Boys’ High too strong for Francis Douglas
The Palmerston North Boys’ High School first XV will hit the Hurricanes schools festival full of confidence after a 45-0 thrashing of Francis Douglas Memorial College.
Boys’ High were too strong in most facets of the game at Boys’ High on Wednesday, leading 31-0 after a rampant first half, and speedy wing Tadhg O’Connor helped proceedings by scoring a hat-trick.
It completed an unbeaten start to the year for Boys’ High before they get into the Hurricanes games, then Super 8.
They have beaten Wellington College, St Paul’s Collegiate, Auckland Grammar School and Whanganui Collegiate in preseason, which was pleasing for coach Dan Turnock.
‘‘We’ve got a good chemistry at the moment,’’ he said. ‘‘The boys are working hard and they have bought into how we’re trying to play. We’ve just got to keep focusing on getting better every week.’’
This weekend they play Scots College in Porirua, then face St Patrick’s College Wellington and St Patrick’s College Silverstream the following two weeks.
Against Francis Douglas, Boys’ High weren’t afraid to run the ball and play with width, finding gaps in the defence.
‘‘We’re trying to play that game, trying to move the ball, use what we have: amobile forward pack and skilful backs. But we’ve also got to be able to go to plan B.’’
Their defence held strong, even with Tevita Fakahau (goal line infringements) and Fletcher Carpenter (tackling a player in the air) getting second-half yellow cards.
O’Connor was a danger man for Boys’
High, scoring three first-half tries, but they had threats across the park.
Flanker Tom Illston-Park and hooker Eli Oudenryn had strong games, making powerful runs and No 8 Joe Simpson-Smith was physical.
Carpenter kicked well, Aaron Christensen was a threat on the other wing and midfielders Liam O’Connor and Tayne Harvey played well.
Francs Douglas didn’t help themselves with handling errors at key moments.
Meanwhile, the Feilding High School first XV beat Gisborne Boys’ High School 31-0 at Hastings on Sunday.
Feilding start the Central North Island competition at home next weekend against Francis Douglas.
Boys’ High 45 (Tadhg O’Connor 3, Tyler Edwards, Sam Coles, Fletcher Carpenter, Mason Waller, tries; Coles 4, O’Connor, con) FDMC0 HT: 31-0. 1. What is the Latin word for ‘‘fish’’?
2. In the Nato phonetic alphabet, the letter ‘‘Z’’ is represented by what word?
3. Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria, Germany, is said to be the inspiration for the royal castle in which Disney movie?
4. What is the capital city of Peru?
5. In which 1992 movie is the line ‘‘You can’t handle the truth!’’ shouted by the character Colonel Nathan Jessup?
6. What does a ‘‘numismatist’’ collect?
7. Jodhpurs were adapted from a style of trouser from which country?
8. Which author wrote the Discworld series comprising 41 novels?
9. First manufactured in 1982, what was a Commodore 64?
10. The small community of Punakaiki is home to what rock formations?