The Napier Boys’ High School First XV’s dreams of a first Super 8 schools rugby title in 20 years evaporated in a mid-match wave of four tries against them as they were beaten 56-22 by Hamilton Boys’ High School in the final in Hamilton on Saturday.
Down by just three points at 8-5 with 10 minutes until halftime, Napier, which had beaten Hamilton 17-15 in the mud in Napier last month, saw the score balloon in much better conditions to 25-5 at the break and 32-5 just two minutes after the resumption.
The eight-tries-to-four victory was the 14th by Hamilton Boys’ High School in the 18 Super 8 finals since 2006, and they shared one other.
Hamilton went to an early 8-0 lead with a penalty and a try in the first six minutes, with Napier getting their first points with the first of two tries to left wing Eneri McGrath in the 18th minute.