Busy few weeks for Eastern Bay touch boys
WINNERS: THE Mataatua under 14 boys’ team that were in impressive form at a recent tournament showing they’re a team to lookout for in the future if they stick together. Photo supplied
Sports reporter
It’s been a busy few weeks for several talented Eastern Bay touch players.
Many of the teens were part of the Full Circle team that made history when they won the Rowdy’s Touch tournament in January.
After that, three of the boys, Elisha Wignall, Tapu Teepa and Ryder Horlock, used their skill and abilities to claim a national touch bronze medal with the BOP under 16 Blue.
The team was coached by Hamiora Hale and Mickle Rawiri, with Erana Hovell as manager.
It was a tough tournament but one that all the Full Circle boys who took part enjoyed.
“I loved the tournament although I felt a little intimidated being 14 and competing against 15- and 16-year-olds but the team made me feel comfortable and had my back,” Elisha said after the national tournament. “It was definitely the highlight getting a bronze medal – having come eighth last year to third this year was great. I love to compete at high levels, and I get to make friends and visit other places.”
It didn’t end there, though, with many of the boys also coming together to represent Mataatua under-14 boys at the recently resurrected Māori Touch Tamariki Tournament, held in Hamilton.
Some of the other teams competing were Ngāti Hine (Northland), Te Arawa (Rotorua), Tauranga Moana (Tauranga), Awa Aotearoa (Auckland), Maniapoto (Hamilton) and Queensland Māori (Queensland).
The tournament started in the 90s but was cancelled 20 years ago.
The boys felt “honoured and privileged” to have been victorious at the tournament’s resurrection.
It was a successful tournament for the several Mataatua teams, with wins for the under-16 mixed and under-14 boys, the under-12 girls placing second and the under-10 boys and girls finishing third.
Felix Anderson-Smith, Tapu Teepa, Elisha Wignall, Mika Henry, Ryder Horlock, Zion Ratana-Hemara, Taitoa Stowers, Nixon Gillies, Lexus Wirangi, Caleb O’Neil, Blake Binney, Heremia, Maui and Coby-J Amai, were all part of the team leading the three strong management crew of Dion Henry, (manager) Pete Wignall (assistant manager), and Rikki Horlock (coach).