Time has not stood still for either Gisborne or Hastings so far this season. GBHS have gone down 5-29 to Napier BHS, 21-59 to Palmerston North BHS and 22-42 to the defending Super 8 champions Rotorua BHS, yet they are a better unit than their record suggests.
Last Saturday locks Reuben Whaitiri and Joe Kemp won good lineout ball against Rotorua.
The lineout is a facet of play in which Gisborne needed to improve and they have.
GBHS openside flanker Braith Ingram again played well while co-captain Puna Hihi’s contributed characteristic trucking runs with ball in hand.
If their Most Valuable Player of that Round 3 game, first-five Safin Tuwairua-Brown, can rustle up more magic (perhaps another metre-perfect chip-kick for No.13 Kaiao Kerekere-Tangira) and fullback Gibson Poi can latch on to the sort of loose pass which cost Palmy five seven points here, then GBHS head coach Duane Hihi’s crowd can make a close game of it.
But they cannot afford to go into halftime 20 points down. Slow starts and long periods during which first-up tackles are missed, have to date cost a competitive team the small margins which talent and teamwork overcome.
They are fielding the same 15 who crossed swords with Raukura here, while Hastings (who have begun their Super 8 campaign with two losses, 15-25 loss at home to PNBHS, 18-24 away to Napier) have made changes at hooker (JJ Iosefo for Membrenz Tahu), lock (Oscar Ritchie for Daniel Toala, who moves to blindside flanker for Taufeateau Kaufononga, who will wear No.7 for Vincent Kite).
Five members of Akina’s 2022 starting pack have returned.
Akina’s backline is the same one that ran out in the derby match v Napier, with the menacing boot and sharp brain of Lambert at fullback as opposed to No.11. The team are led by first-five Izaiah Tuilau.
“Our game plan centres around slowing the game down to play it at our pace — not theirs,” coach Hihi said.
This is wisdom. Rain and biting easterlies are expected from 12pm at Hastings BHS tomorrow.
Tomorrow’s games at Hastings kick off at 9.15am on ground 3 with the under-14s under referee Jarrod Macdonald. From 10.30am on G3 the u15s match will be controlled by Renier van Dyk. Mark Johnson is in charge of the second 15 clash on G2 from 10.30am. Johnson (assistant referee No.1), van Dyk (AR2) and Max Lancaster have the first 15 match on HBHS 1 from 12pm.
GBHS first 15: Malosi Luafalealo, Noah Torrance-Cribb, Levi Cameron, Joe Kemp, Reuben Whaitiri, Jimmy Moore, Braith Ingram (co-captain), Luke Bidois, Liam Beattie, Safin Tuwairua-Brown, Timuaki Stewart, Puna Hihi (cc), Kaiaio Kerekere-Tangira, Kahurangi Leach-Waihi, Gibson Poi. R: (17-23) Jahn Niwa-Karakia, Tipene Wilson, James McKay, Kauri Christie, Impala Waipara, Ratu Nairoroi.
GBHS second 15: Kane Soto, Jaiah Kora, Tomasi Mataele, Cody Tarei, Sione Taeiloa, James McKay, Bekko Page, Uluaki Tavake, Jonah Whitley, Jayden Brown, Amanaki Henoa, Impala Waipara (cc), Quaydon Chaffey-Kora, Jaydyn Tihore, David Gray. R: Levi Cameron, Lukas Fry/Franco Ludwig, Taran Wilson, Tyrone Mauheni, Maia , Brayden Maxwell, Phoenix Pardoe-Crosby.
GBHS u15s: Josh Aukuso, Sio Tavake, Naera Keelan-Wyllie, Tahana Bristowe, Jahdin McKenzie, Storm de Thier, Max Hammond, Malakai Tea, Coen-Theros Brown (cc), Ruan Ludwig, Sariah Houia, Messiah Tiopira, Jasper Drayton, Mana Stewart, Quinn Pirihi-Coutts. R: Tane Heemi, Rakai Derris, Enoka Nukunuku, Cleveland Heemi, Apairoa Pokoati, Nevaryn Reweti.
GBHS u14s: TBC
