BULLOCKING RUN: Hastings Boys' High School halfback Folau Fakatava takes charge in in Palmerston North during the national semifinal today. PHOTO/Paul Taylor
BULLOCKING RUN: Hastings Boys' High School halfback Folau Fakatava takes charge in in Palmerston North during the national semifinal today. PHOTO/Paul Taylor
Hastings Boys High School's 1st XV rugby team has qualified for the national secondary schools final for the first time in its history.
An 18-10 win in their semifinal against Hamilton Boys' High School in their semifinal at the Rugby Institute in Palmerston North today booked the Kianu Kereru-Symes-captained teama berth in Sunday's final against Mount Albert Grammar at the same venue. Mount Albert Grammar thrashed Southland Boys' High School 41-0 in their semifinal.
Hastings were lucky a penalty attempt from Hamilton fullback Joshua Moorby bounced off the upright in the 61st minute. Had it gone over the score could have ended in a 13-all draw and because Hamilton scored the first try, through winger Kieran Lee, they would have been awarded the victory.
Many spectators agreed the miss was deserved as former Hawke's Bay Tuis and Black Ferns first five-eighth Rebecca Mahoney, who refereed the game, should not have penalised Hastings winger Trent Hape for a dangerous tackle.
However Hastings centre Hunta Marsh had the final say with a try a minute from fulltime after 17 phases of sustained pressure from Hastings. The school last qualified for the national secondary schools semifinals and 2004 and were beaten in the semifinals. Halfback Folau Fakatava was Hastings player-of-the-match. Close behind him was fullback-first five-eighth Danny Toala and No 8 Devan Flanders.
Scorers: Hastings Boys' High School 18 (Donovan Mataira, Hunta Marsh tries; Danny Toala 2 pens, con), Hamilton Boys' High School 10 (Kieran Lee try; Joshua Moorby con, pen). HT: Hamilton 10-6.
