Hero photograph
 
Photo by Teresa Robertson

A successful Touch Tournament Week

Dan Koni —

Congratulations to the Year 12 students for running a two-day tournament on 21st and 22nd October. Held at Tonga Park

This year was the 12th year the King’s Invitational Touch Tournament had taken place, and it was full of excitement. 

 Mr Koni’s Year 12 Physical Education classes had spent the last two weeks of Term 3 organising the tournament. Their tasks included organising the food, draw, referees, fields, equipment, health and safety, team coordination, sponsorship and all finances associated with the two events. 

Image by: Teresa Robertson

The two classes will wrap up their assessment with a full evaluation of their respective tournament, complete with a presentation and a final report. The idea was established 13 years ago due to the gap in competition for Touch, particularly for these age groups. 

Image by: Teresa Robertson

The tournament was led by Oscar Cameron with Damien Ioane on the mic. 

King’s 1st Touch players Jeremiah Tuhega-Vaitupu and Finn Apii provided clutch moments keeping the Year 9s in the game. The eventual winners were the Year 9’s, defeating a strong Otago Boys High School (OBHS) team in a game where discipline and calmness prevailed. This is the first time the tournament has been won by any Year 9 group. 

The Year 10 team, unfortunately, went down in a drop off in their semi to (OBHS) but managed to get field-side action of the final, with John McGlashan (JM'C).

This year they were also able to provide another competition for some of our Year 8 contributing schools, The King’s Year 8 Invitational Touch Tournament. This Tournament is a community initiative and way of thanking and providing a relief day for some of our contributing schools. 

Chief organiser, Jaydean Washington and mic man, Orlando Tuhega-Vaitupu provided a running commentary on all games which included the entertaining Staff-Student game. 

The tournament was attended by Fairfield, Bathgate and Carisbrook schools with eventual winners, Tahuna Intermediate defeating a very good Balmacewen Intermediate team. The two teams finished the tournament in an exciting drop-off in the final. The game resumed for two minutes with the decider set up and scored by a familiar family name at this school, Kai Koni.

Image by: Teresa Robertson
Image by: Teresa Robertson

The events were a great success. Thanks to Otago Touch Referees – Thys McCurdy and Matthew Fogarty. 

Also thank you to Mr Smith, the Catering department and grounds staff, Mr Reggett. A big thank you to Mr Dickson for providing the abundant spot prizes given out to the various Year 8 boys. 

As with any evaluation, the Seniors will be looking at ways to improve its current format, include more teams and keep boys competing.

Pic #1- Year 9 Tournament winners (Thu)

Pic #3 – Cooks, Sam Larsen and Henry King at the BBQ (Thu)

Pic #5 – Marquee officials watching the action (Thu)

Pic #6 – Bathgate/Carisbrook schools combined team (Fri)

Pic #7 – Year 8 Tournament Winners (Fri)


Kensington Oval Open Men's - (Tues 27th October)

Division 1: King's 1st Touch Team drew 6-6

  • Touchdowns: B.Paku, B.Palu, O.Cameron, D.Pledger, J.Davis, J.Harvey

Division 2: King's Junior Team defeated Harlequins, 5-3

Kensington Oval Open Men's - (Tue 19th October)

  • Division 1: King's 1st Touch Team bye
  • Division 2: King's Junior Team defeated Nitin Chand, 6-3

Bishopscourt Open Men's (Thu 21st October)

  • Division 1: King's 1st Touch Team defeated Buster Foods, 15-0

Metro Secondary Schools Touch (Tue 26th October)

  • Rēpara Kingi defeated OBHS Canteen, 5-3
  • Mohoao Kingi defeated OBHS CP, 5-1
  • Hukarere Kingi drew to OBHS Chess Club, 3-3

Important Touch Dates

  • Metro Touch Schools – competition began 26th October
  • Junior IPS Invercargill – 14th Nov
  • Junior Sec Schools Touch Tournament – Thu 18th Nov
  • Junior IPS Oamaru – 4th Dec
  • Te Waipounamu Touch Tournament in Christchurch – 11th-12th Dec
  • NZSS Touch Tournament (Rotorua) – 17-19th December 2021 (Cancelled)

Notices:

  • Metro Touch began on Tuesday 26th. All boys from the Term One teams need to check the notices outside room 29.
  • Touch Academy also starts next week – check the notices for more information.