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Watch: New Zealand schoolboy goes 90 metres after back-to-back gooseys
By Sam Smith
New Zealand schoolboy winger Caelys Putoko of Hamilton Boys High School has pulled off a 90-metre solo effort in the National Top Four semi-final against John McGlashan College.
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The winger showed off some flashy footwork as Hamilton Boys looked to attack after turning the ball over near their own goal line.
The No 14 danced inside one man and then put on two goose steps back-to-back to beat two tight five forwards in quick succession.
Putoko raced away down the right sideline with a valiant effort from John McGlashan’s centre forcing the Hamilton Boys’ winger to keep the gas on for the entire length of the field.
Sky Sport commentator Ken Laban called the play ‘as good a piece of individual brilliance as you will see at any level’ as the try broke the hearts of the Dunedin-based school.
The score right on halftime gave Hamilton Boys a 27-7 lead in the national semi-final which proved too much to overcome as the four time national champions ran out 48-14 winners.
Hamilton Boys High School reached their seventh all-time national 1st XV final, their first appearance since 2017 and will look to add a fifth title against Napier Boys High School on Sunday afternoon.
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A win would move Hamilton Boys equal with Kelston Boys High School and Wesley College for the most 1st XV national titles with five.
Napier Boys are looking to win a second title to add to their 2002 title. The Hawkes Bay school has been runners-up five times since winning their maiden title, the most recent being 2018.
