Quest for Courage Cup glory begins

Oryn Fasso (left) of Wairoa tries to shrug off a Team Ngatai defender in a Courage Cup junior rugby game. Wairoa won 20-12.Picture by Paul Rickard

The Courage Cup is an avenue.

And the pathway laid out by the Gisborne Boys’ High School junior rugby competition — which also includes Wairoa College — is as important as the results.

The quest for the cup began at Barry Park and Nga-Uri-a-Maui last Wednesday, with Team Rico Gear beating Team Halafihi 29-24, Team Hosea Gear defeating Tūranga 24-21 and Wairoa College outgunning Team Charlie Ngatai 20-12.

The GBHS teams are named for prominent rugby-playing old boys of the school, three of them (Rico Gear, Hosea Gear and Charlie Ngatai) being former All Blacks. Since its inception four years ago, the competition has been big for junior rugby in Poverty Bay.

Boys’ High director of rugby Mark Jefferson said this year’s edition was off to a good start. The player turnout was solid, games were competitive and the presence of Wairoa College added interest.

The quality and experience of the coaches will further benefit the players taking part.

The coaches are: Neri Manuel, Corban Barbara and Barry Ngata with Team Charlie Ngatai; Graham Sharp and Graeme Newlands with Team Rico Gear; Tom Cairns and Mike Morrissey with Team Halafihi; and Campbell Ngata, Ben Faulkner and James Warren with Team Hosea Gear.