M¯aori take fight to Schools Barbarians
The New Zealand Schools Barbarians were pushed to the wire 28-24 by the New Zealand Ma¯ori under 18s in Palmerston North yesterday.
The Ma¯ ori were rewarded for better using the wind in the second half as they came storming back from 28-12 down.
First five-eighth Stewart Cruden (Palmerston North BHS), lock Josh Hill (Otago University) and hooker Te Ariki Te Puni (Auckland University) all played big roles in the Ma¯ ori comeback.
The Ma¯ori were first on the board when Terrell Peita (Mount
Albert Grammar) crashed over.
Then the Barbarians came to life led by first five-eighth Fergus Burke (St Paul’s Collegiate), who was best on the park.
Burke scored the first try when he stepped through a gap before fending the fullback for the try.
The Barbarians kept coming and after prop Oliver Norris (St Peter’s Cambridge) charged into space, wing Siave Seti (St John’s College) was over the line in the next phase.
All signs were pointing towards the game getting away on the Ma¯ ori, but they fought back.
Flankers Tamarau Mcgahan (Rosmini College) and Donovan Mataira (Hastings Boys’ High School) were causing plenty of issues at the breakdown.
Then Cruden turned on a solo try of his own, breaking the line, chipping over the fullback and regathering the ball when the covering wing dropped it for a try.
The Barbarians were best when they were direct in their attack. Kienan Higgins (St Patricks College Silverstream) was a benefactor of that approach when he scored to make it 21-12 at halftime.
Higgins was back on the scoresheet early in the second half after Burke broke the line again.
A high tackle from the second five-eighth saw him yellow carded and allowed the Ma¯ ori back in the game.
While he was off, Hill crossed from short range, before replacement wing Coel Kerr (Paeroa College) grabbed another to set up a tight finish.
But they never looked like scoring the match-winner as the Barbarians did well to shut the game out.