby history in Gisborne on Saturday.
The 6ft 5in (1.95m) blindside flanker became the first NPBHS first 15 captain to lead his side to victory — 29-14 — against Gisborne BHS in Gisborne.
“It was a good physical battle for 70 minutes,” Mitchell said.
“We created a lot of chances, as did Gisborne. They defended very well and put us under pressure at different stages.”
It was the visitors' first win here in 14 attempts — of which 12 were made in the Super 8 era, from 1998 — since Gisborne Boys' High won Game 1, 12-6 on Rectory No.1 in 1970.
With 800 in attendance on Saturday, Mitchell won the toss and had NPBHS first five-eighth Cullum Tito kick off.
GBHS tighthead prop Nathaniel Hauiti chose to play from the Rectory end, with a mild southeasterly breeze at the hosts' backs.
The usual game of chess between Gisborne and NPBHS, with GBHS working to spot and fill gaps, lasted for the entire first half with one brief, glorious interlude 26 minutes in.
From a Gisborne scrum set 10 metres off the left touch, 15m on their own side of halfway, halfback Israel Fox sent the ball right to Hauiti's co-captain, first-five Carlos Hihi.
Hihi popped a chip-kick, and fullback King Maxwell went by teammates and others to break from halfway. His 50m dash to score five metres in from the left corner was nearly foiled by the opposition skipper and flying fullback Liam Day. Referee Ben Holt was perfectly positioned to decide on the grounding (Gisborne's No.15 did a top job to get the ball down) but with both muscle and brain, New Plymouth had made Maxwell sweat for the score.
Hihi converted Maxwell's try for 7-0, which was the score at the break.
The point-margins — between Gisborne and their opponents at half time, in the first four Super 8 games they have played this season — have had GBHS four points down, 10 up, one up, nine down and seven up. They have been in every Super 8 game up to halftime, yet been about two converted tries short at the end of each one.
New Plymouth scored 42 seconds after the resumption. From a defensive lineout on the right touch, 18m into their own territory, the visitors came through to secure a loose ball and two rucks later were spinning the ball through four sets of hands to left wing Zed Stewart-Cranson.
As GBHS blindside flanker Dylan Bronlund got to Stewart-Cranson, the latter squeezed off a brilliant centring kick for reserve halfback Tai Mildon to score 14m in from the corner. Tito's conversion glanced off the left post and in for 7-7.
In the 44th minute, Mitchell won an attacking lineout, 10m from the left corner, and from the ensuing drive, reserve rake Arwin Leatuafi scored 15m infield. Tito did not convert, and at 12-7 New Plymouth had their first lead of the game.
GBHS needed to be the next team to score, and they were.
In the 48th minute, athletic lock Joe Kemp — who more than once demonstrated a marvellous ability to win lineout ball against the throw — took one such at the 22 on the left touch in NPBHS territory.
GBHS reserve halfback Izaiah Fox gave excellent service at the next three rucks, the hosts probing right twice before second-five Puna Hihi came back towards the posts. Reserve scrum-anchor McGhee scored beneath the crossbar. Carlos Hihi converted for 14-12.
New Plymouth's reply was not long in coming. In the 51st minute, six metres into Gisborne territory on the right touch, Kemp won New Plymouth ball at the front of the lineout. Two long passes went left, Maxwell joined the movement and the ball went loose. Powerhouse right wing Ramses Ah Chong acted quickly, gathering the ball up on the bounce to score five metres in from the corner.
Tito converted for 19-14 to NPBHS and in the 55th minute landed a penalty goal from halfway, 12m off the right touch — an incredible kick — for 22-14.
In the 65th minute, reserve lock Jacob Carmichael scored the sixth and last try of the day. From a scrum 15m off the right touch, 18m from their own goal-line, they went left and Ah Chong made a bust. Off the left sideline they came with a chip-kick, the ball bounced three times and from the next ruck Carmichael threw a dummy and the try was his, five metres in from the corner. Tito converted.
New Plymouth had won 29-14, their first win in this season's Super 8.
GBHS head coach Duane Hihi said his team could take positives from every game they played.
“But we also have some bad habits that we need to break,” he said.
“Discipline is a work-on for us. Sticking to our systems and finishing the job remains our focus.”
Gisborne Boys' High School's next rugby event is a beauty to bring the public out in droves — the traditional interschool fixture against St Peter's College of Auckland on July 23. That will invole the first 15, second 15, under-15s and u14s.
Gisborne Boys' High School v New Plymouth BHS
First 15s: GISBORNE BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL 14 (King Maxwell, Whetu McGhee, tries; Carlos Hihi 2 con) NEW PLYMOUTH BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL 29 (Tai Mildon, Jacob Carmichael, Ramses Ah Chong, Arwin Leatuafi, tries; Cullum Tito 3 con, pen). HT: 7-0 (GBHS).
Second 15s: GBHS 20 (Te-Reimana Gray, Gibson Poi, Keegan Jooste, tries; Kauri Christie pen, con) NPBHS 5 (Cody Revell try). HT: 13-5.
Gisborne MVPs (most valuable players): Joe Kemp (first 15), Keegan Jooste (second 15).
New Plymouth MVPs: Jayden Anaha (first 15), Jake Dingle (second 15).