NBHS capture rugby's Moascar Cup
Napier Boys' High School 1st XV rugby centre Jayden Stok reckons there's no better feeling than what he experienced today.
"To do that in my final year at school I couldn't be happier with my team," Stok remarked after NBHS captured the Moascar Cup, the Ranfurly Shield of New Zealand Secondary Schools rugby, with a 15-10 victory over 2019 National Top Four champions Hastings Boys' High School in Hastings.
In a televised encounter played in front of more than 2500 fans, Stok, produced a player-of-the-match performance. He scored the opening try in the 30th minute, regularly busted the Hastings defensive line and his defensive reads were accurate.
It was the Sky Blues second consecutive Super 8 victory from as many matches and Stok hopes his side can continue to build on today's performance and finish the season with the Super 8 title.
"I had to sit out last week's game with an ankle injury so it was good to come back and help the team work together like that," Stok explained.
The 2015 Hawke's Bay Ross Shield player-of-the-tournament, Stok, intends to further his rugby career in Wellington next year where intends to complete a Diploma in Civil ande Mechanical Engineering course.
NBHS last held the Moascar Cup in 2018 and elated coach Brendon Ratcliffe was quick to point out his troops will keep it for longer than the 48 hours they had it back then.
"I'm so proud of the boys. It wasn't pretty out there today but they worked hard for each other and were rewarded for the work they put in during the Covid19 break," Ratcliffe explained.
"Every one of the 22 players had their moments today," Ratcliffe added.
His first five-eighth, Carlos Kemp, who converted Stok's try, opened the scoring with a fourth minute penalty. Hastings Boys' High School's only first half points came from a penalty to first five-eighth Hoera Stephenson from 24 metres out seconds before the halftime whistle.
Six minutes into the second half the hosts tied the score when hooker Jacob Dorward scored after a period of continuous pressure and Stephenson converted.
Five minutes later NBHS captain and hooker Will Robinson scored after his forwards had smashed their way through the Hastings defensive line.
The home team was on the wrong end of a 15-7 penalty count and repeated infringements in their red zone resulted in lockFraser Taurima-Heperi and winger Elijah Mataira having stints in the sinbin during the first half. Mataira and fellow winger Mefi Tupou made the most of their limited opportunities.
Captain and No 8 Cooper Flanders and lock Jposh Beehre again had high workrates in the Hastings pack.
Scorers:
Napier Boys' High School 15 (Jayden Stok, Will Robinson tries; Carlos Kemp pen, con), Hastings Boys' High School 10 (Jacob Dorward try; Hoera Stephenson pen, con). HT: 10-3.
