No 8 Shaun McNaughten was the star of the day with three tries as Hastings Boys’ High School beat Rotorua Boys’ High School 29-25 in a Super 8 First XV rugby match in Hastings on Tuesday.
The match was played in fine weather, a contrast to the storm which caused its June 24 postponement.
Hastings scored five tries in all, including the first points in the 11th minute and led 17-14 at halftime. At one stage in the second half they were up by 10 points, the match ending with defending champion school Rotorua closing it to four points with the last try and conversion on full time.
Hastings travel to Bay of Plenty on Saturday to play Tauranga Boys’ College, who last month beat Napier Boys’ High School, while Napier Boys’ High School, with a two-week break since scoring the school’s first win over Hamilton Boys’ High School in 12 years, play New Plymouth Boys’ High School in Napier.