Gutsy fightback nails sixth title for Boys High

16th June 2010

Rotorua Boys' High School turned in a gutsy second-half performance on Saturday to take out their sixth successive Bay of Plenty Secondary School 1st XV title.

Having just conceded a late first-half try, Rotorua slid 10-nil down against arch-rivals Tauranga Boys' College in front of a huge crowd at Nicholson Field, Tauranga.

However, with the sure boot of promising 15-year-old Ryubyn Vaipo who kicked two penalties - one from over 40 metres - and converted Teimana Harrison's try, Rotorua won the thriller 13-10.

Rotorua Boys' High School coach Gordon Hunt said their side had once again shown composure to win their important annual and Super 8 fixture with Tauranga. "It's great to get the sixth year straight. This is always such a pressure game," he said.

Earlier in the season Rotorua had overturned a 12-26 deficit to Gisborne Boys' High School during the last 20 minutes of their traditional fixture and their latest win showed the same strength.

"I said to the boys it was about a 10-point wind," said Hunt. "We were a little disappointed [Tauranga] scored right on halftime but we knew we could come back - we'd scored 19 points in five minutes against Gisborne."

Harrison's try came after some great forward work with the openside flanker handling last after a series of about 8 or 9 pick-and-goes around the ruck area.

The win gives Rotorua Boys' the Bay title and some confidence going into Saturday's Super 8 game with Gisborne in Rotorua and Hamilton Boys' High School the following weekend.

The win also qualifies Rotorua to play in the Chiefs finals series against the Counties and Waikato champions for a place in the New Zealand Top Four competition.

* Saturday's RBHS and GBHS match kicks off at 12pm.