Under 15A Rugby Invitational National Tournament 2024
After winning the Waikato Secondary School 3rd division against the determined HBHS Blue team, the Under 15s set out for the Under 15 Invitational National Tournament hosted by Tauranga Boys' College.
The team was nursing a few injuries and niggles but were ultimately ready to meet the demands of the week. The Tournament went from Monday the 2nd of September to Friday the 6th of September. With 6 games in 5 days the squad was certainly tested physically and mentally over the week.
Tauranga turned on the weather for us with sunshine all week with only the occasional shower and just enough rain to soften up the fields for the next day.
We drew the pool of death this year with Mount Albert Grammar, New Plymouth Boys' High School and Westlake Boys' High School all worthy of a top two place in the pool to progress through to the quarter-finals. With hard-fought wins against NPBHS and MAGS we progressed through to the quarter-finals and played a tough Auckland Grammar side. They utilised their half with the wind on their backs a little better than us and we did not manage to capitalise on our opportunities to score.
That sent us into playing off for 5th place and against a just-as-disappointed Rotorua Boys' High School. The boys from both teams put on an entertaining display of footy, and in the end we managed to get a bit of payback from them smashing us earlier in the year to win 22-5. Beating them meant we were up against Napier for the best-of-the-rest game. We started well and scored early points through some Ezaiah Solomon individual brilliance. He scored two tries and converted both of them, sevens style, before Napier could even get behind the sticks for a drink. Both teams gave it everything and Napier came back into the game in the second half. However, our boys were able to hold on and finish strong to win.
We suffered some big injuries across the week and the depth of the squad was tested. All the boys stepped up and contributed on and off the field. It was a fantastic tournament to be a part of this year. Congratulations goes to Tauranga Boys 'College for winning and running a great tournament.
NgÄ mihi to all the whÄnau and friends for the great support and help across the week. It is a tough job watching all those games and trying to regulate the heart rate!
Tournament results:
Pool play
HBHS v Mt Albert Grammar won 15-11
HBHS v Westlake BHS lost 31-22
HBHS v New Plymouth BHS won 15-27
Quarter Final
HBHS v Auckland Grammar School lost 30-15
5-8 Semi-Final
HBHS v Rotorua BHS Won 22-5
5-6 Play-Off
HBHS v Napier Boysā High School won 21-10
The boys would like to thank their whÄnau and all the local businesses and organisations that helped financially to get all our boys to the tournament.
Also a big thanks goes to the Students from Year 13 business Studies that donated the player of the day awards. Ignite Potential, Den clothing and KSG Supporters gear. Huge mihi to Dallin Watene-Zelezniak for donating a signed training tee for our Player of the Tournament which was Ezaiah Solomon.
NgÄ mihi to all the sponsors. Could not have done it without you.
Tuitala Law Ltd
Express Lawn Mowing
Paul Nathan Fencing
Midwifery Villa
Heartland Rugby New Zealand
Design and Brighten your Golf ALBA.Inc
Phantom Graphics
Forest Protech Services
Cat Mew and Coo
Admaine Solutions Ltd
Alliance Services Ltd
Waikato Dental
PÄKURA PODIATRY GROUP
AURORA LAW
Gateos MTL Contractors LTD
McConnell Farms
Shepherd Plastering
NZ Institute of Sport
Pohutukawa Frame and Truss
Audrey Quigley Physio
Organic Nation Ltd
Brainchild
RGL Construction
Cooper Builders
Turf Kutterz
Raglan Electrical
Glamacote 2021 Ltd
Waikato Dental
Reel Tuff Sport Fishing
Putauaki Trust
The Double Glazing Company
Bec & Bev Ltd
The Johnson Family
Changing Faces
Frame-X
Marshall Coatings Ltd
M.T.G Painters
Wild at Heart Aotearoa
VHS SWEET AZZ
Masica
Waitere Group
Ashley Place Kitchen Papamoa
First Place Fitness
Paul Nathan Fencing
Phantom Graphics
EdventureTours Group Travel
Omataroa Rangitaiki No.2 Trust
Geckco Motorsport Ltd
S & T Wheeler
Pounamu Pools
Swamp Frog Environmental and Tree Consultants
Tauhara Te Maunga Sports Club
Richard Thomson Real Estate
Victor's Place
Forest Protech Services
Peak Project Management
Clan Ramsay
DIY Supply
Melville Jnr Rugby
MTG PAINTERS
Wolfpack Construction
Plumbuilt Plumbing Services
Moore WhÄnau
Halauafu