They went down fighting

It takes two . . . or more. Gisborne Boys’ High had the sniff of victory in the first half of their match against Kelston Boys’ High at the Rectory Field yesterday. Flanker Patelisio Tavake (above) attracted the solid Kelston defence on this run. The Auckland team won 27-15 after Gisborne led at halftime and tied up the game during the second half. Picture by Liam Clayton

Gisborne Boys’ High School put Kelston BHS to the acid test yesterday.

Auckland powerhouse Kelston scored five unanswered tries in a 27-15 win against a gallant GBHS first 15 under game-day captain, tighthead prop Whetu McGhee.

They were kept in the game by the right foot of their first-five, Ruan Ludwig.

Ludwig kicked five penalty goals — the fourth of which gave the home team a 12-10 lead on the cusp of halftime.

Kelston No.8 Aio Keith won the coin-toss and opted to kick off, the hosts choosing ends.

As was the case against De La Salle College the previous Friday, Ludwig opened the scoring with a penalty goal for 3-0.

Poverty Bay referee Terry Reeves awarded the kick 15m into KBHS territory, to the left of the posts, six minutes into the match.

Tackle height is a work in progress for all players. An infraction of that type landed Kelston in Gisborne’s 22 for the first time.

Lock Nathan Auld, in the middle of the line-out, won the ball and centre Paula Luau got the last pass to blindside flanker Ulutoa Aii to score 15 metres in from the right corner, eight minutes in,  for Kelston to lead 5-3.

KBHS scored again in the 11th minute. Luau caught the ball at the restart, beat five would-be tacklers down the right touch, got a pass to right wing Tariec Mulitalo and he, with Gisborne right wing Isimeli Vono on him, got a superb last pass inside to tighthead prop Solo Baleinaikasakasa, who dotted down in the right corner for 10-3.

In the 18th minute, Ludwig kicked his second penalty goal, 15m back from the posts, to close the score to 10-6 and in the 22nd minute, from 14m over halfway, the score closed again to 10-9 with his third.

The game was played in an excellent competitive spirit but Kelston vice-captain hooker Xavier Leota, at a ruck, was issued a yellow card in the 34th minute and on the cusp of halftime, Ludwig landed his fourth penalty goal to give the gritty Gisborne crew a 12-10 lead.

This was the first GBHS game here this season to be played in two halves, as opposed to thirds or quarters.

In the 45th minute, under penalty advantage 15m from the posts, Kelston pressed forward three times before Auld scored the Auckland side’s third try, for 15-12 and to gain the upper hand. Four minutes later, Ludwig struck gold again from 35m out, head-on, for 15-15.

In the 54th minute, from a distance of 39m and 18m off the right touch, Ludwig missed a penalty goal for the first time and five minutes later, Keith scored in the ball-and-all tackle of his opposite, Malakai Tea, in the left corner for 20-15.

Kelston scored once more, on fulltime, a try to Leota. An intercept by Keith put KBHS in a prime attacking position. Leota scored 5m to the left of the posts. His try was converted by fullback Koupa Nomotu for 27-15.

“Our boys won’t forget Gisborne’s physicality,” said Kelston head coach Matt Howling.

“They challenged us across the park. That’s a good thing, because we’ve got three more pre-competition games before we face 1A defending champions, Sacred Heart College, at their place.”

GBHS’ regular captain and second-five Puna Hihi, who missed today’s clash with a left-knee strain, said: “Whetu led the team well today. The boys’ defence was tough. Our youngsters stood up today and played their hearts out against tough opposition. For Ruan to keep us in the game was fantastic.”

• Gisborne Boys High’s next game is their first away game of the season, against Feilding High School in Hastings on April 26.