Rugby: Multi-talented HBHS flanker on verge of code choice

Napier Boys' High School fullback Nikau McGregor is tackled by a Hamilton opponent during his team's loss on Saturday. Photo/Warren Buckland

Gutsy Hastings Boys High School 1st XV rugby flanker Liam Udy-Johns knows the day will come when he has to choose between the oval-ball code and softball.

"Hopefully after next year's Junior World Series for softball in Canada if I make the team. I could have gone to Australia this month with a New Zealand Development team but I did that last year and missed too many rugby games ...

"I don't want to miss out on any part of this roll, we're going well because we're all working together as a team," Udy-Johns explained after his unbeaten side recorded their fourth consecutive win in the Super 8 competition and 13th for the season with a 53-0 drubbing of Rotorua Boys' High School in Hastings on Saturday.

Udy-Johns, 17, showed why he was one of 11 payers from the side selected to attend the Hurricanes' under-18 development camp next week with a huge defensive workrate and some accurate work at the breakdown. Some Rotorua supporters found it hard to believe this is his first season as a flanker at this level after playing second five-eighth last year.

"You get to make more tackles as a flanker and there is more physicality ... I'm loving it. I'm going to come back to school again next year I'm loving it so much," Udy-Johns said.

As the score suggests, Saturday's victory was another admirable performance from the hosts, who have scored 778 points in their 13 outings while conceding 50.

Hastings ran in nine tries and again produced some impressive ball handling and support play in difficult weather conditions, but delighted manager and former Magpies halfback Jason Bird said it was the defensive work of his troops which was the most pleasing aspect of the victory.

"To keep a good team like Rotorua to zero was a good effort."

Impressive No 8 Devan Flanders was again full of authority in all aspects of play and displayed his versatility by playing the final eight minutes on the wing.

Winger Kini Naholo was again dangerous and scored two tries to take his season tally to 32. Naholo and flanker Jeriah Mua have both been named in the Chiefs' under-18 training squad.

Fullback Danny Toala and first five-eighth Lincoln McClutchie again proved why they are in the frame for New Zealand Secondary Schools team selection.

Rotorua's best players were lock Stephen Schwenke and second five-eighth Tom Ale. Rotorua co-coach and former Maori All Black and Bay of Plenty Steamers halfback Ruki Tipuna was full of praise for the Hastings outfit.

"I've heard all about your team and read about it. Today I saw it for myself ... you don't have a lot of stars but you play so well as a team, so clinical and so well structured," Tipuna told Bird.

The team expected to push Hastings in the Super 8, Hamilton Boys' High School, beat Napier Boys' High School 55-8 in Napier. The hosts - who were missing eight regular starters through injury including captain and flanker Josh Bokser, and vice captain and halfback Humphrey Sheild - trailed 13-3 at halftime.

Hooker Patrick Teddy scored Napier's only try off a lineout drive and fullback Nikau McGregor kicked a penalty.

Scorers:
Hastings Boys' High School 53 (Kini Naholo 2, Folau Fakatava 2, Jeriah Mua, Lincoln McClutchie, Danny Toala, Trent Hape, Devan Flanders tries; Danny Toala 3, Jordan Thompson-Dunn cons), Rotorua Boys' High School 0. HT: 27-0.