Hawkes Bay Schoolboy Rugby

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They're streaming the Napier v King's game on Facebook.
:

https://fb.watch/cguyFZTt98/

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Prop Tuli Faleiva is a big boy. Good chance he's a younger brother of Magpies apprentice prop Lolani Faleiva.

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Is there a new health and safety rule that there is a break after about 15 minutes? Maybe Covid related?

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It's a pity the Napier hooker thought he was a midfielder, going for a run to the try line and passing way too late to his wing, when the King's players had already caught up with him. If he'd passed sooner, it would have been a certain try to the left winger.

That was a great team try from King's College, totally against the run of play, with Napier looking the better team thus far. The score now suggests otherwise.

Napier Boys 10 - 15 King's College

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Half time. Score hasn't changed.

I'm seeing some good skills from players of both teams. Obviously, also some avoidable mistakes, but not bad at all.

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Momentum has now clearly shifted to King's, who scored again in the left corner. Napier Boys have a lot of attacking flair, but can't finish their opportunities. Defence is definitely a work on.

Generally, King's doesn't really look the stronger team, they create few chances, but when they do, they score from them.

Napier 10 - 20 King's

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And again, butter fingers! Another Napier chance gone.

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Napier Boys now have their 12 play halfback.

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Great try from King's centre. Napier's defence like Swiss cheese there.

Napier 10 - 25 King's

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Prop Tuli Faleiva has great leg drive; very hard to stop.

Napier hard on attack; King's repeatedly infringing. Their 10 sent to the bin.

And just when you think Napier just HAS to score from the pick and go ... knock-on.

[Bovidae]

@stargazer Is Francis Manuleleua playing for King's? He would be their 12 or 13.

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@bovidae Sorry, I haven't seen a team list from King's and there's no commentary.

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Well-dserved try to Napier, I think it was one of the locks. Their pack is much stronger than King's and that maul was only going to go one way.

Napier 15 - 25 King's

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I've a strong impression that Napier had far fewer players available than were on the team sheet.

Just as I write that, another successful driving maul from Napier. The ball comes out at the back and one of the backs goes over for the try. Not sure who it was.

Their no. 13 now doing the kicking & he misses the conversion.

Napier 20 - 28 King's

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King's stealing the ball illegally there, but ref let's them play on. Their 12 almost scores.

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Geez, that's harsh. Ref gives King's a penalty try.

Napier 20 - 35 King's

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Another Napier try from a long driving maul. It was one of the locks who scored.

Napier 25 - 35 King's

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Clearly seeing the difference, now that passes are starting to stick for Napier.

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Another try to Napier, I think their right winger. Good attack, combined with one of the bigger midfielders.

Full time: Napier 30 - 35 King's

The score is flattering King's, who were unconvincing for most of the game, but scored from the few opportunities they got.
The end of the game showed that Napier's ball handling let them down for most of the game, but once passes stuck, they were the stronger team.

I'll have to see more games, because maybe King's just has a weak pack, but Napier's pack looked strong in this game. It could be a weapon.