Defence key to Super success

Gisborne Boys’ High School co-captain and midfield back Puna Hihi is tackled low by a Napier Boys’ High player in a Round 1 Super 8 clash at the Rectory. Hihi scored Gisborne’s try in a 29-5 loss. Gisborne are back in home action against Palmerston North tomorrow. Hihi is the only player in tomorrow’s Gisborne line-up to have featured the last time the teams met here. He scored a try in that match. Picture by Liam Clayton

Gisborne Boys’ High School have a big game in them.

And tomorrow first 15 rugby will take centre stage at the historic Rectory ground for the second week in a row.

A week after hosting Napier Boys’ High in Round 1 of the Super 8 — a 29-5 loss — Gisborne host Palmerston North Boys’ High.

The first 15 game at 12 noon follows the Gisborne under-15s match against their PN counterparts at 9.30am and the second 15s clash at 10.30am.

Napier led Gisborne 14-0 at halftime in the Super 8 opener but a try to co-captain Puna Hihi in the 50th minute was rich reward for the hosts’ commitment in defence and stickability against the 2022 Top 4 finalists.

In their last three outings, Gisborne Boys’ High have hit hard in the tackle early on. Their ability to hold their defensive line and make first-up tackles from go to whoa could be the difference between victory and defeat in Round 2.

Napier’s leviathans of the lineout made competing in that area difficult last Saturday and they scrummaged powerfully. Gisborne regular second 15 skipper and tighthead prop Levi Cameron started against Napier and made a great fist of it.

Gisborne showed glimpses of flair. The delivery speed of halfback Kauri Christie and the pass length of first five-eighth Te-Reimana Gray and second-five Puna Hihi remain the keys to unlocking the outside backs.

Hihi is the only Gisborne player in tomorrow’s game to have featured in the last meeting here — a 40-10 win to the visitors in May 2021. Then-14-year-old second-five Puna scored off a great pass from elder brother Carlos in the 20th minute, a try similar to his score against Napier last Saturday.

Gisborne last beat Palmerston North at PNBHS (29-27) in 2016 and last beat PNBHS here (23-7) in 2015.

Gisborne co-captain and openside flanker Braith Ingram, believes that attitude will play the biggest part in events.

“Heart and mindset are big for us — be hungry and play to our structure and systems.”

Second-year PNBHS head coach Dan Turnock’s outfit beat Gisborne 22-10 on May 28 last year; hooker Noah Torrance-Cribb led the Gisborne second 15 to a 22-16 win and the Trevor Crosby-coached u15s lost 44-12.

A crowd of 500 saw PNBHS scrap to achieve a 14-10 advantage at halftime in last year’s first 15 match.

Gisborne’s challenge is to keep the score down to stay in the fight for 70 minutes.

Turnock said: “We expect the Gisborne boys to bring massive intensity and physicality. They’re well organised and certainly represent a real threat.”

In charge of the first 15 game tomorrow will be Poverty Bay referee Ben Holt, with assistant referees Les Thomas and Joel Pearse.

The Gisborne-Palmerston North second 15 clash on Rectory No.1 is set for a 10.30am start under Pearse. Poverty Bay Heartland head coach Miah Mikora has the u15s match at 9.30am on Rectory No.2.

GISBORNE BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL

FIRST 15: Malosi Luafalealo, Noah Torrance-Cribb, Levi Cameron, Joe Kemp, Reuben Whaitiri, Jimmy Moore, Braith Ingram (co-captain), Luke Bidois, Kauri Christie, Te Reimana Gray, Safin Tuwairua-Brown, Puna Hihi (cc), Quaydon Chaffey-Kora, Timuaki Stewart, Kaiaio Kerekere-Tangira. Reserves: Jahn Niwa-Karakia, Tipene Wilson, James McKay, Kahurangi Leach-Waihi, Kauri Christie, Gibson Poi.

PALMERSTON NORTH BOYS’ HIGH

FIRST 15: Jacob Booth, Eli Oudenryn, Logan Wallace, Bradley Tocker, Connor Giltrap, Ollie Barham, Tom Illston-Park (captain), Alex Palazzo, Kallum Gullery, Liam O’Connor, Nehemiah Sua, Tayne Harvey, Ryder Crosswell, Jaziah Symons, Jamie Viljoen. Reserves: Kruiz Ioane, Sione Taeiloa, Quinn Sturmey, Tevita Fakahau, Cooper Furnell, James Parkinson, Mativa Fonua.