Hawkes Bay Schoolboy Rugby
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Fudge cakes, thanks for the updates @Stargazer - hopefully we can reverse the result at the Top 4 (assuming it's running).
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@stargazer said in Hawkes Bay Schoolboy Rugby:
@nepia Still have to win the Hurricanes title to get to the Top Four, but that shouldn't be a problem, I think. Only Napier Boys is a bit of a threat, but Hastings should win it.
Oh, I just assumed we played off against the top Wellington team as we beat Napier already. Forgot there was a proper finals series.
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@nepia No, there are semi-finals. Highest ranked Super 8 team from Hurricanes region plays Wellington runners-up.
IIRC, the other semi-final is normally played between Wellington's champion and a challenger. Again, IIRC that's normally the second ranked Super 8 team from the Hurricanes region (Napier), but they may have to play a challenge match first. I think first rights to a challenge goes to a non-Super 8 team from the Hurricanes region - this year most likely Whanganui Collegiate - or the third ranked Super 8 team (Palmy).
Not sure what's happening next weekend, when the challenger match should be played if there is one. Will keep an eye on Napier Boys's social media.
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As posted in the general school rugby thread:
Central North Island
Play-offs (9th-10th place)
Francis Douglas MC 22 - 17 St John's (Hastings)Play-offs (5th-6th place)
Feilding HS 19 - 43 Lindisfarne College
Looking at early season results, I expected Lindisfarne to finish about 4th or 5th, and that's indeed where they ended up.
I expected more from St John's, again based on those early results, about 8th, so 10th is a bit disappointing.Both schools have a few talented players in their squad, but I have no idea what year they are in. So whether they'll be back next year? If this is their last year, we may see a few back in the academy.
From Lindisfarne, I liked what I saw from openside Tino Savea and hooker Kingshouse Tupuola. I'm sure I'm forgetting someone.
I've only seen one St John's game, but IIRC halfback Brad Campbell and centre Kere Penitito have already played for the Academy team.
As posted a few posts back in this thread, Hastings Boys is certainly not done yet, as they're guaranteed a spot in the Hurricanes semi-finals against the Wellington runners-up. That is, if the format is still the same as in previous years. Napier Boys might play the other semi against the Wellington champions, depending on whether other Hurricanes schools from Super 8, CNI or other competitions in the Hurricanes region (very unlikely) want to challenge for that second semi-final spot. If a school wants that challenge, I think they'll have to play Napier Boys this weekend. Realistically, I can only see Palmy Boys or Whanganui Collegiate ask for a challenge; the other schools are simply too weak.
Hopefully, we will again see a Hurricanes Final in Napier between Hastings Boys and Napier Boys!
Finally, I've noticed that the Hurricanes U18 Development camp is held very late, this year, from 11 -15 October. Last year, the players invited for the NZ school trials (or whatever they were called) were named before the camps took place, so without the Hurricanes coaches having been able to watch players during the camp. If the U18 camp is held this late, that could very well happen again. That's unfortunate, although, I can't see a player's performance during the U18 camp make much of a difference, considering the well-know favouritism from Mr Larsen and co. But still ...
