Gisborne Boys’ High School felt the force of a strong Feilding High School team in Hastings at the weekend.
Feilding beat GBHS 31-0 at Elwood Park after leading 12-0 at halftime.
Both head coaches — fifth-year man Justin Lock of Feilding and Duane Hihi in his first year with Gisborne — are in charge of teams whose itineraries reflect the importance, standing and competitive expectation of rugby within their schools.
Both sides have much work yet to do.
“In the first half, we had a good 10 minutes parked up in Feilding’s 22 but just couldn’t finish,” Hihi said.
“Feilding were big, and powerful ball runners so all of our boys had to make a lot of tackles because they had more possession and better field position.”
Feilding skipper Vernon Bason noted the value of pattern in their performance.
“We played with good structure and built phases that tested our fitness and got the opposition moving around the pitch, too,” the hooker said.
“Credit to both teams but I was proud of our lads for their full 70-minute effort because Gisborne really tested us. We had to empty the tank.”
Gisborne tighthead prop and co-captain Nathaniel Hauiti won the toss and decided to kick off with the wind at their backs on a crisp day in Waipatu and a bumper Sunday crowd of 400-plus in attendance.
Lock Sam Kane and openside flanker Matt Anstis scored in the 12th and 15th minutes respectively. First-five Mosese Palelei converted Anstis’s try for 12-0 to the home team at the break.
In the second half, Hauiti received a yellow card from referee Max Lancaster in the 54th minute of a rugged and physical contest.
Feilding played strongly, while a tenacious Gisborne were on the defensive throughout.
The hosts’ second-half tries went to halfback Kade Manuel (55th minute), reserve right wing Simi Ului (57th) and Bason (63rd).
Palelei converted the first two of those.
Bason and Gisborne co-captain and first-five Carlos Hihi were their teams’ MVPs (most valuable players).
In the second 15 clash, Gisborne No.8-cum-lock Noah Torrance-Cribb led his team to an 18-0 win after they led 8-0 at the break.
Gisborne second-five Xavier Henare-Brown, reserve scrum anchor Henry Tovio and lock Latrelle Walker were the try-scorers and first-five Te Reimana Gray kicked a penalty.
Openside flanker Jimmy Moore was Gisborne’s MVP.