Rugby: Courageous defence earns Tauranga Boys draw

Tauranga Boys' First XV prop Sammy Veikoso smiles after scoring against Wesley College at Nicholson Field on Saturday. Photo / Andrew Warner

After two heavy defeats to Auckland Grammar and King's College the pressure was on the new-look Tauranga Boys' College First XV to deliver the standard expected of them in round one of the Chiefs Cup at Nicholson Field on Saturday.

And they did not disappoint, with a courageous defensive effort against their much bigger Wesley College opponents. Tauranga led until the final play of the match when Wesley put together their most concerted attacking effort to finally find a gap and score in the left hand corner to draw the match 22-22.

Tauranga have only themselves to blame for missing three easy goal kicks and blowing a 15-0 lead but they were rocked by what happened in the opening minutes. Inside back Brad Armstrong and openside flanker Flynn Kelly combined well to feed captain and No 8 Nick Wilson who was pole axed by a swinging arm from a Wesley prop. Wilson was taken from the field clearly worse for wear and played no further part in the game but no card was issued. Tauranga then missed the simple penalty kick from in front which proved costly.

The Wesley player deserved at least a yellow card but probably red for what was a shocking tackle. Referees surely have to ensure at schoolboy level players are protected from this sort of thuggery.

The incident fired up the home side. They scored two excellent first-half tries through lock and head boy Te Purihi Moana and winger Stephen Masters, who finished off the try of the match from a set-piece lineout move.

Wesley had chances to get on the board but coughed up the final pass against a determined defensive effort. Tauranga went 15-0 up immediately after the second half began through a try to Sam Takai but that was just the catalyst for the Wesley boys to lift their intensity.

Two quick converted tries reduced the deficit to 15-14 and those missed goal kicks were starting to hurt. Tauranga went further ahead after their impressive scrum won a tighthead near the Wesley line and two plays later replacement prop Sammy Veikoso used his bulk to crash over.

The try was converted by new kicker Takai for a 22-14 lead with 15 minutes to play. Wesley closed the gap with a penalty and then tied the scores. The conversion from touch missed to give both teams something to show for an entertaining clash.

Next week Tauranga Boys' travel across the Kaimai Range to take on reigning Top Four champions Hamilton Boys' High School.

Tauranga Boys' College 22 (Te Purihi Moana, Stephen Masters, Sam Takai, Sammy Veikoso tries; Takai con) Wesley College 22.

• Otumoetai College began the Baywide Bethlehem Coachlines Secondary Schools competition on Saturday with what co-coach Richard Brown called "a pleasing start to the season".

They defeated Bethlehem College 27-8 in the main division one clash held at Otumoetai. Isaiah Duncanson (2), Ryan McClean-Harvey, Jayden Bradley and Zac Smith were the Otumoetai try scorers.