Hawkes Bay Schoolboy Rugby

[Nepia]

@Stargazer How on earth did they lose that lead?

[Higgins]

@Nepia I guess you are a little disappointed about that! Whereas on the other side of the Ngaruroro and Tutaekuri @stockcar86 and myself are rather more happy than you are.

[Stargazer]

@Nepia I've noticed that - the last few years - Hastings Boys' switch off after the Super 8. Last year, Napier Boys' also beat Hastings Boys' in the Hurricanes Cup Final, while during the season, Hastings Boys' was clearly the better team. This year, there was less separating the teams. It's a coach killer, considering they had a big lead at half time.

[Stargazer]

Another result from today:

Life Members Cup (Hurricanes development schools)
Final
Lindisfarne College 45 - 7 Bishop Viard College

[Stargazer]

From the club rugby website:

There will be a new National Top Four First XV champion following the Hurricanes Regional semi-finals.

Defending National title holders Hastings Boys’ High School were upset by Napier Boys’ High School 20-17, rallying from 3-17 down at halftime. Hastings were the hosts and turned down the chance to play a curtain raiser to the Hawke’s Bay Ranfurly Shield match against North Harbour at McLean Park.

Napier play Silverstream next week to determine who will represent the Hurricanes region at the Top 4.

I wonder why Hastings Boys' didn't want to play the game at McLean Park. It can't be to avoid scouts, who'll go to a match at the school anyway. Too much pressure coming from playing in a big stadium? Or because they expected more supporters at their home ground? (I know some clubs didn't really want to play their club finals at McLean Park for that reason.)

They also don't release team lists, don't announce games. Total radio silence on their FB page. This was different a few years ago. Is this a policy change, or just because the person who was the admin of their FB page has left and no one has taken over?

[Stargazer]

Hurricanes Cup Final

Napier Boys' take on St Pat's Silverstream on Friday, 2 September 2022.

Why on earth is this Final played in Palmerston North as the curtain raiser of Manawatū v Ta$man? They could have played it before or after the Hawke's Bay Tui game at McLean Park in front of a home crowd!

Anyway, this game will be live on Sky Sport 1 from 4.30pm.

[Stargazer]

Phew, that was a bit of a scare, with the 112kg 2nd five from Stream storming at the Napier try line straight from kick-off. Fortunately, they stopped him and Stream eventually knocked on.

[Stargazer]

There are some really big boys in that Stream side.

[Stargazer]

Napier Boys' hot on attack, almost scoring from a line-out maul. Stream give away the penalty.

Repeat and it's a try to hooker Tyrone Chrystal!

[Stargazer]

Cory Berkett can't convert.

5 - 0 Napier Boys'

[Canes4life]

That Gus Brown is an imposing figure for Napier. Hope the Canes have their eyes on him.

[Stargazer]

@Canes4life IIRC, he's a lock converted into a prop.

[Stargazer]

Stream's halfback scores a penalty goal.

5 - 3 Napier Boys'

[Canes4life]

This a pretty physical match for schoolboy rugby. Plenty of big bodies running around.

[Stargazer]

Had totally forgotten about that rule. Uncontested scrum after a scrum re-set.

[Canes4life]

Have Wellington finally unearthed a good prop? I've heard quite a lot about Seneli's scrummaging and that was impressive on his opposite Gus Brown.

[Stockcar86]

How was that not a penalty for pulling down the maul

[Canes4life]

Seneli certainly pulled that scrum down. Should be a penalty to Napier.

[Stargazer]

So Stream collapses the maul and they get the penalty?

[Stargazer]

Napier Boys' is clearly the better team. Need to show it on the scoreboard though.