This year Tauriko School had a total of 5 hockey teams and a large group of Year 1 and 2 students participate in hockey skills sessions. We would like to say a huge thank you to all coaches and managers who gave up their own time to make it a successful season for their teams. 

The 2017 Tauriko Thundersticks (Tall Poppies team) started the season with four wins from four games in the grading rounds including good wins over Bethlehem College and Otumoetai Intermediate teams. This was a good start with a mixture of year 7 and 8 boys and girls in the team.

The team played well while learning to play in all positions as players played at the back, midfield and in the forwards in each of the games. The team managed to win their next six games over Tauranga Intermediate (two teams), Oropi, Te Puke, Te Puna and Waldorf teams.

We were then re-graded to be with the other top teams. However, we struggled to match these teams, especially Katikati who were the eventual winners of the grade. Training on a small turf with low numbers if quite different to what they face in a game. This makes it difficult for the kids to understand how the skills learnt in practice translate into a game situation.

The team came together well and the team enjoyed their games whether winning or not. Hopefully the kids will continue to develop their skills next year and those in year 8 in 2018 should help form the base of a solid team.

Luke Rutherford (Coach)

The Tauriko Cheetahs are our Year 3 hockey team and what an awesome season they have had this year. We have Jack, Izzy, Rhys, Mitchell, Chloe, Neahlana, Michael, and Zalia and everyone has worked so hard. We started off the season learning how to hold our sticks properly and how to move the ball around the turf. We have finished the season with several wins, and as an awesome team that works together, encourages each other, and who have all worked hard at and have built on their basic skills. As their coach, I feel really proud of each and every one of them, and what they have achieved both as a team and individually over the season.

Chris Bremner (Coach)