First XV rugby: Hastings Boys’ High School score biggest local derby win over Napier in eight years

Hastings Boys' High School giant Panapa Peia gets up high to beat Napier lock Brad Pearce for the ball in a late lineout in Hastings' win over Napier Boys’ High School in Napier on Saturday. Photo / Hastings Boys’ High School

Hastings Boys’ High School’s First XV are celebrating their biggest win in their Hawke’s Bay’s local derby Super 8 rugby match in eight years.

After going behind early, they fought back for a big victory against Napier Boys’ High School in Napier on Saturday.

Scoring five tries to two, Hastings won 35-17, the biggest score in the annual match since Hastings won 38-3 in 2017.

That was the year Hastings drew the final 12-12 with near-perennial winners Hamilton Boys’ High School, and went on to beat Hamilton in the national First XV championship final.

In chilly but otherwise reasonable conditions, it was a game of one quarter and done for Napier.

They had been targeting a third win in a row in the annual early June match, but scored all their points in the first 15 minutes.

With tries to halfback Harry Bain, taking a quick tap penalty to dive over in the seventh minute, and No 8 Carter Pirie, grabbing the opportunity as Hastings spilled the ball clearing from a ruck on defence to score in the 14th – along with a penalty goal and two conversions to fullback Will Lovatt – Napier’s 17-0 lead seemed a sound platform for a big victory of their own.

But, with the bigger forwards, Hastings turned the match dramatically, and took an 18-17 lead just on halftime as first five-eighths Tana Faumuina kicked his second penalty goal in five minutes, following tries to flanker Vincent Kite (converted) and inspirational captain and hooker J.J. Lilo-Iosefo.

Hastings extended the lead just four minutes into the second half with a try to right wing Raef Robinson, and a second to Lilo-Iosefo just five minutes later, before a scoreless next 25 minutes until prop Nehemiaha Lauvoa scored on fulltime.

By the end of the first half, Hastings were dominating in all aspects and forcing errors among the home team, including a yellow card – which was followed immediately by Lilo-Iosefo’s second try.

It was Hastings’ second win in three games, keeping alive their hopes of a place in the final. They play at home next Saturday against Gisborne Boys’ High School.

Napier, winless after two games, will have to improve to beat defending champions Tauranga Boys’ College next Saturday.

Tauranga beat New Plymouth Boys’ High School 40-19 in New Plymouth on Saturday, and Palmerston North Boys’ High School also remained unbeaten with a 21-19 home win over Hamilton Boys’ High School.

The Second XVs match in Napier on Saturday ended in a 22-22 draw.

The games are a feature of the Super 8 annual sporting and cultural programme among eight boys’ schools from Hamilton to Palmerston North.

In the 10-team Central North Island competition, St John’s College Hastings were beaten 57-5 in Hastings and next Saturday play defending champions St John’s Hamilton, in Hamilton.

Unbeaten Lindisfarne College, of Hastings, have a busy week against Whanganui Collegiate in Whanganui on Wednesday and at home against Feilding High School on Saturday.

Doug Laing is a senior reporter based in Napier with Hawke’s Bay Today and has 52 years of journalism experience, 42 of them in Hawke’s Bay, in news gathering, including breaking news, sports, local events, issues and personalities.