The team played really well all week and edged Whanganui 3-2 in the final.
All seven players contributed to the wins with No.2 Bruce Taiapa winning five from five.
Mark Beard, Jonny Hardie and Quade Hyde all dropped only one game, winning four from five.
Hardie and Hyde dug deep in the final, winning 3-2. These games could have gone either way and both players showed amazing determination to get the wins.
The top-seeded men's D Grade team members were: Jereme Taylor, Jarrod Carter, Maia Nikora, Matiu Pennell, Don Kennedy, Aaron White and Ky Bartlett. They were managed by Mo Kennedy.
After a close 3-2 win first up against a young-gun Taupo team, the Surf City Boys settled in and didn't miss a beat. They won their ensuing ties 5-0, 5,0, 5-0 and then 3-0 against home team Kawaroa Park (New Plymouth) in the final.
This was the first time the club had won the men's Tawa Cup since 1998. For Taylor, Carter and Bartlett it was their second title with the club as they were members of the winning F Grade team in 2020.
It was a Surf City double in New Plymouth with the Surf City D Grade women also winning, and they were the talk of the tournament — they won their grade from eighth (last) seed.
Team members were: Awhina White, Kiri Collier, Amy McNay, Natalie Mackey, TeoArani Wilson and Bella Seymour. They were managed by Tee Montgomery.
They started the week upsetting top-seeded Lugton Park 4-1 and didn't look back.
The team showed great depth with Mackey, Wilson and Seymour going unbeaten.
The club last won the women's Tawa Cup in 2005. This year's men's-and-women's success replicated the double win achieved in 1998 — an awesome achievement.
The F Grade men's team of Mika Steinmetz, Akira Makiri, Reuben Hansman, Greg Bush, Keanu Makiri, Keenan Ruru-Poharama and Glacian Hyde successfully defended the club's 2020 national title in Ashburton.
Although the team were top seeds, this was a fantastic result for the club as No.3 Reuben Hansman was ruled out the night before the trip with Covid.
Makuini Hyde and Janelle Bartlett did a great job of keeping the players' spirits up as they travelled with only one reserve and still came away with the result. The deciding tie was a 4-1 win against Te Puke.
The E Grade women came close to making it five team wins. They finished third in their tournament in Alexandra.
Team members were: Lane Bartlett, Demelza Thomas, Tamara Douglas, Rose Reiri, Florence Faulks and Rowena Chaffey. They were coached by Kandyce Bevan and managed by Kate Faulks.
The girls had an awesome week, winning their first three games and finishing top of their pool.
In the semifinal against a team of Henderson juniors, the girls gave it their all but fell just short in a 3-2 loss.
They bounced back to win 4-1 the following day to secure third place — a great effort from fourth-seeded position.
The C Grade women's team of Catherine Harbott, Casey Miller, Aana Donnelly, Carol Goldsmith, Trudy Harrison and Raewyn Ross fought hard to defend their 2020 title.
Coach Avon Moleta had the girls giving their all to replicate the 2020 glory but they fell just short in three close ties. They finished on a high with a 5-0 win against Ashburton to finish seventh.
The effort of the week probably goes to team No.1 Catherine Harbott, who was bed-ridden until 20 minutes before her game in their second match against top-seeded Thorndon and still managed a victory.
Last, but not least, the B Grade men's team of Adam Johnstone, Matthew Ross, Jacque Davis, Torin Donnelly and Vaughan Goldsmith improved their seeding by one, finishing eighth.
They enjoyed a good win against No.8 seeds Whangarei where Davis, Donnelly and Goldsmith all beat much-higher-graded players.
The club is still searching for its first B Grade title.
The club's four titles are the result of the hard work and dedication of players, coaches, managers and volunteers over the past year.
