Thursday, October 19, 2017
PROUDLY displaying their runners-up medals from this year’s Northern Region Roller Mills Tournament are Opotiki’s Damien Tai, Tane Howe and Taumanu Walker. Photos Erica Howe
Ross McCullough
THREE of Opotiki’s young rugby talent Taumanu Walker, Tane Howe and Damien Tai, did their town proud last week at the under-13 Northern Roller Mills Tournament.
Held at St Peter’s College in Cambridge between Tuesday and Sunday last week, Bay of Plenty reached the final but was not able to get up over their arch rival Auckland East, going down 17-29.
It was the third consecutive year the Bay of Plenty and Auckland East had contested the final. The Auckland side won last year’s tournament and the two teams shared first place in 2015.
The Bay team for this year’s tournament also included Ethan Forbes from Awakeri School and Kori Hemopo from Whakatane Intermediate.
Tane was selected for the tournament team as halfback alongside Nacani Batidravu of Te Puke, who plays on the wing.
Erica Howe said the three Opotiki boys had been selected to trial for the representative side during the Tai Mitchell Tournament, in which Opotiki finished fourth.
Following trials in Whakatane the following week they were named in the Bay team for the Roller Mills Tournament.
She said the boys travelled at least twice a week to trainings and pre-season games leading up to the tournament.
“The three boys have grown so much during this campaign. They have totally enjoyed their rugby at the highest level and have shown that they are very capable,” she said
She said they had played Opotiki JAB rugby together since they were very young and had moved through the grades together.
Now heading into summer sports, the next time they would meet on a rugby field was likely to be on opposing teams at secondary school level.
Howe said the boys wished to thank the Opotiki Sports Rugby Club for their financial support with their fees to represent their province at the tournament.
And they and their families wished to give a special thanks to Nanny Trish for transporting the boys to trainings, and helping-out at Tauranga Noho Marae during the Tai Mitchell Tournament.