Second 15 defeated in tight, end-to-end game

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

RUGBY

The Gisborne Boys’ High School second 15 rugby side went down 21-13 to Hastings here on Saturday but they were in it all the way and the game was a cracker.

Hastings BHS (Akina) outscored the hosts 3-1 tries to one on Rectory 1, the Xavier Henare-Brown-led GBHS nevertheless producing their best match-effort of the Super 8 season to date after losses to Napier (74-0) and Rotorua (46-5) out of town.

Boys’ High openside flanker Ben Phelps was named Player of the Day by his coach, Wiremu Kaa: the lively fetcher made a number of telling tackles and secured a lot of loose ball. Blindside flanker Sam Joe was Hastings’ Player of the Day.

Gisborne captain second-five Henare-Brown was defiant.

“I’m proud of our boys — that was our best game so far but we won’t be satisfied until we get a win,” he said.

“The effort of our coaches never goes unnoticed and they’ve been working to get to us to where we need to be, as we have to achieve our goal: to win.”

In wet conditions, GBHS first-five Bryan Howard opened the scoring with a penalty goal in the eighth minute of play and repeated the dose at the 13 minute-mark to give Gisborne a 6-0 lead against Liam Anderson’s Hastings crew.

Nineteen minutes in, HBHS centre Alex Dickey scored the first try of his double — on first-five Bryson Pakoti-Crawford’s conversion, Akina went ahead 7-6 (the halftime score).

Hastings left-wing Tomasi Naicegulevu scored the first try (39th minute) after the resumption, Dickey completing his try-double in the 42nd minute. Pakoti-Crawford converted both of those tries for 21-6.

Hastings looked to be out of reach until GBHS reserve loosehead prop Hayze Nepia struck back in the 61st minute. His try was converted by Howard: the score was, and remained, 21-13 to Akina.

Hastings coach Andy Green, speaking for fullback Anderson, said: “It was typical Gizzy-Hastings: brutal defence at times and end-to-end running rugby as well.

“Good to see Gisborne strong too, because we love the fixture.”

Isaac Hughes, whistle-blower for the first 15 match to follow, relieved referee Les Thomas (left hamstring twinge) after halftime in the second 15 match.

Hughes did an excellent job in both games; his composure and decision-making were top-notch. He said: “Those were enjoyable games: all four teams were there to play rugby.”