2019 Hawke's Bay Representative Rugby

[Stargazer]

@Higgins Yes. Last year, our U19s got smashed by Wellington (7 - 47) in the seeding games, but we beat Manawatu (31 - 12) and the Heartland U20 (55 - 26) and ended up in the top division of the Jock Hobbs tournament, for the first time. We can forget that top division after this result against Manawatu, because Wellington is also likely to beat us next week.

[Nepia]

@Stargazer said in 2019 Hawke's Bay Representative Rugby:

The Junior Magpies lost 5 - 15 to Manawatu

[Number 10]

Since the switch to Under 19 in 2014, from Under 20, to tie in with the establishment of the national Jock Hobbs tournament, our results in the Hurricanes Under 19 tournament have been pathetic.

Including yesterday, we have lost five out of six to Manawatu and all five to Wellington.

Perhaps the new HB Under 18 rep team established this year is a step to try and improve this?

[Nepia]

@Number-10 said in 2019 Hawke's Bay Representative Rugby:

Since the switch to Under 19 in 2014, from Under 20, to tie in with the establishment of the national Jock Hobbs tournament, our results in the Hurricanes Under 19 tournament have been pathetic.

Including yesterday, we have lost five out of six to Manawatu and all five to Wellington.

Perhaps the new HB Under 18 rep team established this year is a step to try and improve this?

That's so weird considering how strong our two public boys schools are - I guess the players either go up a level or go away?

[JC]

It was pretty much down to poor kicking. They turned around 15-0 at halftime after playing into a strong wind. They were pretty confident they could turn that around but their kicking game wasn’t good enough to take advantage of the breeze. Scored one unconverted try only.

Edit: By the way, Tremain Field is a shit place to watch sport on a windy day in Napier.

[Stargazer]

Two rep games in Wellington tomorrow (Sat 31 August 2019); maybe something that @Higgins may be interested in?

Both at Porirua Park, field #1 (I assume that's Jerry Collins Stadium?):

• 12.00pm: Wellington U19 v Junior Magpies (last seeding game; a must-win for our boys if they want to make the top division of the main tournament).
• 1.30pm: Wellington Development v Hawke's Bay Saracents (first game for the Hurricanes Shield)

In Napier, at Tremain Field:

• 1.00pm: Hawke's Bay Saracens U18 v East Coast U18 (first game of a new competition for the Trustbank Central Secondary Schools Shield)
• On the other field is the game between Wanganui U18 and Poverty Bay U18; also k/o at 1.00pm

[Higgins]

Very tempting but I've got grand daughters netball final on tomorrow afternoon, about 12.50pm at the Hataitai Courts I think. Can't be in two places at one time.

[Nepia]

@Higgins said in 2019 Hawke's Bay Representative Rugby:

Very tempting but I've got grand daughters netball final on tomorrow afternoon, about 12.50pm at the Hataitai Courts I think. Can't be in two places at one time.

She's only your grand daughter, that's a whole step removed.

[Higgins]

@Nepia Point taken as HB rugby is family too!

[Stargazer]

This is the 2019 Hawke's Bay Saracens U18 squad (LAST NAME, first name):

AKE Taimarie, AKUHATA Reece, ARLIDGE Kurtis, BERGE Zane, BURKE Caleb, CHANNINGS Matariki, CHARTERIS George, DODDS Charlie, DOUGLAS Jordy, DOULL Gabriel, GIBBS Ben, GRAHAM Heta, HORSEFIELD Sam, IRELAND Max, JOHNSON Bailey, JOHNSON Caleb, KA'A Dijzhan, KING Abel, LINDEQUE Ryan, MCLOUD Mitchell, PAKU Jacob, POTGIETER Tian, RODGER Lennox, ROLLS Wharewaiata, ROPITINI Zinzan, SAMUELA Taulagi, SOKOTAUA Pierre, TAYLOR Hugh, THOMASSEN Ben, THOMPSON Art, TUPOU Josiah, TWIGLEY George, VAUTIER Ben, WAHITAPU Hoki and WILKIE Reihana.

Some of these players won't be available for tomorrow's game. I recognise some players from the Lindisfarne 1st XV squad that I posted in the HB Schoolboy thread, and no doubt there will be a few boys from the Hastings Boys 1st XV in this list, as well.

[Stargazer]

Saracens squad for today's game

[JC]

U19 v Wellington is likely to be tough I think. There is a 50point difference between the scores that each of the teams put on the Heartland boys. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of depth in the HB squad. The 2 young fellas they had on the wings last week were sickness replacements and their defence was clueless frankly, with both the opposition’s tries being scored there. Eventually the coaches shored it up by shifting a halfback to wing.

They seem to be lacking a bit of size too. A hard day at the office today...

[Stargazer]

@JC I'm afraid you're right. There are 3 of probably more reasons for the lack of depth.

Several players that played well for their 1st XV last year have left the province, including and most notably the Thompson twins who are now playing for Wellington U19 and winger Michael Naitokani, who plays for Canterbury U19.

Then there are, obviously, HB players who left their HB school 1stXV in previous years to play for 1stXVs in other provinces; they are lost to the Bay as well (Zarn Sullivan, for example, but there are more).

Also, there are several players from last year's Napier 1st XV that reached the Top 4 Final (and, I think, for Hastings 1st XV as well), who have returned to school and played for their 1st XV again this year. I can only hope that some of the current stand-outs in our 1st XVs will stay in the Bay and play for HBU19 next year.

I'm sick of us losing good players to other provinces, esp the bigger provinces that already have a bigger player pool.

[Stargazer]

@JC Will you be at the Wellington Dev v Hawke's Bay Saracens game?

I would be very interested to hear how our TH prop Josiah Tavita-Metcalfe and right winger Tyrone Dodds-Edwards are going. So far, I have not been impressed with Ollie Sapsford for the Magpies and am wondering whether the young lad Dodds-Edwards is ready for the step up.

[JC]

@Stargazer no can’t make a game today. Chauffeuring Mrs JC.

I’m not sure what can be done about the losses to other provinces tbh. On top of the guys who are leaving for work or education I understand there is an ongoing issue with kids getting contracted while they’re still at school. They may only be getting 5 grand a year but, hey, they’re a professional rugby player. I’m not sure the HBRU can compete with the deeper pockets of the Wellington Union. It’s a shame. I’m told there are 2 guys who have been contracted by Welly who were released to play but their availability for training with the squad was very limited. So either way we lose.

[Stargazer]

As @JC predicted, it was a tough match for the Junior Magpies. They lost 7 - 50 to Wellington U19. It was 0 - 12 at half time.
I assume Manawatu have beaten the Hurricanes Heartland U20s, so we'll end up in the Championship (lower) Division again. The Junior Magpies finished 11th and 12th a couple of times, but I hope they can do better than that. No idea of the level of the other teams though.

[Stockcar86]

@Stargazer said in 2019 Hawke's Bay Representative Rugby:

Saracens squad for today's game

So Buckley can't even make the Saracens team now??

[Stargazer]

@Stockcar86 I vaguely remember reading that some players have chosen to take up temporary stints overseas (Portugal, Hong Kong). Not sure whether he's one of them.

[Stargazer]

Wellington Dev have won 27 - 26. They scored a converted try in the 82nd minute. Bleh, hopefully it's not one of those days ...

[Higgins]

@Stargazer Looks like Wellington are making a bit of a habit about winning in extra time this week. Guessing no news from the UNder 19s is beacuse of the scoreline?