Tough Super 8 opener for Gisborne Boys’ High

Gisborne Boys’ High co-captain and flanker Braith Ingram takes on the De La Salle College defence in a first 15 clash earlier this year. Ingram’s team open their Super 8 campaign tomorrow at home to Napier Boys’ High. Kick-off is midday at the Rectory field. Picture by Paul Rickard

Gisborne v Napier is a special game.

And tomorrow the Gisborne Boys’ High School first 15 open their Super 8 campaign at home against their oldest traditional foes on Rectory No.1 at midday.

GBHS head coach Duane Hihi’s team go into tomorrow off the back of TranZit Coachlines Festival of Rugby away losses to Wellington College (34-19) and St Patrick’s College Silverstream (47-10), but learned a great deal.

The commitment of Gisborne co-captains Braith Ingram (openside flanker) and Puna Hihi (second five)  has been reflective of the effort of the squad as a whole.

What they must do tomorrow, in front of a loyal home crowd, is reproduce their mighty defensive effort of March 24  in Gisborne when they lost 29-10 to A1 bigwigs De La Salle College of Auckland.

Gisborne led 5-0 and 10-0 and made De La Salle work hard to break through over the first 50 minutes.

“The boys are feeling good about playing their first Super 8 game of the year at home,” Ingram said. “Our focus is on attitude, mentality, and that we’re clear on our roles, understand them and stay in our system.”

Gisborne blooded 16 players in their first outing of the season against Western Heights (a 36-12 win).

This Napier team, under new head coach David Russell, has in its ranks only 10 returning players from 2022.

Napier were third in the 20th Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament held in Japan from April 28 to May 5 and won by national champions Hamilton BHS.

Last year, NBHS lost the Top 4 final 15-17 to Hamilton.

Napier have held the Football Challenge Cup on offer tomorrow for eight years. It is a trophy symbolising much that is held to be important by the schools in terms of shared history and values; a prize they have never taken for granted that they will hold forever.

Napier prevailed 24-17 at home last year.

Players are forever earning opportunities, and starting tighthead prop Levi Cameron, the Gisborne second 15s regular captain, is one such.

From the first 15 game against Silverstream, Kauri Christie is at halfback for Liam Beattie, Kaiaio Tangira-Kerekere has switched from centre to fullback, Gibson Poi has gone from fullback to the right-wing and Quaydon Chaffey-Kora has gone to centre from the right-wing.

Weather may be a factor.

In charge of the first 15 game tomorrow will be Poverty Bay referee Damien Macpherson, with assistants Les Thomas and Joel Pearse.

The GBHS-NBHS second 15 clash is at the Rectory at 10.30am and will be controlled by Bay of Plenty’s Chris Moon.

Gisborne Boys’ High’s under-15s face their Napier counterparts  in Gisborne on August 16.

TOMORROW’S TEAMS —

Gisborne BHS first 15: Malosi Luafalealo, Noah Torrance-Cribb, Levi Cameron, Joe Kemp, Reuben Whaitiri, Jimmy Moore, Braith Ingram (co-captain), Luke Bidois, Kauri Christie, Te-Reimana Gray, Timuaki Stewart, Puna Hihi (cc), Quaydon Chaffey-Kora, Gibson Poi, Kaiao Kerekere-Tangira. Reserves: Jahn Niwa-Karakia, Ratu Naioroi, Tipene Wilson, James McKay, Liam Beattie, Safin Tuwairua-Brown, Kahurangi Leach-Waihi.

Napier BHS first 15: Tasman Soanai-Oeti (c), Juan Ross, Richie Magele, George Prouting, Ben Campbell, George Hancy, Riley Mullany, Khan Stevenson, Joel Russell (v), Jacob Cotter, Kiane Tuifao, Luke Thomas, Josh Augustine, Ruben Du Plessis, Charlie Nash. R: Troy Thomas, Damian Annandale, Lockie Seerden, James Robinson, Hunter Kinney, Zach Forster, Eneri McGrath.

GBHS second 15: Franco Ludwig, Jaiah Kora, Tomasi Mataele, Cody Tarei, Eugene Paul, James McKay, Bekko Paul, Uluaki Tavake, James Hamlin, David Gray, Junior Henoa, Impala Waipara (c), Jaydyn Tihore, Storm Henare, Jayden De Thier. R: Taran Wilson, Tyrone Mauheni, Jay Kaliopasi, Lukas Fry, Ngahina Hinaki, Phoenix Pardoe-Crosby.

NBHS second 15: Matiu Ward, Liam Reid, Fasitau Lapa, George McHardy, Conrad Awatere Maden (c), Rico Kara, Lockie Seerden, Josh Moefeti, Maxime Hoen-Villain, Joseph Jury-Senitu, Enzo St Leger, Zach Forster, Eneri McGrath, Harvey O’Rourke, Angus Lovatt. R: Cameron Brans, Elia Fetaulaki, Toby Morrison, Finn Broad, Shane Sherrif, Joseph Hay-McKenzie, Taniela Gavidi.