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.
