A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.
American president John Fitzgerald Kennedy said on more than one occasion that “one man can make a difference” and on Saturday Ashton Paintin was that man.
The powerful Tauranga Boys’ College left-winger scored two tries in the home team’s 48-10 win against Gisborne Boys’ High School.
The score at the break in the second-to-last Super 8 Saturday of 2023 was 10-all, but the hosts went up several gears after the resumption to score six unanswered tries.
While disappointed with the loss, Gisborne co-captain openside flanker Braith Ingram felt his forward pack was solid and that they demonstrated the crucial ability to put players into space.
Tauranga retained the Kane Trophy which they took from Gisborne 36-24 four years ago and have held since.
With a huge crowd of 4000 in (500 sausages and 1000 drinks were sold on a chilly day) and a firm turf underfoot, Ingram won the coin toss and opted to kick off.
The home team opened the scoring in the 13th minute. From an attacking scrum on the Gisborne 22, Tauranga went left through the hands quickly for Paintin to make good in the corner.
At the quarter-hour mark, hooker Christian Sauni found Tauranga skipper and No.8 Hohepa Chandler in a lineout 24m from the right corner and over three phases of play, the blue and whites worked left, then right, putting Paintin’s wing-partner Dylan Henderson away to score 11m infield.
Stung by this, Gisborne turned defence into attack in the 28th minute. Ingram made a tackle for the ages on Henderson, and referee Peter Morgan penalised Tauranga two rucks later.
First-five Kauri Christie found touch 2m from the left corner, hooker Noah Torrance-Cribb hit his lineout mark in lock Reuben Whaitiri and from the drive Torrance-Cribb scored to close the gap to five points.
The penultimate passage of play in the lead-in to Gisborne’s second try saw them work over 24 phases to within 8m of the right corner.
The ball fell to loosehead prop Malosi Luafalealo at the tail of their attacking lineout. Gisborne then pressed forward twice before No.8 Luke Bidois, with great technique, drove low to score 8m infield.
On that heartbursting note, a first half with four tries but no successful kicks at goal ended.
Tauranga took control after the break with 38 unanswered points. Chandler (37th minute) and Paintin (41st) scored on virtually the same spot — both receiving a magic last pass from second-five Judah Draiva.
Halfback Charlie Sinton converted Paintin’s second try for 22-10 and three minutes later, after a Tauranga scrum win midfield at halfway, Draiva caught the ball off a chip-kick and delivered an inside pass for fullback Landen Monks to dot down under the crossbar. Sinton’s conversion made it 29-10.
In the 55th minute, giant blindside flanker Aisake Vakasiuola intercepted a pass at halfway and stormed 50m to score.
Reserve winger Mason Verster’s conversion increased the home side’s lead to 36-10.
Verster was the next man to dot down, in the 67th minute for 41-0. He converted his own try.
Vakasiuola completed his double on fulltime with a try in the right corner — tighthead prop Faauma Kupita giving him great service from a sweeping attack to finish.
The final score, 48-10, was indicative of Tauranga’s slick, accurate passing and support play.
They were lethal in moving the ball as well as any Tauranga team Gisborne have encountered since the Kim Harris-coached Gisborne side left Nicholson Field with the iconic Moascar Cup in 1993 after a 22-9 win.
Gisborne held their own at set-pieces and put some strong sequences together.
“Again we played well in the first half in the face of adversity,” Gisborne head coach Duane Hihi said. “In the seventh minute, we lost our first-five Safin Tuwairua-Brown (replaced by Kauri Christie) and fullback Gibson Poi (replaced by David Gray) when they accidentally butted heads in a tackle. From that time, our boys dug deep (but) in the second half, we didn’t execute.”
Tauranga coach Aidan Kuka said: “Both teams were gritty, but it’s fair to say I gave my boys a rev-up at the break. I was impressed with Gisborne’s tenacity. They absorbed pressure and then they scored two awesome tries.”
Tauranga have finished their Super 8 campaign in third place. Gisborne have one game to play— against New Plymouth BHS at their Gully this Saturday — as last year’s beaten finalists Hamilton BHS host Napier BHS in the final.
Super 8 rugby
Tauranga Boys’ College first 15 48 Gisborne Boys’ High School 10 (Noah Torrance-Cribb, Luke Bidois tries). HT 10-all.
Most Valuable Player: Aidan Spratley, Judah Draiva (TBC), Reuben Whaitiri, Braith Ingram, Puna Hihi (GBHS).
TBC second 15 37 GBHS 12 (Tipene Wilson, Jahn Niwa-Karakia tries; Impala Waipara con). HT 24-0.
MVPs: Kele Lasaga (TBC), James McKay (GBHS).
TBC under-15s 30 GBHS 12 (Jasper Drayton-Tuhua, Malakai Tea tries; Quinn Pirihi-Coutts con) HT 17-12 TBC.
MVPs: Zac Horan (TBC), Sio Tavake (GBHS).
TBC under-14s 26 GBHS 14 (Whare Spring, Manoa Nairoiroi tries; Jethro Morris 2 con). HT 14-12 GBHS.
MVPs: Jaziah Featherstone (TBC), Isileli Kamoto-Taliauli (GBHS).