Unbeaten Feilding too strong for GBHS

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Gisborne Boys’ High School v Feilding High School is always hard on the rugby field, and always a beauty.

This season’s instalment at Elwood Park, Waipatu, Hastings saw Feilding triumph yesterday 35-7.

Feilding went into the clash with Gisborne having won their first four games of the season. GBHS were coming off a 15-27 loss to Auckland 1A powerhouse Kelston Boys’ High three weeks ago.

GBHS captain and second-five Puna Hihi won the coin toss and chose to kick off. Feilding skipper and hooker come-blindside flanker-come No.8 Alani Fakava played with the breeze.

Feilding’s second-five Nixon Foreman kicked penalty goals in the third and 10th minutes for 6-0. No.8 Rupeni Raviyawa, Feilding’s MVP, scored the first try of the match in the 19th minute, and Gisborne loosehead prop Malosi Luafalealo scored theirs, with a conversion from first-five Ruan Ludwig, for 11-7 at halftime.

Openside flanker Mano Tavake was Gisborne Boys’ MVP, the fetcher carrying the ball well and tackling hard.

Feilding scored tries through halfback Kotahi Cribb (43 min) and reserve hooker Lucas Goodman (68 min), with Foreman converting Goodman’s try for 23-7.

He converted centre James Tuituba’s try in the 75th minute. The last try was scored by reserve tighthead prop Dane John in the 78th minute for 35-7.

Feilding’s Justin Lock, their head coach of seven years, said: “Today was tough. It was the most physical game that we’ve played so far. Gisborne used the width of a good, firm ground to attack. We started well at the scrum and our fetcher Marshall Buckman was excellent at the front of the lineout.”

Lock complimented Gisborne on their ability to shift the ball and Hihi’s ability to find space with wide passes.

GBHS head coach Duane Hihi said: “We made it hard for ourselves. It was a tough game. A few boys picked up injuries  but we’ll be ready to go next week.

“We’ve got plenty to work on.”

GBHS play Hutt International Boys’ School at Palmerston North next Saturday.