There was a whiff of finals footy in the air at Nicholson Field on Saturday after Tauranga Boys’ First XV defeated a strong, well-drilled Hastings Boys’ side by 41-30.

It stretched the Tauranga team’s Super 8 winning run to six consecutive games and with one game to go against bottom team Gisborne Boys’, a home final against Hamilton Boys’ is all but guaranteed in two weeks.

Tauranga came flying out of the blocks from the opening whistle on the pristine home pitch, with livewire hooker Tyi Sinkinson crossing for two tries in the opening 12 minutes.

Hastings offered little in the opening stages apart from a penalty goal to open their account.

But just as Tauranga were looking totally in charge, two unforced errors gifted Hastings 14 points and a complete momentum reversal.

The charged down clearing kick and intercept pass thrown are mistakes that the team cannot afford to repeat in the final to come.

Hastings added another penalty to jump out to a 20-12 lead with halftime approaching but were then rocked back by a brilliant attacking run from second-five Judah Draiva that set up the opportunity for captain and classy halfback Charlie Sinton to dive over for a hugely important try.

Another fine conversion from Mason Verster reduced Hastings’ lead to a single point and set up the captivating second half that followed.

Whatever coach Aidan Kuka said at halftime worked a treat as Tauranga took control of the match with a near-perfect 15 minutes of rugby.

Every Hastings attack was repelled by staunch defence and Tauranga’s trademark fast ruck ball, spread wide and backed up by the bigger runners up the middle, was rewarded with two tries to blindside flanker Ketai Zinyowera.

Now trailing by 36-20, it was Hastings’ turn to go on the attack and they closed the deficit with two well-taken tries that were split by a superb individual effort from Tauranga’s replacement wing Dylan Henderson.

The 41-30 final score was a fair reflection on an outstanding game of First XV rugby that produced ten tries, passionate defence and a continuation of Tauranga’s wonderful run to the Super 8 final.

Tauranga Boys’ College 41 (Tyi Sinkinson 2, Ketai Zinyowera 2, Charlie Sinton, Dylan Henderson tries; Mason Verster 4 cons, pen) defeated Hastings Boys’ High School 30 (W Kava, J Lameko, R Paewai, E Vui tries; T Faumuina 2 cons, 2 pens)