HBHS 1st XV to play National Finals

HBHS 1st XV rugby team won a crucial game against Wesley College on Saturday. Co-coach of the 1st XV, Greg Kirkham reviewed the encounter:

What were your impressions of the game?

It was probably one of the best games of the season for us, in terms of sticking to the plan that we had set, using our forwards in terms of trying to dominate.  Also driving play, and then when we had numbers, using our back line.  It was a big, big effort in terms of that.

Obviously you are pleased with the result (27 – 12)?

Very pleased with the result. It was probably in our hands to say ‘if we score four tries, we don’t have to worry about any other calculations’, so when we scored four tries we could stop worrying.  For us it means we now do more work, because we go to Nationals on Friday.  We have to take everything up another notch. We are playing at Rotorua Boys’ High School, and are playing Gisborne Boys’ High School at 2.00 pm.  That will be the second game in the top four. 

Is it going to be like last year where HBHS supporters will be encouraged to follow the boys down there. Folks bused down last time, didn’t they?

It will be the semi-finals on Friday, however I’m still assuming that there will be a number of people that would like to come down.  We haven’t confirmed a bus at this stage for Friday.  I would say that there will be something happening on Friday.

And if we win on Friday, what then?

If we beat Gisbourne, then we’ll either meet St Bede’s or Mount Albert Grammar in the final game on Sunday.

So your season is complete seven days from now, one way or another.

Yeah – what a year :-)