2nd XV v Hastings Boys' High School - Saturday 25 July
Buoyed by their victory of Wellington College last week, the PNBHS 2nd XV welcomed their counterparts from Hastings Boys' High School for the start of their 2020 Super 8 campaign. Hastings had proved difficult opponents over the past few years and so the team were under no illusion about the size of the challenge in front of them.
PNBHS started well and earned an early penalty to take the lead. Hastings responded, throwing attack after attack at PNBHS but the defence held firm and when PNBHS got some possession, they managed to force a 5m scrum from which Jakob Rauhihi-Collis scooted over to extend the PNBHS lead. More good play led to another converted penalty and PNBHS were up 13-0. A sin-binning gave Hastings a man advantage and they threw ‘the kitchen sink’ at the PNBHS line just before the half, but the defence was outstanding and PNBHS survived.
Hastings responded as expected and laid siege to the PNBHS line. More superb defence held them at bay for long periods before they finally scored from close range to reduce the deficit to 13-5. From the kick off PNBHS forced a turnover and Kees Jahnke profited as he dotted down in the corner to extend the lead to 18-5. Stung into action, Hastings attacked and a PNBHS error gave them an opportunity which they converted to reduce the deficit again but it was too little too late as PNBHS clinched the victory 18-10.
This was a performance led by the team's defence which was superb throughout. A very pleasing result against one of the top teams in the Super 8 competition should give the team confidence as they head north to take on the might of Hamilton Boys' in the second round.
Scorers:
Tries – Jakob Rauhihi-Collis and Kees Jahnke
Conversions – Jakob Rauhihi-Collis
Penalties – Jakob Rauhihi-Collis (2)
