Papamoa's under-10 rugby team. Back, Micah Hill (left), Billy Symes, Kiwa Ross, Kerry O'Reilly, Manahi Taoho, Justice Harris, Damon King. Front, Josh Telford, Christopher Berger, Brayden Stowers, Harry McManaway, Lyric Brown. Lying down: Rico Kelly, Joel Kearins, Kobi Anderson. Photo / Supplied
Papamoa's under-10 rugby team. Back, Micah Hill (left), Billy Symes, Kiwa Ross, Kerry O'Reilly, Manahi Taoho, Justice Harris, Damon King. Front, Josh Telford, Christopher Berger, Brayden Stowers, Harry McManaway, Lyric Brown. Lying down: Rico Kelly, Joel Kearins, Kobi Anderson. Photo / Supplied
Papamoa under-10 rugby team have achieved the enviable feat of going through the whole season unbeaten.
In winning the 19-team Western Bay of Plenty competition, the Papamoa team qualified to meet the best of the Eastern and central Bay of Plenty under-10 sides, Reporoa and Paroa, in a winner-takes-all Championof Champions tournament.
The tournament was hosted at Gordon Spratt reserve, with the locals again proving to be unbeatable.
The team have been coached by Phil O'Reilly and managed by his wife Monique.
"It was very special to have someone of that calibre to coach them," said Shannon Stowers, whose son Brayden was in the side. "We tried to balance it all off the field too and as we got closer to the final, took them to do pool sessions like the professionals do so the kids were thinking, 'wow, we are going up to the next level'."
