Rugby numbers remained similar to last year, with the
school fielding four boys’ teams and a girls’ team. The
success rate was very low so each win was sweet. Most
successful team were the E grade team, who finished fifth
in their grade. The 1st XV had just two wins, D grade none,
F grade three and the girls none. There were similar trends
throughout all the teams which affected performances.
1.
An aversion to hard work at practices.
2.
A lack of commitment i n attending practices
and
matches.
3.
A lack of confidence.
4.
Few leaders on the field.
5.
Playing the blame game when things went wrong.
6.
Dropping heads when scored against.
It was annoying for the coaches, all from outside, taking
time off work to voluntarily coach and being met with a
blasé attitude from some of their players. For the school’s
teams to improve, the attitude amongst those who want to
play has to be raised no end.
The positive spin is that the teams will soon be kitted out
in new jerseys. The school is also looking in to starting up a
rugby club within the school, to try and bring experienced
parents on board to help govern the game.
D Grade
The D grade side had the unfortunate circumstance of going through the season without winning a game. Poor Mike
Mucolo, their coach, lost his captain, Trent Palamountain
and Andreis Lindeque early on to the 1st XV and along
with Tom Scott (left), Isiah Watson-Waihi (gave up) and
Issac Waihi (back to the E’s), meant nearly his entire back
line had gone. As his team was made up of too many locks
and props, soon the midfield and wings were men of bulk,
not speed.
The Team was; Carlos Askew, Robert Barker, Rooke Betty,
Israel Carlton, Max Cooper, Kane Daysh-Coldicutt,
Darcy Garland, Kevin Gee, Andreis Lindeque, Sheldon
Lockwood, Ryan Murphy, Maikara Murray, Ethan O’Brien,
Dhayton Patea-McKenzie, Trent Palamountain, Cieran
Phillips, Louis Pienaar, Hinkley Pogai, Tom Scott, Laga Taylor,
Nathan Thompson, William Wallace and Isiah WatsonWaihi.
E Grade
What an enigma this team was. Their attendance at practice was spasmodic, and the warm up for games consisted
mainly of counting to see whether they had 15. Often they
started with less. Remarkably, they were the most successful
team, as firstly they made the top division after grading,
then proceeded to keep winning games and finally finish in
5th place.
The team were the best balanced, with a pack that
worked together, with some sharp backs. In their semi
final against Napier BHS, they started the game with
eleven, worked up to 13, and Lucy Carpenter made
it 14, and they still won! Coaches, Duncan Morrison,
and students, Tom Grant and Caleb Higgs, showed
commendable patience in frustrating circumstances in
not only keeping the team together, but achieving a
high level of play.
The team was; Voyage Christy, Robert Fridd, Xavier
Hokianga, Preyst James, Raven James, Reuben Jones,
Justin Kennedy, Kyle Lowe, Jack Manopwong, Babroe
Moetu, Quintin Nuku-Stone, Hayden Nuku-Stone,
Gaberiel Pakieto, Mohana Pakieto, Joel Robertshawe,
Richard Russell, Mana Wilson, Kairu Mangu, Issac
Waihi and Lucy Carpenter.
F grade
Lewis Summerfield and Mr Fenton combined to coach
the lightest team. This year, we had enough players to
make up a full team from HNHS. We are the only coed school who are able to do so. The team started
off with a hiss and a roar, scoring nine tries to defeat
St Johns, followed by a draw against Hastings BHS,
who scored with the last play of the game in dubious
circumstances. After a big win over the Lindisfarne B
team, the boys then lost players with broken bones,
suffered a couple of heavy losses which sucked their
confidence. They did bounce back to win another
couple of games