Hawkes Bay Schoolboy Rugby

[Stargazer]

I'm watching both the Napier and Hastings Boys' games at the same time. I'll try to give updates.

[Stargazer]

About 5-8 minutes in, both Hawke's Bay schools have been hot on attack and put a lot of pressure on their opponents. No score yet.

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Silverstream already getting a stern talk from the ref for repeated offending.

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Napier Boys are the first to score. I think it was their left winger who scored in the corner. Try assist from no. 8 Ratcliffe.

Less than a minute later, there's a try to Hastings Boys in the right corner. Didn't see who scored.

Napier leads 5 - 0.

Hastings leads 7 - 0

[Stargazer]

Napier again all the possession. Great break from one of their bigger players, excellent tackle from one of the Town players, but Napier still in possession. New attack following. One-way traffic.

Hastings Boys is also close to Stream's try line again.

[Stargazer]

St Pat's Town now have a player sent to the bin. Didn't see what happened.

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One of the Napier's fatties just scored, while Hastings left winger dotted down in the other game. Strange synchronicity.

Napier is leading 12 - 0.

Hastings is leading 12 - 0.

[Stargazer]

Napier's fullback has scored another try. Come on Hastings Boys, keep up & keep @Nepia happy.

Napier Boys is now leading 17 to 0.

[Stargazer]

Both Hawke's Bay schools dominating setpiece. It's quite remarkable, the difference.

[Stargazer]

Penalty after penalty against Silverstream. Time for a card, ref?

[Stargazer]

Napier Boys very close to scoring again, while a Hastings player needed to make a try saving tackle.

Hastings Boys definitely playing a stronger opponent than Napier Boys.

[Stargazer]

Napier Boys' no. 8 Max Ratcliffe steals the ball from a Town line-out on Town's 5m line and scores! Too. easy!

Napier Boys' now lead 22 - 0.

[Stargazer]

Great break from one of the Hastings' players, to no avail. He spills the ball in the tackle. It's half time.

Napier's left winger scores again! The conversion is good, and it's half time. (The Hastings game is about 4 minutes ahead now)

Half time:

St Pat's Silverstream 0 - 12 Hastings Boys'

St Pat's Wellington 0 - 29 Napier Boys'

[Stargazer]

Hastings Boys' under pressure now, near their try line. Boys not happy with some of the officiating.

An then ... a brilliant break from the Hastings Boys' left winger who scores a length-of-the-field try in the right corner! Awesome!

Napier Boys score again in the other game. One of the big boys, I think the LH prop. The conversion is good.

Hastings Boys' lead 19 - 0

Napier Boys' lead 36 - 0

[Stargazer]

Try to Hastings, one of their taller guys dots down.

Hastings Boys' extend their lead to 24 - 0.

[Higgins]

Oh dear, Darren Larsen will be hiding for cover at these results when he finds reason to name 36 Wellington players in the Hurricanes Under 20 Training Camp squad whilst managing to squeeze in about 4 HB players

[Stargazer]

What has been very noticeable in the Napier Boys' game is that their workrate and speed is so much higher than Town's. Add to that the difference in skills, and then you have a large part of the explanation for the score.

In the other game, Stream is working is really hard, just like Hastings. Handling errors and decision-making is the biggest difference.

I jinxed it before posting this. Big break from a Town player and they score their first try under the sticks.

36 - 7 Napier Boys'

[Stargazer]

@Higgins Rather the U18s, but yeah, this is a nightmare scenario for Mr Larsen.

[Stargazer]

Stream with all the possession in Hastings' 22. The defence has been holding, but not sure it will stay that way.

Now and injury break for one of the Stream players. Not looking good. Head or neck?

[Stargazer]

It's getting worse for Town. A try to Napier's centre. The conversion is good.

Napier Boys lead 43 to 7.