Today was the brotherhood's last home game of the season and for our Year 13's it was to be their last home game ever in a HATO jersey. So with that in mind we knew we were in for a really battle today with the winner of this game going straight through to the semi-final. With an emotional pre-match ceremony the brothers were pumped and to be honest I felt the occasion may have crept in to us adding pressure and affecting our mental side of the game.
The game started with a hiss and a roar with big tackles and storming runs from both sides. However 10 minutes in to the game Kaipara scored first with some soft defence from HP, putting pressure on themselves. The try was unconverted. Again Kaipara stepped up taking it to our forwards and managed to gain a penalty. The penalty kick was converted bringing the score to 8-nil in favour of the visitors. Once HATO was able to compose themselves and settle in to their patterns we were able to gain momentum with some good pick and go work from Hemi Hill, Ardi Mahu and Te Hamana Maxwell. The ball popped out to our tight-head prop Vernon Isaacs-Brunning who near the line is an unstoppable force which saw him score the first of his 2 tries. The try was unconverted. Just when we felt we were gaining momentum we kept putting pressure on ourselves by being slow to the break-down ultimately turning the ball over to our opposition. The score was 13-5 at the break.
The 2nd half started much better for us with the team scoring early through Vernon who brought up his 14th try of the year in strong fashion. The try was unconverted. Again Kaipara threatened with a planned back-line move which saw their winger score in the corner the try was converted. HATO then began their resurgence and put together some great phases which saw the ball fed to Tukairangi Maxwell who broke through 3 tackles scoring a great try. The try was converted by Nick Poutama. With time running out we were desperate to move the ball around trying to find and create holes in Kaipara's defence and just when we managed to keep the ball in hand with some good pick and go work the ball was turned over and Kaipara kicked the ball out and our visitors ran away with it in the end 20-17.
What a game it was? And regardless of the result we are still all winners at the end of the day. Our boys showed character and pride in themselves and did our school very proud. On behalf of the boys and the coaching staff we would like to thank all our supporters and whanau for turning out for the game. To the brotherhood, you should be very proud of yourselves in what you have all achieved this year. You have all made the impossible possible, by believing in yourselves and the brother next to you for that is the true HATO spirit...
The game started with a hiss and a roar with big tackles and storming runs from both sides. However 10 minutes in to the game Kaipara scored first with some soft defence from HP, putting pressure on themselves. The try was unconverted. Again Kaipara stepped up taking it to our forwards and managed to gain a penalty. The penalty kick was converted bringing the score to 8-nil in favour of the visitors. Once HATO was able to compose themselves and settle in to their patterns we were able to gain momentum with some good pick and go work from Hemi Hill, Ardi Mahu and Te Hamana Maxwell. The ball popped out to our tight-head prop Vernon Isaacs-Brunning who near the line is an unstoppable force which saw him score the first of his 2 tries. The try was unconverted. Just when we felt we were gaining momentum we kept putting pressure on ourselves by being slow to the break-down ultimately turning the ball over to our opposition. The score was 13-5 at the break.
The 2nd half started much better for us with the team scoring early through Vernon who brought up his 14th try of the year in strong fashion. The try was unconverted. Again Kaipara threatened with a planned back-line move which saw their winger score in the corner the try was converted. HATO then began their resurgence and put together some great phases which saw the ball fed to Tukairangi Maxwell who broke through 3 tackles scoring a great try. The try was converted by Nick Poutama. With time running out we were desperate to move the ball around trying to find and create holes in Kaipara's defence and just when we managed to keep the ball in hand with some good pick and go work the ball was turned over and Kaipara kicked the ball out and our visitors ran away with it in the end 20-17.
What a game it was? And regardless of the result we are still all winners at the end of the day. Our boys showed character and pride in themselves and did our school very proud. On behalf of the boys and the coaching staff we would like to thank all our supporters and whanau for turning out for the game. To the brotherhood, you should be very proud of yourselves in what you have all achieved this year. You have all made the impossible possible, by believing in yourselves and the brother next to you for that is the true HATO spirit...
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