HBHS winger Kini Naholo won the New Zealand Secondary Schools player-of-the-year award today. Photo/File
HBHS winger Kini Naholo won the New Zealand Secondary Schools player-of-the-year award today. Photo/File
Hastings Boys' High School's 1st XV rugby side won the National Top Four title for the first time today with a 25-17 win against Hamilton Boys' High School in their Palmerston North-hosted final. Outstanding No 8 Devan Flanders captured player-of-the-match honours and winger Kini Naholo, who scored 41 tries in 21matches this season, won the national season MVP award.
"This is unbelievable. The boys have worked so hard for this and it finally paid off," Flanders said afterwards.
"It wasn't easy conditions out there today. I had to try and come in and look for the ball. We love each other and we treat each other like brothers," Naholo said.
Hastings manager and former Magpies halfback Jason Bird said his troops were relieved.
"A lot of the boys were in the team which finished second last year. It was good for them to experience what it means to win this title. They fought off a lot of demons because there were so many expectations for them to go all the way. They have so much pride in their school and their pride for the person to the left or right of them is second to none," he added.
Scorers: Hastings Boys' High School 25 (Kini Naholo, Shamara Brooks, Josiah Tavita-Metcalfe tries; Danny Toala 2 pens, 2 cons), Hamilton Boys' High School 17 (Joshua Calvert try; Coby Miln 3, Fletcher Morgan pens). HT: 15-14.
