Rotorua Boys' fall to Hastings Boys' in Super 8

Rotorua Boys' High School's Manu Paea in action against Gisborne earlier this season. Photo/File

The Rotorua Boys' High School first XV have slipped to fifth on the Super 8 ladder after a 25-15 loss to Hastings Boys' High School.

It was a crucial game for both sides as they tried to keep pace with leaders Hamilton Boys' High School. Hastings have struggled to find the form which took them all the way to the final last year, while Rotorua came into this one on the back of a loss to Hamilton.

Both sides were able to control the ball for long periods during the game and defended their hearts out, but the result came down to one or two moments of brilliance, which in the end decided the outcome.

Rotorua dominated the opening 25 minutes and looked well in control. They scored two tries on their way to a 12-0 lead. However, Hastings stayed in touch with a try five minutes before halftime to make it 12-5.

Hastings then squared things up early in the second half with a penalty try, which also saw one of the Rotorua players sin binned for a high tackle, and it was game on.

With 25 minutes to play, Rotorua kicked a penalty to go up 15-12, but Hastings hit back with a penalty goal of their own five minutes later to tie it up again.

With 20 minutes left, Hastings roared into the lead with a length-of-the-field try from the restart. The conversion and a further penalty saw them hold on for a 25-15 win and some valuable competition points in the hunt for a top-two finish.

Despite the loss, Rotorua are still just three points outside the top two, with games against Napier, Palmerston North and New Plymouth to come.