Good Grace - Timaru Boys to Contest First UC Championship Final

“Schoolboy rugby is quite big in Timaru. Sometimes I get noticed by strangers on the street because Timaru is only a small place. We have a lot of support from the community and that’s awesome,” Cullen Grace responds when asked about the impact the success of the Timaru Boys’ High School First XV has had in 2017.

On Saturday, Timaru will contest their first UC Championship final against defending champions Christchurch Boys’ High School at Rugby Park, Christchurch. Timaru has a genuine shot of winning having only lost narrowly to Boys’ High 17-22 in May.

“We started well and got into the lead. They lifted their intensity and we lost a bit of ours. I think if we stick to our structure and don’t panic we can win,” Grace warns.

Timaru have discovered the winning habit lately, securing victories in 10 of their last 11 matches with the solitary defeat to fellow semi-finalist Nelson College 21-20. In last weekend’s semi-final Christ's College was dispatched 24-10 with the visitors scoring four tries to one. Wing Tevita Eukaliti bagged a brace.

“Christ’s are a strong all-round team so we had to mix up our game to keep them guessing while being accurate at the basics. It was a good performance and we had more support than we usually do for an away match which was great,” Grace reviews.

Timaru could be described as an all-round team. The front row of Thomas Edwards, Melvin Pauni and Shane Fikken have set a solid foundation all season with hooker Panui a prominent figure with the ball in hand. No.8 Maka Mafileo is another powerful and frequent carrier. In the backs first-five Dean Andrews scored a hat-trick in Timaru’s 43-17 win over Shirley Boys’ High School on Land Rover First XV rugby and the centre pairing of Brad Cvitanich and Monty Nixon are linchpins of many attacks.

Grace is an accomplished lock and flanker who started for the Crusaders Under-18’s against the Hurricanes in July.

“I prefer lock, but I am happy to play anywhere as long as I am in the team. I like to be physical and try and dominate the lineout,” Grace assesses his own game.

Christchurch has many players who could dominate. They have won nine of the 16 UC Championship finals contested and have only dropped a solitary match by a single point this season.

Hunter Stewart, Adam Reid, Angus Tucker, Campbell Reid, Corban Harding, Ben Colvin, Louie Chapman, Max Hughes, Cullen Moody, Tahu Kaa-Goodwillie, Latham Kelly-Foleni, Jack Harris, Jordan Jennings and Ryan Barnes were among Christchurch’s Crusaders Under-18 selections.

“Reputation counts for nothing in finals footy. It’s about turning up and fronting on the day.” Grace insists.

The UC Championship final kicks-off midday Saturday at Rugby Park.