Ngata College students make their mark in area schools tournament

In good form: Six Ngata Memorial College students were part of the Central North Island team, overall winners of the tournament. From left: Kauri Hovell, Kahu Kenworthy, Kaea Banks, Peter Heron (principal), Te Ahi Vaefisi, Chase Smith and Kauri Ben. Picture supplied

Four Ngata Memorial College students have made a big impression at this year's area schools national competition in Dunedin.

Year 11 student Kahu Kenworthy was selected in the national Ki o Rahi side, while Kauri Hovell, Chase Smith and Kauri Ben were all named in the North Island volleyball team.

The school took six students to compete in the tournament as part of the Central North Island team, which also finished as overall winners of the tournament.

The tournament's format saw the students play games against teams from the top of the South, Canterbury, south of the South, and Northland. After a round-robin series over the first three days of the tournament, North Island and South Island squads were selected for a play-off game, which also acts as a trial for the national team.

Although Kenworthy's team has no scheduled games, he said the recognition of being selected was a “big surprise”.

He doesn't play in a regular Ki o Rahi league, saying he hadn't played since his school was in a “little” regional tournament in the first term.

“I think I performed mean. Our whole team did mean, we won every game.

“We were cruising, we won by quite a bit (in our games).”