Some of our amazing athletes have been involved with playing touch rugby on a Tuesday evening at Nunweek Park for Wairakei School.

Last Tuesday night was finals night down at Nunweek Park and I watched three  fantastic Wairakei teams running around in 28 degree temperatures trying their very best.  The Wairakei Wizards played their best and had a good last game in the Social Year 3-4 grade. Their coach said this...

"For many of the Year 3-4 Wairakei Wizards team, this summer was their first season playing touch. They worked really hard and had improved their skills enormously by the end of the season, playing well as a team and most of all enjoying themselves. Special mention to the girls – Marina and Natalie– who played full games many weeks in 30+ degrees due to having no substitutes. Thanks to Christina for coaching/managing the team in Term 4, to Kylie Mayo for taking over management duties, to Fontana Earle and Nick Moyle for coaching the team in Term 1, to Chloe Whitley for often stepping in to ref/sub, to Jon Mokutopu for all his help - and to all the parents and families for their support!
Team (term 1): Levi H, Zack J, Nicholas, Toby M, Isaiah, Natalie, Marina, Tetoa."

The Wairakei Warriors played a tremendous final which was drawn at full time so went into drop off. The Warriors dug deep and played extra time until both teams were down to three players and the opposition scored so our mighty Warriors ended up 2nd in Competitive Year 3-4 grade. An awesome effort. Nick, their wonderful coach, said the following about  their season...

"After a fantastic few weeks of early pre-season training the Year 3/4 ambitiously entered the Touch Rugby Competitive Grade competition.

During the season the level of ongoing commitment shown by our players and their families was outstanding.
We had great attendance to our training sessions, and enjoyed one of the most positive and biggest supporter groups for any team in the competition.
By staying consistent with our game plan, by the end of the regular season we were 9 wins from 10 games (with just 1 draw).

We made the final, and at full time it was a 3-all draw.
Going deep into overtime, and despite a massive effort by the whole team we came up just short of the win.

What we achieved this season was an incredible effort, considering that 6 players were new to the game and playing in their first ever season of Touch.
Scoring 59 tries (with just 20 against) and finishing 2nd place in the competitive grade was an amazing result that our players, families and supporters can be truly proud of."

The Wairakei Wolves play in the Social Year 5-6 grade and were playing for 3rd/4th. This team displayed great perseverance and scored a game winning try just before the full time hooter. Wow. The coach said this...

"The Year 5-6 Wairakei Wolves touch team had a very successful season in the social grade at Nunweek Park. Despite a few games being cancelled due to rain before Christmas, we found ourselves in the upper half of the table as the semi-finals came around. A tight win over Roydvale and a default loss due to the Year 6 camp, meant we were sweating on other results to see if we’d make the semi-finals. Fortunately we snuck in as the fourth qualifier. This meant playing the Isleworth Raptors, a very strong team, in the semi which we lost despite a huge effort on a very hotnight. The playoff for 3rd and 4th was a much closer game with Kobe Penlington hot stepping his way through the defenders as the final hooter sounded to gain us a 5-4 victory. Overall we had a great squad of players who really improved their skills, tactical awareness and fitness throughout the season. I must make special mention of the girls in the squad – Jayda L, Ruby C, Aja C and Ruby K –who often had to play a full game due to having no substitutes. A big thank you to Rachel Livingston for managing the team, Megan Watson for her regular support and all the parents and caregivers for their vociferous side-line support. Squad: Aja Clarke, Brodie Radbourne, Dylin Hamilton, Eita Misawa, James Krouse, Jayda Livingstone,Kobe Penlington, Oliver Moyle, Ruby Cleverley, Ruby Keith, Xavier Wybrow.

Nick Moyle (Coach)

Thank you to all the wonderful coaches , managers and supportive whanau for all your hard work with getting our tamariki to and from the games. You are amazing!