Rugby: Pride will replace Hastings Boys' dejection in time

HBHS rugby captain Liam Udy-Johns receives the silverware after their second placing at the Sanix World Youth Invitational tournament in Japan. Photo/Supplied

Dejection enveloped the faces of the Hastings Boys' High School rugby players when their Sanix World Rugby Youth Invitational Tournament campaign ended in Fukuoka at the weekend.

The Liam Udy-Johns captained side knew they could have performed better than they did as they bowed 35-5 to Fiji's Ratu Kadavulevu School in the final.

However, the fact is New Zealand's sole representatives at the 16-team event still finished second in the world and in days and years to come they will have every right to look back on that achievement in a better light than they did on Saturday night.

"I'm very proud of the effort the boys put in and the sacrifices they and their families made to get to Japan," manager Jason Bird said, shortly after the tour party returned home yesterday.

"The boys learnt a lot about themselves as individuals and about themselves as rugby players. They also learnt about a different culture."

The Tafai Ioasa-Karl Lowe-coached Hastings side trailed 21-5 at halftime. Their early try was scored by hooker Damarus Hokianga-Heather.

"We didn't get into our patterns in the final and didn't stick to our game plan for long periods enough," Bird said.

"When we did we scored a try. But we didn't adjust and the Fijians played very well."

On Friday Hastings Boys' High School beat Osaka 48-15 in their semifinal. Lock James Green was the hero of that match.

"We lost Sean Baker in the warm up and James was promoted from the subs bench and played the full 60 minutes. James carried the ball well and worked really hard on defence ... he really stepped up," Bird recalled.

Second five-eighth Jordan Thompson-Dunn was a constant threat on attack and he also produced some polished defensive work.

Winger Michael Naitokani scored two tries for Hastings while Green, Thompson-Dunn, Sam Taylor, Zac Southwick and Mathew Wilson scored one each.

Arana Murphy kicked four conversions and a penalty and Gideon Kautai kicked a conversion.

"Six games in eight days was a big ask. There was plenty for us to do on our days off ... we were on the go from the time we landed until the time we departed," Bird explained.

Loosie Udy-Johns, midfield back Andrew Hayward and Naitokani consistently played to a high level. Bird pointed out Ioasa and Lowe will have a tough job reducing the 30-strong squad to 25 for coming games.

"We carried a big squad to help create depth and that has been achieved. Hopefully that momentum will carry on through."

"Because we've been on the go since January it feels like our season has finished. But it is only just beginning at home," Bird said.

He agreed the experience gained in Japan will help the lads in their quest to retain their Tranzit Tournament, Super 8 and National Top Four titles.

Hastings Boys' High School will host St Pat's Silverstream of Wellington in their first Tranzit Tournament clash on Saturday.

Their first Super 8 fixture will be an away game against Palmerston North Boys' High on June 9. Their first home Super 8 match will be against neighbours Napier Boys' High on June 16.

Earlier in their Fukuoka campaign Hastings Boys' High School beat Toin from Japan 31-19 in their quarter-final and Jianguo High School from Chinese Taipei 45-14, Tokai University High School 40-14 and Nagasaki Hokuyodai High School 33-26 in pool play.

The Hastings squad included four regular starters from last year's National Top Four winning squad and 10 of last year's 24-strong extended squad.