Rotorua Boys' High School and Tauranga Boys' High School battled out a 20-20 draw in Tauranga. Pictured is Rotorua Boys' player Te Ra Whata heading for the tryline on Saturday. Photo/Andrew Warner
Rotorua Boys' High School and Tauranga Boys' High School battled out a 20-20 draw in Tauranga. Pictured is Rotorua Boys' player Te Ra Whata heading for the tryline on Saturday. Photo/Andrew Warner
Tauranga Boys' and Rotorua Boys' first XVs turned on a classic nailbiter in the opening Super Eight match of the year at Nicholson Field in Tauranga, the 20-20 draw fortunate for Tauranga as Rotorua captain Isaac Te Aute missed a straightforward conversion attempt in the final play of the matchon Saturday.
Tauranga No 8 Caleb Aperahama opened the scoring after good build-up work from outstanding front rower Kemble Frost but the conversion was missed which was crucial in the final outcome.
Te Aute reduced the gap with a penalty and Rotorua looked certain to score after a barnstorming run from No 8 Viliame Tosi led to a sprint for the line for left winger Corban Selwyn. But he was cut down by a great covering tackle from Tauranga's captain and fullback Connor Fifita.
Rotorua's lively halfback Te Ra Whata then scampered away for a great individual try in the corner, which Te Aute converted well from touch for a 10-5 halftime lead.
Tauranga came out firing in the second half, with prop Leighton Hika crashing over for a try before a clever kick into space by Te Aute was turned into a try for winger Latu Vaeno after a fortuitous bounce.
Replacement halfback Carlos Price kicked a penalty to close Rotorua's lead to 15-13 before Christian Kelly scored in the corner.
Price slotted the conversion to put Tauranga ahead 15-10 with five minutes left but they were unable to hold out the final storming finish from Rotorua, with hooker Jesse Mason-Grant getting the final try.
Rotorua Boys' will host Gisborne Boys' next Saturday in Rotorua in round two of the Super Eight.
Tauranga Boys' College 20 (Caleb Aperahama, Leighton Hika, Christian Kelly tries; Carlos Price con, pen) Rotorua Boys' College 20 (Te Ra Whata, Latu Vaeno, Jesse Mason-Grant tries; Isaac Te Aute con, pen). HT: 10-5 RBHS.
