Super 8 teams dominate Hurricanes pre-season rugby + video highlights

Napier Boys' High School three from three and three tries for Tyrone Thompson against Wellington College. PHOTO: Andy McArthur.

Scroll down to the bottom to see some try scoring video highlights from Napier Boys’ High School v Wellington College and Palmerston North Boys’ High School v St Pat's Town yesterday

The Super 8 competition is one of the toughest in New Zealand and starts in a fortnight – to view the teams and draw visit College Rugby here

The four Super 8 schools competing in the just completed Hurricanes region pre-season Tranzit Coachlines Festival have had finished the three-week series with upper hand over the four Wellington schools.

This weekend’s round three results from games played at Westpac Stadium and Porirua Park were:

• Hastings BHS: 22 v Scots College: 12
• Palmerston North BHS: 42 v St Pats Town: 8
• Napier BHS: 40 v Wellington College: 3
• St Pats Silverstream: 26 v Gisborne BHS: 14

 
Round two results from Hastings were:

• Gisborne BHS: 48 v Wellington College: 8
• Palmerston North BHS: 22 v Scots College: 20
• Napier BHS: 68 v St Pats Town: 8
• St Pats Silverstream: 14 v Hastings BHS: 7

 
Round one results from Masterton were:

•  Scots College 31 v Gisborne BHS 22
• St Pats Town 33 v Rathkeale 17
• Palmerston North 57 v Wellington College 20
• Napier BHS 40 v St Pats Silverstream 22

 
Reports of two full matches in the third round on Friday and Saturday: 
 
St Pat’s Silverstream accounted for Gisborne Boys' High School 26-14 at Westpac Stadium. Silverstream produced a strong opening quarter, withstood a determined second-half fight back, before finishing with a classy try to Riley Higgins.

Silverstream skipped out to a 14-0 lead after 20 minutes with tries to Jacob Beattie and Chris Hemi. Beattie was the recipient of a fine pass from prop Luke Chisholm while Hemi burst 20-metres untouched from a lineout.Gisborne gradually fought back and after a sustained assault on the Silverstream line, Jordan McFarlane powered over to make it 14-7 at the interval.

The key moment of the match was a breakout try to Silverstream's reserve halfback Swayde Brightwell. Gisborne was camped inside Silverstream's 22, but a fumble was collected by wing Sivarn Owens-Agnew who dashed 80-meters before unloading to Brightwell who battled over despite the presence of three Gisborne defenders.

Gisborne kept pressing and a quick tap by halfback Quintony Ngati reduced the deficit to five. Silverstream regrouped and slick moment involving half a dozen players saw Higgins touch down to secure Silverstream their fourth victory in seven games against Gisborne.

Silverstream fullback Rocco Berry was named Player of the Match. Berry was consistently illusive and showed the ability to clear with his boot when required. Iona Apineru, Hemi, Chisolm and Higgins were also central to Silverstream's success. MacFarlane and Dylan Hall appear to be quality loose forwards for Gisborne and First-five Quinn Collard was creative at times.
 
Napier Boys’ High School overpowered Wellington College 40-3 to retain the Amner Cup and complete the three weeks undefeated.

Played in gusty conditions at Jerry Collins Stadium, Napier hurried to a 17-0 lead utilising their greater size to bust tackles and establish a dominant position.

Tighthead prop Patrick Teddy rumbled over for the first try, but it was his front row partner Tyrone Thompson who was the Player of the Maatch. The Napier hooker and captain scored three tries and often bullied the Wellington defence with his strong carries.

As a spectacle it was a game dominated by whistle. Both teams struggled with their discipline and the contest petered out lamely after the visitors lively start and toppages which allowed little flow.

Wellington don’t lack heart, but are a considerably smaller and younger than previous teams. It might only be pre-season, but alarmingly Wellington conceded 139 points in three Tranzit Festival games.

Napier’s prospects appear to be brighter in 2018. An athletic forward pack is complemented by a reasonable backline spearheaded by Henry Williams educated boot. Napier might not be world beaters, but they won’t be a pushover in Super 8. In addition to Thompson, lock Frank Lochore and blindside Josh Gimblett performed strongly.
 
In the two other games at Porirua on Saturday, it was an even first 25 minutes between Palmerston North Boys’ High School and St Pat’s Town, before PNBHS flyhalf Stewart Cruden showed his class by running from a scrum near halfway and setting up a try for right wing Will Treder. St Pat’s replied with their only try of the match right on halftime and PNBHS led 13-5 at the interval.

But a PNBHS breakout early in the second spell saw Treder sprint 70 metres to score his second try to extend the lead to 18-5. From there, the visitors pulled clear and won comfortably.

Defending national champions Hastings Boys’ High School led Scots College 12-0 at halftime before going ton to win 22-12.