WHS flex mighty muscle

WHS No14 Shayden Pirikahu-Phillips takes on the opposition during the 15-7 win over arch-rival Wanganui Collegiate in a local derby last month. PHOTO/FILE A-310713WCBRCRUG02

The Wanganui High School 1st XV have made the top eight teams in the Super Rugby Franchise Co-ed competition with the 55-0 demolition of Central Hawke's Bay College at Arena Park in Manawatu on Tuesday.

The competition involves secondary school teams from within the Chiefs, Crusaders, Blues and Hurricanes regions with each franchise hosting its own finals.

Tuesday's match was to determine the finalists in the Hurricanes co-ed competition and the dismissive victory gives WHS the chance to play Wairarapa College at the same venue at 1pm on Saturday. Victory in the Hurricanes final will mean WHS will have made the top four and a place in the semifinals of the overall franchise competition in Rotorua.

WHS coach Darryl Malcolm said Tuesday's game was a dominant team effort and well-earned payback for an extraordinary season.

"The boys played extremely well to gain a spot in the top eight in the four regions," Malcolm said yesterday.

"While it was a total team effort, our halfback Rory Gudsell played his guts out and hooker Jack Van Bussel was excellent."

Meanwhile, Malcolm's son Sam, playing in the No10 jersey, kicked around 80 per cent of his shots at goal.

"There was quite a good crowd watching Tuesday's game and we have 17 sponsors and eight of them were there. One of them said to us the game was a great spectacle for sponsors and showed why we had their backing, which was a brilliant compliment for us," Malcolm said.

The excitement was now building for the upcoming final against Wairarapa College on Saturday, although Malcolm conceded he knew little of the opposition.

"We don't know much about Wairarapa apart from the fact they tipped up the strong Feilding A team earlier. If we can beat them and make it to the semifinals against winners of the other franchise competitions it would make it an even better season than it's already been. This is the best season WHS can remember."

However, he knows full well this step up to the semifinals in Rotorua is huge.

"We have a zero budget, unlike the $500,000 or so St Kentigerns in Auckland does. We have met teams with big players before and that's given us confidence we can match it with them," Malcolm said.