Hastings Boys’ High School have won the National Top Four for the first time after defeating Hamilton Boys’ High School 25-17 in a gripping final which featured six lead changes.
With three minutes remaining, Hastings was ahead 18-17 and Hamilton had the ball ten-meteres shy of halfway. Hastings captain and loosehead Kianu Kereru-Symes won an inspirational penalty with a crunching tackle and steal at the ruck.
Hastings kicked inside the Hamilton 22 and despite an often wobbly lineout secured the ball cleanly and drove forward. Hamilton suppressed the maul, but were unable to stop Josiah Tavita-Metcalfe from scoring the winning try. The tighthead prop launched himself on to a short ball and steamed 10-metres to touch down under the posts. Fullback Danny Toala converted and it was curtains for a gallant Hamilton.
Ironically Levin based Tavita-Metcalfe could have attended Feilding High School, but resides in a home-stay with a fellow teammate in Hastings. Such charity might go a long way towards explaining the close bond of the Hastings team.
Earlier Hastings made a sensational start when first-five Lincoln McClutchie glided into a hole and put Kini Naholo in space. The Fijian flyer scored his 41st try of the season and it was 5-0 after two minutes.
Naholo was active early making a smashing tackle from an attacking high kick and then earning Hastings a five-meter scrum from a chip and chase. Hastings failed to add to their score though with Toala missing a sitter of a penalty shot.
Gradually Hamilton fought back. First-five Coby Miln kicked a penalty and after 13 minutes winger Josh Calvert was able to dash over in the corner following at least a dozen phases and powerful carries by tighthead Keelan Haten-McMullen and impressive loose forwards Tevita Fa’ukafa and Charles Alaimalo,
The soggy field became choppy terrain suiting Hamilton Boys.’ The Chiefs regional champions dictated the pace of proceedings Miln increased the lead to 14-5 with three penalties on the trot.
In the 16th minute McClutchie made another break and forced a five-metre scrum, but Hamilton was able to avoid any further damage.
In the last five minutes of the first-half, Hastings won three crucial ruck turnovers. Toala reduced the deficit with a penalty to make it 14-8 and another turnover led to attack inside the Hamilton 22.
Tavita-Metcalfe made a bullying run to carry Hastings to within inches of the posts and then halfback Shamara Brooks ran for the first time capturing Hamilton by surprise. Toala converted and it was 15-14 to Hastings at halftime.
Brooks replaced New Zealand Barbarians halfback Folau Fakatava who was injured in the semi-final. Brooks had a top match under the circumstances generally clearing with speed and accuracy.
The second-half was a classic arm-wrestle with most of the play located between the two ten-meters lines. Hamilton lost Miln to injury meaning halfback Brad McNaughten had to move into the ten position. This was a blow for the Chiefs champions as McNaughten had troubled Hastings with his running game close to the ruck.
Hamilton was also forced to swap goal kickers, but Fletcher Morgan was on target with his only penalty kick to make it 17-15 to Hamilton after 45 minutes.
In the 47th minute Toala regained the lead for Hastings when he punished Hamilton for making a hash of the restart.
Winning the territory dispute became the order of the day and neither team was particularly effective. Hamilton badly missed the punch and direction of injured second-five and captain Quinn Tupaea. Hamilton committed a similar number of mistakes to Hastings, but committed theirs at more inopportune moments than Hastings.
In addition to Alaimalo and Fau’ukafa, lock Josh Lord and loosehead Matthew Kemp played outstanding finals and centre Tauterangimarie Kapea was difficult to halt at times.
For Hastings openside Jeriah Mau and No.8 Devan Flanders scrapped tenaciously and the latter was able to clean up a lot of messay ruck ball for Hastings. The workrate of props Tavita-Metcalfe and Kereru-Symes was huge. In the backs McClutchie, Naholo and Toala all had an obvious impact.
Hastings was unbeaten in 21 games this season. They have become the lucky 13th unbeaten winner of the National Top Four