Titanic challenge ahead

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

The motto of the Special Air Service is “Who Dares Wins.”

The Duane Hihi-coached Gisborne Boys’ High School first 15 have it all to play for in their last Super 8 home game of the season tomorrow.

They face world schoolboy rugby titans of the past decade, Hamilton Boys’ High — the four-times SANIX Invitation Tournament champions, who won five Super 8 titles in a row before being dethroned 20-19 by Rotorua BHS last year, but bounced back a month later to win their fifth national Top 4 crown.

Tomorrow at Rectory No.1 from midday, Gisborne will also challenge the 13-times Super 8 champions for the Ranfurly Shield of national secondary schools’ rugby — the Moascar Cup — along with the Vesty Thomas Cup.

Nigel Hotham’s Hamilton have held the Vesty Thomas Cup since 2012.

Last year  they beat Gisborne 59-0 after leading 27-0 at the break and never was the need for GBHS to muscle up better illustrated than in that meeting.

Fullback Peyton Spencer opened the scoring seven minutes into that game, while reserve scrum-anchor Rarahui Palmer got a double and will start at loosehead prop tomorrow.

The hosts cannot allow any drop in defensive intensity or fail to regroup against the No.1 team in the country.

Gisborne co-captain and openside flanker Braith Ingram leads a forward pack whose individual members and combinations must hold their bulky opponents.

In Super 8 terms, Gisborne are still seeking a win after five games.

Hamilton (21 points) have Napier BHS (20) and Tauranga Boys’ College (19) snapping at their heels. All three have won four of five clashes.

Gisborne Boys’ High produced their best match-effort of 2023 — a 26-19 loss away to Hastings BHS Akina — on June 17. The postponement of the game against New Plymouth BHS on June 24 came at an especially inopportune moment.

Blowing the whistle in the first 15 game will be Ben Holt with Les Thomas as his assistant referee, while Joel Pearse is in charge of the second 15 match, which starts at 10.30am.

First 15s — GISBORNE BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL: Malosi Luafalealo, Noah Torrance-Cribb, Franco Ludwig, Joe Kemp, Reuben Whaitiri, Jimmy Moore, Braith Ingram (co-captain), Luke Bidois, Liam Beattie, Kauri Christie, Timuaki Stewart, Safin Tuwairua-Brown, Puna Hihi (cc), Kaiaio Kerekere-Tangira, Kahurangi Leach-Waihi, Gibson Poi. Reserves: Jahn Niwa-Karakia, Mako Blackman, Tipene Wilson, Taran Wilson, Safin Tuwairua-Brown, David Gray, Levi Soto.

Hamilton BHS: Rarahui Palmer, Tom McCarthy, Liam Van Der Heyden, Christian MacEwan, Josiah Moetara, Liam Sturm (c), Jack Miller, Inga Kokohu, Mac Russ, Wyndham Patuawa, Dupre Marshall, Hiraka Waitai-Waenga, Ollie Guerin, Kurtis Hana, Rangiwai Lunjevich. R: Tom Martin, Jake Rabarts, Stefan Newman, Alex Arnold, Lance Kruger, Dallas Rata-Makene, Alex Pitts-Brown.