Rugby: HBHS 1st XV yardstick

Hastings Boys' High School's 1st XV rugby team celebrate their televised win against Wellington's St Pats Town in the capital.

Hastings Boys' High School's 1st XV rugby team has been labelled the team to beat in the Hurricanes region this season after trouncing Wellington champions St Pats Town 43-7 at the Westpac Stadium in a Super Rugby curtainraiser on Saturday night.

Hastings' abrasive defence and ability to translate turnovers into points were the key ingredients in their success.

The work of openside flanker Jeriah Mua at the breakdown was a good example of this.

St Pats were able to maintain possession for long periods, often exceeding 10 phases, but Hastings' ultra aggression in the tackle stagnated their hosts' attack which often fumbled at key moments.

After adsorbing early pressure, Hastings lock Tane Hohipa opened the scoring after 10 minutes.

First five-eighth Lincoln McClutchie doubled the score in the 22nd minute when he caught the Town side napping on the short side.

St Pats scored their only try of the game soon after before Hastings crossed twice more before halftime.

Prop Kianu Kereru-Symes scored after Hastings charged down the kick off and strung together multiple phases and halfback Folau Fakatava lunged over after another long assault inside the St Pats 22.

St Pats essentially monopolised the ball for the first 20 minutes of the second half, but they were unable to breach Hastings defence.

Hastings Boys' High finished with a flourish by scoring three tries as a demoralised Town tired. The Hastings bench added value with Danny Toala and Kiniviliame Naholo crossing the stripe, but McClutchie was the standout with his array of tricks, including a banana kick to set up the last try, bamboozling the Town defence.

Kereru-Symes, lock Liam Bauckham and Mua were also strong for Hastings.

Hastings Boys' High School 43 (Tane Hohipa, Lincoln McClutchie, Kianu Kereru-Symes, Folau Fakatava, Dennon Robinson, Kiniviliame Naholo, Danny Toala tries; Jacob Stephenson 2, Toala 2 cons), St Pats Town 7.