Rugby: Hastings too strong for Napier in school derby

HBHS flanker Jeriah Mua unloads to lock Tane Hohipa as he fends off a Napier defender. Photo / Warren Buckland

A sign of a potential Super 8 title-winning rugby team is the manner and speed in which work-ons are identified in the wake of victory.

Hastings Boys' High School's 1st XV captain and player of the match, prop Kianu Kereru-Symes, wasted little time in revealing their biggest work-on after posting their second consecutive Super 8 win for the season with a 25-3 drubbing of Napier Boys' High School at Hastings on Saturday.

"We lost too much ball at the confrontation area. We'll need to fix that before we go to Gisborne next weekend," Kereru-Symes said.

"But at the same time it's good to beat our Hawke's Bay rivals on our home soil. It's our 10th straight win for the season and one we're looking to build on."

A brother of former Magpies prop Tom Symes, Kereru-Symes was powerful at set-piece time and mobile in the loose. The HBHS forwards produced clever offloads throughout the game and Kereru-Symes made a beauty to send classy No8 Devan Flanders away for the match-winning try midway through the second half.

It will be a surprise if he doesn't make the Hurricanes under-18 team later in the season and if he and his team continue to play like they did in the first half on Saturday, Kereru-Symes could tick off his major goal of New Zealand Secondary Schools selection. All of his players deserve praise for their cohesive attack and quality defensive work.

Hooker Jacob Devery, who scored two tries, and flanker Jeriah Mua were others to shine in a Hastings pack which had no passengers. Centre Hunta Marsh identified space well while winger Kini Naholo, a brother of All Black Waisake Naholo, was thirsty for work.

NBHS coach Russell Hewitt agreed his troops didn't have enough ball in the first half, the first 20 minutes in particular. Centre Mitch Drew and flanker Will Tremain were the best of the visitors.