Super 8 rugby final: Napier swept away by wave of Hamilton tries

The Napier Boys' High School first XV challenging Hamilton BHS before Napier's win in Napier on July 9. It was a different story in the Super 8 final in Hamilton on Saturday, with Hamilton winning 56-22. Photo / Ian Cooper

The Napier Boys’ High School First XV’s dreams of a first Super 8 schools rugby title in 20 years evaporated in a mid-match wave of four tries against them as they were beaten 56-22 by Hamilton Boys’ High School in the final in Hamilton on Saturday.

Down by just three points at 8-5 with 10 minutes until halftime, Napier, which had beaten Hamilton 17-15 in the mud in Napier last month, saw the score balloon in much better conditions to 25-5 at the break and 32-5 just two minutes after the resumption.

The eight-tries-to-four victory was the 14th by Hamilton Boys’ High School in the 18 Super 8 finals since 2006, and they shared one other.

Hamilton went to an early 8-0 lead with a penalty and a try in the first six minutes, with Napier getting their first points with the first of two tries to left wing Eneri McGrath in the 18th minute.

Napier’s other tries went to substitutes Hunter Kinney and Riley Mullany, the latter converted by first five-eighths Luke Thomas, making it 42-22 with eight minutes to go.

The Napier and Hastings First XVs remain in the running for another bid at the national championship, with the Hurricanes region top four qualifier to be decided over the next three weeks.

The national finals, with a team each also from the Blues region, the Chiefs Region and the South Island, will be held at Massey University on September 1-3.

Doug Laing is a senior reporter based in Napier with Hawke’s Bay Today, and has 50 years of journalism experience in news gathering, including breaking news, sports, local events, issues, and personalities.