RUGBY - Emotional victory for Hurricanes

SHANE HURNDELL
For Hurricanes Secondary Schools and Te Aute College rugby halfback Junior Paparoa, yesterday was emotional - on and off the field.
Hours before opening their Novotel national under-18 tournament campaign at Napier Boys' High School, Paparoa and his teammates heard Feilding High School and New Zealand under-17 player Robert Hickland had died.
Hickland received severe neck injuries in a tackle when playing against Rathkeale College on June 28 and had been in the intensive care unit at Christchurch's Burwood Hospital since then.
Hickland was a serious contender for the Hurricanes side before the incident and four of his 1st XV teammates, hooker Tony Illston, captain and No 8 Luke Whitelock, utility back Paora Rakatau and blindside flanker Kere Marino made the Canes side.
Paparoa said Whitelock and Rakatau were too upset to play in yesterday's 19-14 win against Northern A.
"We became a tight side during our trial camp and yesterday's news made us even tighter. That win was for the Feilding High boys and Robert's family," said Paparoa.
A second year Te Aute College 1st XV player, Paparoa, 17, described yesterday's match as "a huge step up" from playing for his school.
And an even bigger one from rugby in his home town of Kaitaia before opting to complete his schooling at Te Aute.
The game was an emotional rollercoaster for Paparoa.
In the first half he had a few fumbles and his clearances weren't too hot.
SportToday could see pressure written all over his face as the hosts and defending champions trailed 11-8 at the interval.
Things went better for Paparoa in the second half.
His service improved and his confident chatter increased particularly after the slightly built Paparoa made a crucial tackle on Northern's 120kg-plus prop Uini Atonio.
Thanks to Paparoa's improved play his outside backs had more attacking opportunities and Rongotai College winger Julian Savea, a second season Cane, was able to score his second and match-winning try late in the feature game.
"Yes we can definitely take our confidence from today into Thursday's final against Northern B," said Paparoa who is one of five Bay players in the Canes side.
His Te Aute College teammate Star Timu impressed with his distribution and defensive work at centre.
Napier Boys' High School speedster Ashton Tuck didn't get many attacking opportunities but was safe under the high ball and constructive with his support play.
Central Hawke's Bay College's Mua Sala was dynamic as a substitute No 8. Napier Boys' High School midfielder Leafi Tupuola didn't get any game time for the Canes side, which is again coached by Hastings Boys' High School's Karl Jones.
Should the Canes retain the Barbarian Shield tomorrow it will be the fifth time they have won the 25-year-old tournament.
The New Zealand Secondary Schools side will be announced after the final.
Scorers:
Hurricanes 19 (Julian Savea 2 tries; Lima Sopoaga 3 pens), Northern A 14 (Glen Robertson try; Nathan George 3 pens). HT: Northern A 11-8.
Northern B 23 (Tyrone Ngaluafe 2 tries, Jordon Puletoa try; Aaron Somerset 2 pens, con), Southern 14 (Edwin Elia, Tufuga Sa tries; Nick Birchfield, Matt Te Tana cons).