Rugby: Boys shaking Japan tourney

Rotorua Boys' High School player Te Ra Whata was a star performer in Japan this week.

Rotorua Boys' High School are through to the quarter-finals of the Sanix World Rugby Youth Invitational Tournament in Japan after winning all three of their pool games.

An emphatic 45-0 victory against China's Ji Jianguo High School, which confirmed a knock out stage place, was largely thanks to Rotorua's impressive back line, who were able to rip apart the opposing defence.

Two tries were scored by back Reuben Te Kani-Taylor whilst Kaleb Trask, Poukohe Sorensen-Tawhara, Matthew Van Leeuwen, Hayze Perham and Jayden Sargent all slid over.

Manager Bruce Buckton singled out Trask, as he made several important long-range goals and critical covering tackles along with breaking the defensive line to score and set up others, whilst other star performances included - Te Ra Whata, Kaleb Trask, Jayden Sargent, Hayze Perham and fullback Reuben Te Kani-Taylor.

The forward pack also pulled their weight by hitting hard in the collision areas of the game, led by the young front row of Shayne Peato, Poukohe Sorreson-Tawhara and Sy Waiti.

And the game also gave the opportunity to play three U15 boys - flanker Tukimihia Simpkins, winger Kahlil Aldworth-Bidois and fullback Tama Te Aute.

The national secondary school champions are now one step closer to reclaiming the title they won 13 years ago, however Buckton is playing down any speculation.

Buckton said: "We can take a lot of confidence into the knock-out stages and I was very pleased with the back line performances and the forward pack certainly answered my call of putting bodies on the line, however, now the heat is really being turned up. We must keep focused and not get ahead of ourselves as we enter the knock-out stages."