Tapsell, assistant coach Kahu Falaoa (who is also the side’s forwards and defence coach), trainer Luke Bradley and managers Janelle Te Rauna-Lamont and Sam Cairns have worked hard and long on behalf of this first 15 already.
Tomorrow is a big day for all involved.
Roddick and another fighter, then-GBHS and now-OBM premier halfback Braedyn Grant, shared Gisborne Boys’ High School’s MVP (most valuable player) award against St Peter’s at “The Cage” last year.
Blindside flanker Nik Patumaka was the GBHS second 15 MVP from No.8 against St Peter’s second 15 in 2019 and while Gisborne was swept 4-0 last season — 46-0 and 19-7 at first- and second-15 level respectively — St Peter’s then-head coach Walter Alvarez noted the strength of the GBHS first 15 at the scrum. That is significant because Alvarez’s 2019 outfit retained forwards from their Top Four-winning side of 2018.
The Rectory faithful may remember that on July 22, 2018, GBHS under fetcher Dylan Hall led St Peter’s first 15 here 17-7 at the break, only to lose 35-17 in a stunning turnaround.
St Peter’s second 15 won 54-22 that day also.
Tapsell’s first 15 began this season with two losses away from home — 28-10 to Feilding High School at the Hastings Sports Ground on July 4 and 42-10 to St Paul’s Collegiate School at Owen Delany Park on July 7 — before picking up their first win of the season, a 47-19 result against a combined Wharekura o Mauo/Aquinas College side at Whakatane.
Westrupp was the GBHS MVP against Wharekura o Mauo/Aquinas, loosehead prop Sione Fekauhavea taking that honour against St Paul’s, as fullback King Maxwell had against Feilding.
Roddick is a no-nonsense captain: he couldn’t care less about last year’s side winning their season opener at the Rectory 66-12 against Lindisfarne College, going down 52-3 to Hamilton in the last home game played here, or losing the Kane Cup to Tauranga 36-24 to end 2019.
Roddick wants this team to play hard winning rugby tomorrow.
“The boys have been keen,” he said.
“The intensity has been there. We can’t wait.”
GBHS second 15 captain and first-five Xavier Henare-Brown and the seconds of 2019 came closest to a win against St Peter’s last time around. Gisborne Boys’ High lost 19-7 in The Cage.
“It’s a bit of a challenge, but we’re feeling OK,” Henare-Brown said.
“We’re going to put our best foot forward and play good rugby.”
St Peter’s director of rugby and first 15 head coach Dave Thomas’s side began their season with a 48-0 win against Liston College at The Cage on June 13. They beat Rotorua BHS 23-17 at Raukura the following Saturday and then lost their first 1A competition game at home, 22-0 to Kings College. They won their last game 27-21 against Kelston BHS a fortnight ago at St Peter’s.
St Peter’s first 15 are led by 2018 national champions captain and No.8 Tito Tuipulotu and vice-captain and first-five Ajay Felaafaga.
“We always look forward to this traditional fixture,” Thomas said.
“Gisborne Boys’ are a quality rugby school who give us physical, hard-fought matches.”
St Peter’s are the holders of the Boris Srhoj Cup, which will be presented to the winners of tomorrow’s first 15 match.
Sione Mafileo, Matariki Kaa, Nathaniel Hauiti, Dylan Bronlund, Tyler Keelan-Phillips, Nik Patumaka, Amos Roddick (captain), Khian Westrupp, Kirk Ngatai, Nic Proffit, Corbyn Peach, Tuteari Te Rauna-Lamont, Vincent Huata, Isaiah Lemaua, King Maxwell. Reserves: Kitini Taihuka, Uetaha Wanoa, Zeke Collier, Sam Twigley, Kyran Russell, Whetu King-Taufa, Bryan Howard, Max Briant.
Moeaki Mosati, Rewiti Ropiha, Hayze Nepia/Keegan Jooste, Matiu Anderson, Max Briant, Eni-Rukea Hiroti-Sinoti, Te Ariki Pomana, Sitiveni Tuilautala, Israel Fox, Xavier Henare-Brown (captain), Freedom Lemaua, Poumanu Reeves, Adrian Wharehinga-McDonald, Mikaere Marino-Moore/Whakaruru Waitai-Te Kurupa, Taimana Teneti. Reserves: Henare Lardelli-Clarke, Drake Wanoa, Hayze Nepia/Keegan Jooste, Saylahr Paaka, Jacob Storey, Haeora King, Ryan Jones, Siope Fakahokotau, Mikaere Marino-Moore/Whakaruru Waitai-Te Kurupa.
Vaivaihefolau Kailahi, Nicholas Muli, Salesi Tuifua, Teariki Monga, Konrad Toleafoa, Lasalo Fetuani, Lamont Palmer, Tito Tuipulotu (captain), Ben Fuhiniu, Ajay Felaafaga, Caleb Laiman, Presley Seumanu, Siale Faeamani, Joshua Thompson, Jeremiah Asi. Reserves: Sika Uamaki-Pole, Kelepi Halaufia, Dylan Petaia, Blair Fuimaono-Tagi, Nick Fuhiniu, Kafa Vaea, Jago Birley, Tomasi Fineanganofo.
Patelo Motulalo, Sika Uamaki-Pole, Kelepi Halaufia, Kawa MacDonald, Tomasi Fineanganofo, Dylan Petaia, Ethan Erceg, Jack Bonisch (captain), Etuate Fukofuka, Regan Bent, Quincy Penisio, Logan Hunt, Kafa Vaea, Nick Malifa, Francis Wulf. Reserves: Uelilima Fifita, Valansea Fonoimoana, Adam Simpson, Kairos Tahere, Ngakete George, Tyron Chong, Jago Birley, Truman Tepai.
