Hawkes Bay Schoolboy Rugby

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Saturday 5 August 2023

Traditional
Hato Pāora College v Te Aute College - 1.30pm (U15 at 12.00pm)

CNI
5th-8th semi-finals (Plate)
St Peter's School, Cambridge v Lindisfarne College - 11.00am

Super 8
Final
Hamilton BHS v Napier BHS - 12.00pm

Livestream:

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I only just noticed that Palmy Boys' has finished higher on the Super 8 table than Hastings Boys'; they have one more competition point.

If it goes like previous years, that means that Hastings Boys' will have to play the challenger match against Palmy Boys' in Palmerston North for a spot in the Hurricanes Cup semi-finals.

Obviously, the highest ranked Hurricanes schools in the Super 8 (Napier Boys') and Wellington Premiership (still to be decided) will automatically have a semi-final spot. It will be interesting to see what they're going to do with the remaining fourth spot. Last year, that spot went to Feilding HS, the 2022 CNI winners. In the past, that fourth spot went to the Wellington Premiership runners-up. Also last year, they stuffed us by placing Napier Boys' and Hastings Boys' against each other in the semis, more or less ensuring that the Wellington school made it to the Final.

What will they do this year? If they really want to stuff us again, they take that challenger match away from Hastings Boys' and give it to Feilding or Whanganui. Or, they take the second semi-final spot away from the Super 8 schools and stuff Palmy too, by placing the CNI school against Napier Boys in the semi-final (and two Wellington schools facing each other in the other semi-final). That would mirror what they did last year. That would be really unfair, because the Super 8 competition is at a higher level than the Wellington Premiership, and Wellington shouldn't get two semi-final spots if they decide to include a CNI school.

Anyway, wait and see, but Hastings Boys' road to the Hurricanes semis is a bit harder, this year, than in the last few years.

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The stream has started, but I can hardly hear the commentators.

Edit: they fixed it.

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Several missed tackles from Napier already. Hamilton attacking and now getting a penalty.

Hamilton opt for a kick at goal.

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Hamilton's no. 10's kick is good.

3 - 0 Hamilton

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CJ Mienie carrying too high and Hamilton hold him up and ref says "maul".

Scrum; Hamilton feed.

Hamilton on attack again.

Napier Boys' need to sort out their nerves.

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Hamilton pick and go near Napier's try line.

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Try Hamilton.
Way too soon.

The conversion kick misses target.

8 - 0 Hamilton after 7 minutes

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Fantastic cross-field kick from Hamilton. They looked on their way to score, but the receiving player dropped the ball.

Napier haven't had much possession, yet.

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Good turnover, I think from Luke Thomas.

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Napier go for the line-out, midway Hamilton's half.

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Ugghh, Hamilton steal it.

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Hamilton knock on. Napier scrum 10m into Hamilton's half.

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Napier on attack, finally keeping some possession. Hamilton's defence is good though.

And now the ref awards Hamilton a penalty again. Thus far, his arm has gone mainly in one direction.

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Hamilton line-out in Napier's half.

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The throw wasn't good and Napier have the ball. They decide to kick it and Hamilton struggles with it a bit. Hamilton still in possession, but far in their half.

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Turnover Napier. Napier attacking midway Hamilton's half.

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Excellent try Napier's left winger McGrath! They were very patient, passes started to stick and the winger stepped and ran his way to the try line.

Luke Thomas misses the conversion. There seems to be some wind in Hamilton.

8 - 5 Hamilton

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Hamilton attack; then a Napier player penalised for going into the side of the ruck.
Hamilton go for a line-out close to Napier's 5m line.