Te Hiwi brothers keen to help OBHS to win in final
ISAAC and Jake Te Hiwi grew up trying to bump each other off in the hallway of the family home.
Tomorrow the brothers will be trying the same trick at Littlebourne in the southern regional top four final against Southland Boys’ High School.
This time, though, they will be on the same side — Otago Boys’ High School First XV.
Isaac (18) is the older of the two. The year13 pupil is an elusive fullback with good topend speed and an ability to step the most tenacious defender.
Jake (16) has a simpler approach in the midfield. A centre, he likes to take the ball into contact and win the collisions. He got plenty of practice growing up.
Isaac reckons he used to dominate the hallway melee but Jake (year 11) is broader and taller than his older sibling these days.
‘‘We had some pretty physical encounters back in the day,’’ Isaac said.
‘‘Mostly just running into each other in the hallway.’’
‘‘He is a lot bigger than me. He’d probably win those battles now.’’
Jake remembers the crush in the corridor differently.
‘‘I probably won most of them to be fair,’’ Jake said with a grin.
‘‘It is pretty cool playing with him now just because I know what he can do and stuff like that.’’
The brothers are ambitious about their rugby and are hopeful opportunities at the higher level will open up for them in the future. A good start would be by helping Otago Boys’ post a win tomorrow.
Arguably, Southland Boys’ shapes as the favourite. The teams drew 1414 at Littlebourne earlier in the year.
But Southland Boys’ dispatched John McGlashan College 425 last weekend, while Otago Boys’ limped past the same opponent 2417 seven days earlier.
The Te Hiwi brothers are expecting Southland Boys’ will use its big pack to punch holes close to the ruck.
There has been plenty of focus placed on how to defend around the fringes and the breakdown is another area in
which Otago Boys’ will need to lift its game. McGlashan managed to pick up a steady supply of turnovers and Otago Boys’ is keen to prevent a repeat.
Southland Boys’ captain Sean Withy will be a threat. He is a quality openside, strong ball carrier and does not miss too many tackles.
No 8 Jacob Payne is another hardnosed player and bruising runner, while second fiveeighth Elliot Warrender is the glue in the backline.
The winner will progress to the South Island final against the winner of the Crusaders’ tournament. That match will be in Christchurch on September 1.