Spirited finish from HSOB but YMP the victors

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

HSOB v YMP was the only game of the weekend that didn't come down to the final minutes in the premier league.

Strong starts in each of the halves gave Eastland Farm Vets YMP the upper hand as they beat Contract Consultants HSOB 47-30 in the race for the Civil Project Solutions Lee Brothers Shield.

YMP scored two tries, one converted, in the first 15 minutes to gain a strong lead that they held on to for the entire game.

HSOB answered quickly with an unconverted try and a conversion of their own before YMP fired back with arguably the try of the game, to winger Te Peehi Fairlie.

A quick tap on halfway caught the defence napping, he went through the first line of defence and around the rest of the HSOB team to score under the posts for a converted try.

HSOB kicked another penalty to stay in touch with YMP before conceding two more tries in the last 10 minutes of the first half, taking the score to 33-11.

YMP scored two more tries at the start of the second half to widen the gap between the teams to 36 points before a spirited comeback from HSOB.

The last 20 minutes of the game was all HSOB, who scored 19 unanswered points.

Three tries narrowed the score but it was too little, too late for HSOB.

YMP coach Brian Leach said the team knew they needed to start well, and did.

“HSOB kept coming back and their forwards did a lot of damage . . . they played their best game of rugby in the last 20 minutes.”

Leach said Milner had another strong game at centre, “cutting their defence to pieces”.

He was happy with his team's performance; they identified starting strong in each half, and delivered.

“It was a tick for us, we're happy with our performance.”

Seth Lundon had his first game of the season, starting at blindside, and got the union's player of the game award.

He was in as injury replacement for Shyann Wyllie, who was still out after a big concussion, said Leach.

“Shyann might have to fight for position now, Seth played really well.”

Efforts to reach HSOB representatives for comment were unsuccessful.