Napier Boys’ High School’s Bethel Lutele-Malasia may have been pipped at the post, but his try in the prestigious Polson Banner Game will forever go down as one of the best in 2020.
The First XV winger’s try against Palmerston North Boys’ High School in August made the top three in the Sky Fans Try of the Year announced on Thursday evening at the New Zealand Rugby Awards.
However, the award, decided by public vote, went to Christ’s College’s Jack Jones, with Hawke’s Bay Magpies winger Neria Fomai also narrowly missing out.
The reserve prop’s effort in going in under the posts was celebrated by his team and an exuberant crowd in the annual fixture against Christchurch Boys’ High School.
Napier Boys’ High School’s Director of Rugby Brendon Ratcliffe said it was awesome to have two of the best tries of the year coming out of Hawke’s Bay – one at secondary level and the other at a senior professional level.
He says the try scored by Bethel was a “beautiful” team try.
“There was some extreme individual brilliance, but there was just a lot of freedom of movement and running and interplay and a great range of skills by a number of players, none more so than Bethel finishing it but also Afa Moleli was heavily involved in it as well.”
To have scored it at Napier’s Mclean Park added to its significance.
“It was pretty cool to perform at that level on a really special ground,” Mr Ratcliffe said.
Bethel said he was honoured to be featured among the best in the game.
“It means a lot to be able to score a try that’s featured at the rugby awards as not a lot of people get that chance to do that.”
He believes it is one of the best tries he has scored so far – made even more special given that he caught it off the boot of his best mate Afa.
“It was so good, especially to end off the game with that try and take home the banner.”
The 17-year-old has been in the First XV for the past two years and has aspirations to go as far as possible in the sport.
