Champions in rugby, netball

Gisborne Intermediate, super 11 open-weight rugby champions — Back (from left): Wayne Ensor (coach), Api Kirkpatrick, Liam Beattie, Kalani Ensor, Timuaki Stewart, Luke Bidois, Impalar Waipara, Safin Tuwairua-Brown, Quaydon Chaffey-Kora, Zeke Whitley and Rubi Hart. Front: Dale Kernohan, Tyrone Mauheni, Bekko Page, Maxwell Kennedy, Dante Hihi, Wade Perrett, Zack Taylor and Jayden De Thier. Absent: Logan Bruce, Sam Gaddum and Sol O’Connor. Picture by Liam Clayton

SUPER 11

GISBORNE Intermediate have won the Super 11 open-weight rugby tournament for the first time.

They beat Tauranga in golden-point extra time after levelling the scores with a late try in regulation time. The win was especially gratifying as Tauranga had beaten Gisborne Intermediate in pool play and had been Super 11 rugby champions for the past 10 years.

Outstanding players for Gisborne were forwards Logan Bruce and Sam Gaddum, prolific try-scorer Luke Bidois, defensive kingpin Puna Hihi and backs Sol O’Connor, Safin Tuwairua-Brown, Quaydon Chaffey-Kora and Wade Perrett.

Gisborne Intermediate’s Super 11 winning Year 8 netball team were back-to-back winners in that most of them were in the winning Year 7 team last year.

Thhey beat Whakatane in the final.

Both tourneys were at Mt Maunganui.