Rotorua Boys' High School's Selestino Ravutaumada on his way to scoring a try against Gisborne Boys' High School in round two of the Super 8 competition. Photo / Stephen Parker
Rotorua Boys' High School's Selestino Ravutaumada on his way to scoring a try against Gisborne Boys' High School in round two of the Super 8 competition. Photo / Stephen Parker
Consecutive bonus point wins have Rotorua Boys' High School sitting second on the Super 8 ladder, with a game in hand over leaders Hamilton Boys' High School.
Yesterdaythey hosted Gisborne Boys' High School and, while they conceded much of the territory and possession, Rotorua Boys' were able to make themost of their opportunities and secure a 41-5 win.
Gisborne gave the hosts an early opportunity to attack when they turned the ball over in their own half. Rotorua were patient in their build-up play, inching towards the line, before shifting the ball to the blindside where excitement machine Selestino Ravutaumada slipped out of a one-on-one tackle to race through and score.
Both sides approached the game with the type of passion you expect from our top schoolboy teams and it was Gisborne who dominated the battle for territory. However, Rotorua were able to assert dominance in defence, putting pressure on every break down and producing some big hits for the highlights reel.
Having absorbed a long period of pressure, Rotorua went down the other end and extended their lead through prop Poukohe Sorenson-Tawhara, who scored off the back of a powerful maul.
Rotorua Boys' High School's Manu Paea looks to slip out of a tackle against Gisborne Boys' High School. Photo / Stephen Parker
They kicked a penalty early in the second half before the Gisborne blindside flanker crashed over from close range to reduce the deficit to 15-5.
Sorenson-Tawhara scored his second, again from close range, before Ravutaumada put his winger Manu Akauola over in the corner, on the back of another dazzling run. Rotorua led 27-5 with 10 minutes left to play.
Sorenson-Tawhara completed his hat trick, off another impressive maul from the home side, before Ravutaumada scored his second. He received a sloppy pass inside his own half, but made the most of the broken play, hitting a gap and showing pure speed to race away and score the final points of the match.
Rotorua Boys' High School coach Ngarimu Simpkins said his side took awhile to get going.
"I thought we were flat at stages, but to win the game by almost 40 points is still really good. Gisborne starved us of the ball for long periods, but when we did have the ball we turned it into points which was probably the most pleasing thing.
"It's nice to have some work-ons, but still be 30-40 points up," Simpkins said.
He said second five Te Hemara Gardiner-Toi and centre Kalem Strickland were the standout players.
"Te Hemara carried the ball really strongly, took it into contact well and straightened things up a bit. Kalem is an unsung hero for us, he just never makes mistakes, he's really steady.
"I think Gisborne are quite a tidy team, they have plenty of courage," he said.
